www.greenevillesun.com
THE GREENEVILLE SUN BRIDAL EDITION•Friday, January 31, 2020 • Page 23
Wedding Registries Expand To Adventures, Charities And More 2018 event, but relatives persuaded them to provide an option. The couple from Rowayton, ConnectiWhen Lila Chess and Aron Kancut, decided to use their happy del were planning their 2018 wedoccasion to help a favorite charity. ding, the New York City couple was Using The Good Beginning, a regwary of acquiring too much stuff. istry for couples seeking charitable They lived in a small apartment donations in lieu of gifts, the Schiwith limited storage. Lila opted not mentis solicited donations for The to have a shower in order to keep Carver Foundation of Norwalk, gifts at a minimum. Connecticut, which provides youth But the couple knew that friends programming. and family would want to celebrate “To us, our wedding was always their nuptials with presents. They about celebrating our love and the found a registry that included tracoming together of everyone we ditional gift options but also things both love,” she said. “We have all other than stuff — donations to that we need, and giving back was charity and to their honeymoon the least we could do.” adventures in Fiji and New ZeaIt makes sense that millennials land. would redefine traditional wedding “People were really excited about registries, said Karen McGrath, the chance to help with our honeyco-author of “The Millennial Mindmoon,” recalled Lila Chess Kandel. set: Unraveling Fact from Fiction” “Friends and family who know us and a professor at the College of PHOTO VIA AP BY FAIRMONT ORCHID Saint Rose in Albany, New York. said, ‘That’s awesome. You guys are super-adventurous. We want to A couple canoes at the Fairmont Orchid resort along the Kohala Coast, Hawaii. Some resorts that cater to Millennials tend to prioritize giving honeymooners offer registries, and at the Fairmont Orchid couples can request that friends and relatives chip in back, taking care of the environsupport that.’” toward spa treatments, romantic dinners and sunrise canoe outings. As couples strive to infuse their ment, and doing things rather than weddings with personal touches, intend to spend the money. Rethis option with success and have that the couple isn’t sure they will owning them, she said. Everything changing up the registry is a natquests range from down payments enjoyed their once-in-a-lifetime ever use. about fancy china and crystal — ural, said Ashlie Lynch, commuon a house to in vitro fertilization dream honeymoons as a result,” Before their 2016 wedding, from storing it to the packaging it nications chair for the American treatments. That information said resort spokeswoman CatherBrady and Erica Robertson had comes in — would be a turn-off for Association of Certified Wedding “makes guests feel better about ine Cambra. a talk with one relative to ensure many young couples, she said. Planners. Many brides and grooms handing over cash,” Kay said. “It’s Kayleigh and Daniel Caskey, she did not “surprise” them with Many millennials also choose to are forgoing formal dinnerware reframing the way we think about who were married in 2017, had no china they would never use. “When live in smaller or shared spaces, and household goods and replacgifts.” problem asking guests to contribfriends and family visit, we are and move often, she said, which ing them with asks for money to It also suits the lifestyle of ute to their honeymoon. more likely to order pizza and eat makes it difficult to have a lot of fund experiences or significant millennials — those born be“It was a way of saying, ‘Hey you off paper plates than to provide stuff. purchases. tween 1981 and 1997. Three out of were part of our wedding day and an elaborate meal,” said Erica, of “It’s a completely different mindCouples are becoming increasfour millennials said they prefer now you’re a part of a time when Columbus, Ohio. “We didn’t want set,” she said. “They’re much more ingly comfortable asking guests for spending money on experiences we’re celebrating our marriage a lot of extraneous gifts because we mobile.” money, added Lauren Kay, deputy over things, according to a 2017 together that you can follow on didn’t have a lot of room to store And even newlyweds who want editor at TheKnot.com, a wedding Eventbrite survey. Facebook,’” Kayleigh said. Many everything.” fine things for their homes may planning website. Some resorts that cater to traditional gifts “will break or wear Charity wedding registries more already have them, added Beth Between 2011 and 2017, the honeymooners offer registries. At down and have to be replaced. than tripled in popularity last year, Helmstetter, a wedding planner number of couples who had cash the Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii, We’ll never have a honeymoon Kay said, from 3 percent of couples who in 2016 founded The Good registries increased from 1 percent couples can request that friends again. We will always remember in 2016 to 10 percent in 2017. Beginning. With couples marryto 6 percent, according to a survey and relatives chip in toward spa those experiences.” Initially, Sarah Mulvaney and ing later in life and often sharing by TheKnot.com. In many cases, treatments, romantic dinners and Most of their friends and relaMatthew Schimenti intended to tell a home before exchanging vows, couples provide detailed explanasunrise canoe outings. “We’ve seen tives understood, she said, but a wedding guests they did not wish they often have all they need, she tions on the registry of how they many couples who’ve exercised few still bought traditional gifts to receive any gifts for their June said.
BY MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON ASSOCIATED PRESS