Researching and finding a wedding registry: how to find a couple’s wedding registry
Apr 8, 2025
We know what it’s like: you’ve got a wedding around the corner and you need to sort a last-minute gift.
You go to snag one from the couple’s wedding registry but, shock horror, it’s nowhere to be found!
Luckily, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll show you how to find a couple’s wedding registry quickly so you don’t have to turn up empty-handed.
Plus, we’ll give you some ideas just in case that elusive registry just can’t be found.
How do I find a couple's wedding registry? Tips for finding a wedding registry quickly
So, how do you find a couple’s wedding registry? Just follow these simple steps.
1. Check the wedding invitation for wedding registry info
The best place to start is by looking at the wedding invitation.
It may include information about the couple’s wedding registry. If not, it’ll almost certainly give you a clue about where to find it.
For instance, there’ll usually be a link to the couple’s wedding website, where you’re highly likely to find what you’re looking for. Which brings us onto…
2. Look on the couple’s wedding website
Nowadays, almost every happily-engaged couple will have a wedding website.
It’s here that you’ll often be able to RSVP, find details about the day and (perhaps most importantly!) access the couple’s wedding registry.
There might be a link that leads you directly to the wedding registry, or simply details about where it can be found.
If the couple would rather you transferred them money, donated to a charity or even didn’t buy a gift at all, this should all be stated clearly on their website.
3. Use social media to find a wedding registry
Hopefully, you’ve found what you’re after by now. But if the couple doesn’t have a website – or you can’t find it – we’d recommend using social media to find a wedding registry.
Although it’s generally not considered the best etiquette, some couples choose to share wedding registry info on social media. So, check their bios and recent posts to see if there are any clues.
If they’ve added you to a private ‘wedding guests’ group on Facebook, make sure to check that as well.
4. Check the bridal shower invite
Sometimes, wedding registry details won’t be included on a wedding invite, but they will be on a bridal shower or wedding shower invitation.
Why? Well, the idea is that someone else usually hosts this kind of event on behalf of the soon-to-be newlyweds – so, the couple won’t be directly asking for gifts themselves.
Hopefully, you’ve still got that invite knocking around somewhere!
5. Use a wedding registry search tool
If you’ve looked through every scrap of information the couple has given you about the wedding and you still can’t find anything about the wedding registry, now’s the time to use a wedding registry finder.
These tools are designed especially to help you track down a couple’s wedding registry. So, they’re definitely worth a try.
Usually, you’ll just need the couple’s full name. But it’s also helpful to know which store or website they used to create their registry. We’ll show you which tools are the best in a moment.
6. Search for a wedding registry online
Wondering how to search for a wedding registry online? If you type in the couple’s name and the words ‘wedding registry’ into Google, the one you’re looking for might just pop up.
It’s a long shot though, given how competitive it can be to rank highly in the search engine results pages. Plus, not every wedding registry will be visible to the general public.
At Moonsift, you can set your collections up to be visible to anybody. However, if you want to set a collection to ‘registry’ mode (and therefore allow guests to tick off the items they’ve bought), it’ll only be viewable by people who have the link.
7. Ask someone!
We get it if you’re reluctant to ask for wedding registry details – especially if you’ve left the gift buying until the last minute!
However, some couples don’t share their wedding registry info freely, and will only send the link to people who ask for it.
So, you might just need to bite the bullet (plus, buying a last-minute gift is much better than not buying one at all!).
If you’re feeling sheepish about it though, you could ask a mutual friend if they can pass you the details.
Best wedding registry finder tools
Want to use a wedding registry search tool to find the registry details you need?
Then you’re probably wondering which are the best tools to try.
Some wedding registry finder tools are run by wedding registry providers, which means they’ll usually only search registries that were made on that particular provider’s website (or in store).
These include:
Target
MyRegistry.com
The Wedding Shop
Pottery Barn
Amazon registry
The Knot
These work great if you know where the happy couple created their wedding registry. But if not, it could be a long process of trial and error.
That’s why we believe that the best wedding registry finders are those that can search multiple stores at once. These will save you a lot of time and frustration. But they are few and far between!
Top websites for wedding registry search
Our top website for wedding registry search is RegistryFinder.com.
This is pretty much the only tool that can search for and uncover registries made with multiple providers.
Here’s how it works…
Enter the name of the bride or groom
Select what kind of registry you’re looking for (wedding, baby, graduation etc.)
RegistryFinder.com will search the web for their wedding registry
You’ll be able to see multiple registries if a couple has registered with more than one store
The one downside? It’s not a truly universal tool.
Rather, it can only find registries made with its registry partners. But it’s still a lot better than being restricted to just one registry provider!
How to find a wedding registry without the couple's full names
Feeling too awkward to ask for a couple’s full names? Don’t worry, all is not lost.
You may still be able to locate their wedding registry using a wedding registry finder.
While it helps if you have the couple’s full names, many of these tools will still let you search if you just input a first name. Or, you may be able to search using their first name and just a couple of letters of their last name.
Searching this way will likely mean you have many results to scroll through. So, it can be time-consuming, particularly if you find you need to use several wedding registry finders to try and track down your couple.
However, with some patience and perseverance, you may well be able to locate the registry you’re after.
What to do if you can’t find a registry? Alternative wedding gift ideas
If you really can’t find a couple’s wedding registry, don’t panic! Instead, consider going off-piste and purchasing an alternative wedding gift.
If you’re not purchasing from a registry, it can be safer to focus on more personal items that are unlikely to be purchased by other guests – that way, you won’t risk duplicate gifts.
You know the couple best, so use your own judgment. However, here are 10 alternative wedding gift ideas to get your brain whirring.
Bespoke print (eg. of the wedding venue)
Bespoke star map (eg. of the wedding day)
Activity for them to do together (eg. a pottery class)
Voucher for their favorite restaurant
Donation towards their honeymoon
Donation to a charity close to their heart
Photo album to fill with pictures from the wedding day
Engraved photo frame
Mini break
Potted plant (eg. a rose bush)
Remember, it’s not about the price tag on your gift.
Rather, choose something meaningful that shows you’ve paid attention to the couple’s likes and dislikes. This is likely to be the most memorable.
Wedding registry etiquette: dos and don’ts
Weddings can be a bit of a minefield when it comes to etiquette. Here are some registry dos and don’ts that are (almost!) as important as the age-old ‘don’t wear white’ rule – for both guests and newlyweds.
Wedding registry etiquette for guests
Do
Stick to the wedding registry (if there is one!)
Give cash if you want to
Go personal if it’s a close friend or family member
Ask if you’re not sure
Chip in with friends to get a bigger-ticket item
Don’t
Get something they can't use (eg. something for the garden if they don’t have one)
Buy things that are crude or in bad taste (eg. ‘how to train your wife’ book)
Buy artwork if you don’t know their taste
Regift
Wedding registry etiquette for brides and grooms
Do
Include items that span a range of price points
Leave your wedding registry open for a month after the wedding
Include more gift options than necessary (around two times the number of guests)
Include the registry details clearly on your wedding website
Use a universal registry (so you can add items from any store in the world)
Don’t
Neglect to create a wedding registry!
Leave registering until the last minute
Register for only high-ticket items
How to choose the best wedding registry
If you’re getting married, you’ll want to quickly find the best wedding registry for your needs.
That way, you can get on with planning the rest of your wedding (and enjoy receiving mountains of wonderful gifts to boot!).
But wedding registry websites weren’t all created equal. Rather, it’s important to find one that has all the features you want and that’s quick and easy to create.
Here are a few tips to help you select the best wedding registry.
Check it’s universal
Most wedding registries will only let you add items from one store.
On the other hand, universal registries – like Moonsift – will allow you to save items from any store in the world. That means you can fill your registry with all your favorite items, wherever they may be.
Don’t pay for it
Choose a wedding registry website that won’t make a margin on the products you add to your registry, and that will let your wedding guests take advantage of discounts.
Moonsift is totally free with no markups or fees.
Make things easy
Many wedding registry providers will make you copy and paste links and upload product information manually – but no one’s got time for that!
Moonsift’s universal ‘save’ button will let you add items directly to your registry while you’re browsing, whether that’s on your mobile or desktop.
Make sure you can add a cash fund
Want your guests to be able to contribute towards a big purchase, like a honeymoon or house renovation?
Then pick a wedding registry provider like Moonsift that will let you add details of a cash fund.
Don’t settle for a clunky design
You’re putting lots of effort into making your wedding look just how you want it. So you shouldn’t have to settle for a clunky gift registry website or one that’s riddled with ads!
Moonsift is acclaimed for its clean design, which was created together with stylists and interior designers.
Create a wedding registry on Moonsift
As you can see, not all wedding registries are created equal.
Luckily, Moonsift has all of the features we’ve mentioned above – and more!
Thanks to our universal ‘save’ button, you can easily add items from any store in the world to your wedding registry – even on the go. It just takes a simple tap or click.
Then, when you’re ready, share the link with everyone you’ve invited to the wedding and they’ll know exactly what to buy you in advance of your big day.
Simply create your wedding registry for free today!
Things people also ask about wedding registries
How do you find someone's wedding registry?
There are several steps you can take to find someone’s wedding registry:
Check the wedding invitation
Check the wedding website
Look on social media
Check the wedding shower invitation
Use a wedding registry search tool – like RegistryFinder.com
Try a Google search
Ask a friend
How do I decide what to put on my wedding registry?
Deciding what to put on your wedding registry can be tricky – especially if you and your future spouse already feel like you have everything you need.
You could try following the 5-gift rule for inspiration. That means adding items from 5 categories:
Things that you want
Things that you need
Something to wear
Something to read
Something to do
It’s also important that the items you add to your gift registry are for you both as a couple – rather than just being personal to one of you.
Are wedding registries a thing in the UK?
Yes! It’s now considered common practice for couples who are getting married in the UK to create a wedding registry.
Wedding registries come with multiple benefits for both the couple and their guests. Guests can select a gift without stress, while the happy couple will avoid duplicate gifts and receive items they actually want and need.
What is the best site for a wedding registry?
We may be biased, but we believe that Moonsift is the best site for a wedding registry.
As a universal registry, it will let you add items from any store in the world – just click our universal save button, which is available on both mobile and desktop.
Oh, and it’s free!
