Stella and Kerem have had a whirlwind romance.
After months of getting to know each on an online book club forum, their first meeting in real life was electric. After only 8 months of dating, they mutually decided to tie the knot in a mere six months, just before heading off on a previously-planned backpacking trip across southeast Asia. It would make the perfect honeymoon!
In 8 months of dating, they covered a lot of ground. Their families have met, and have grown to love each other as well. After announcing their engagement to their loved ones, everyone was thrilled and eager to help them plan for their big day. But with parents, aunts and uncles, and more asking where they could help, Stella and Kerem needed a way to manage everyone’s contributions. They decided a cash fund registry was the way to go—they would foot the bill up front, and use the cash as a reimbursement. They understand that they shouldn’t be lucrative in asking for cash, and not to gamble their happiness on what their family and guests are willing to pay.
Planning a wedding these days is expensive, and Stella and Kerem spent much of their savings on their backpacking trip. On top of student loan debt and everyday expenses, their families financial assistance was a godsend. They decided in the end to even open up the registry to all their guests in lieu of physical household gifts. After all, they won’t need them while backpacking!
Funding their wedding in this “potluck-style registry” is what works for Stella and Kerem, and they can’t wait to put the cherry on top of their whirlwind love story.
Does a fund-the-wedding registry sound right for you? Check out Stella and Kerem’s sample registry for inspiration and ideas.
Questions + Considerations
How do I get started?
Keep it personal, keep it unique, and keep it realistic. The cash registry should reflect you and your partner to the fullest degree. Include custom photos and a short detailed description with the gift. Since it’s all cash it’s important to really show that the funds are for YOU and are not listed in a generic way. You should also keep an open fund for any donation, and think about providing several small cash gift options. You’ll ultimately get to do whatever you want with the funds, but you want to provide plenty of options for all budgets.
How do I add exactly which cash funds I’ll need?
Consider what expenses you’ll already be spending, and treat this registry as a possible reimbursement. It’s a safe practice to never spend more than you would be able to on a wedding, because there’s no telling how many funds you’ll actually receive. Then go ahead and add gifts that match your personal style and needs (and customize them!). A lot of wedding tools provide great budget estimates to start.
How do I personalize my registry?
Photos, gift name, gift description, themes—you can build your cash registry around anything you want. We’ve seen silly photos and funny descriptions for a light-hearted approach. We’ve also seen registries that are all around the wedding theme (like a forest fantasy, blue and gold, etc.). The most important thing is that your voice and vision shines through.
Is there a fee when using Blueprint for funding my wedding?
Blueprint is free for you and your gift-givers to use. Gifts are purchased by your gift-givers directly from each online retailer. They are only responsible for the purchase price and shipping of the gifts.
The only exception applies here because you’ve added cash funds to your registry and the gift-giver wants to contribute. They will see a handling fee added to their cash fund order of 2.5%.
Full details and how you can collect your cash funds can be found here.
How do I share my registry with my family and guests?
Traditionally, registries are shared best by word-of-mouth. When you share, make sure you mention you’re registered at www.blueprintregistry.com under your full name. Knowing the first and last name on your Blueprint account will make searching for your registry much easier.
You can also share your registry URL as a direct link to your registry. Your custom URL can be found—and edited—in your Registry Settings.
If you have a wedding website (With Joy, The Knot, etc.), you can link to your Blueprint registry there too.
You can add our favorite funds from Stella and Kerem’s sample registry or you can view their full sample registry here.
Are you ready to use Blueprint to help fund your wedding? View Stella and Kerem’s sample registry and start your own today!
VIEW S+K’S REGISTRY START MY REGISTRY