Gift Registry Etiquette: 5 Ways to Tactfully Share Your Green Gift Registry

Setting up a gift registry is an important stop on the road to getting what you want for your wedding. However, if you don’t let guests know where you are registered, you will end up getting a lot of things you don’t want or need. This is bad for you and for the environment. The challenge is spreading the news about your registry without looking greedy, and that takes tact and finesse. 

The following are five ways to get the word out about your green wedding gift registry without getting arrested by the etiquette police.

1. Wait for people to ask. Pick up most wedding etiquette books and this is the answer you will get. It is not efficient, but it is certainly the most widely accepted way to share the information. If you are going to wait for people to ask, make sure all of the key players in your wedding (a.k.a. bossy ladies in your family and best friends) know the answer.

2. Ask your mom and maids to help spread the word. This is similar to number 1 on this list, with a twist. Instead of waiting for others to come to them, you can gently encourage your mom and maids to help pass along the info. This job is easier for them than for you, especially if they are planning to throw you any pre-parties where guests may bring gifts.

3. Place a card in your shower invitation. It is a social faux pas to put registry information in with your wedding invitation, but it is completely acceptable to tuck a registry card in along with a bridal shower invite. The Green Bride Guide offers free registry cards printed on 100% recycled paper with soy inks, and offers digital versions to use in electronic invitations/emails as well.

4. Put a link on your wedding website. This is by far the most common and convenient way these days to let guests know where you are registered. You can set up a free green wedding website if you do not have one already, and can add a link to your registry (or registries) on the left navigation bar. You can even download our Green Gift Registry badge! This allows guests who are interested to quickly find the information they need at any point before or after your wedding. Just make sure your site does not expire too soon after the big day! Traditionally, guests have up to a year to buy you a gift.

5. Use social media. This is the most modern and most subtle way to share registry information with your friends and family. Every product in the Green Wedding Registry has a “share” button in the upper right hand corner that allows you to quickly share your favorite finds on Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc. Using your status to share your favorite products as you add them to your registry not only reminds guests where you are registered, but helps get the word out about sustainable alternatives in general. When you highlight beautiful, sustainable home goods you prove that you do not have to sacrifice style to go green, and increase the chance your friends will use their purchasing power for good.