So you want to start registering for all those great home goods and kitchen gadgets, but have no idea where to begin? A Target wedding registry is a great place to start. After all, what other wedding registry store has locations in practically every major city AND lets you get everything from towels to pillows to trash cans and dish soap? And the major bonus? The Target wedding registry perks are beating a lot of our former favorites (we won’t name names). Here’s what you need to know…
How to Set Up Your Target Wedding Registry
Creating a Target registry is super easy. All you need to do is register with your existing Target email address (or create an account if you don’t already have one). They’ll ask if you want to join their rewards program, Target Circle, which is completely optional. Then you need to fill in your event details, such as partner’s name, wedding date, location and shipping address. You can also choose a custom target url, and whether to make your registry public or private. We always recommend private, but it’s up to you!
Don’t: If you’re moving before the wedding, make sure to update your address on the registry so gifts make it to the right place.
Start With Their Checklist
Once you create an account, you’ll be taken to your main registry page, which you can access from your desktop or on mobile with the Target App for ios or android. There you can add a welcome note for family and friends as well as a photo.
You can begin to add products by browsing their “My Checklist” section on your registry website. This handy checklist allows you to click on a category such as “cookware sets” or “bathroom accessories” that directly takes you to your options.
DO: Go through every room in your home and see where you’re needing an upgrade. Just because you already have sheets and towels, this is a great opportunity to get luxe versions of those basics.
Shop the Target Wedding Registry Categories
If you’ve ever been to a Target you know they have pretty much anything and everything you need. Which can also get overwhelming. Aside from the checklist we also recommend starting with their categories first. On your main Target wedding registry page choose “Add Items.” From there you’ll see Kitchen, Bedding, Bath, Home Decor, and about a dozen more. They even have a Home Improvement section so you can register for that Tool Kit (after that Nespresso machine you’ve been eyeing and Dyson V8 vacuum, of course).
You also don’t have to search by only category. If you have a certain item you’ve been eyeing, just type it into the search bar on the upper right. Once you get to the product page, just click “Add to Registry,” and it will magically show up on your list! You can also shop must-haves by brand, such as Cuisinart, OXO, and tons more.
Another feature you can take advantage of is group registry gifts. If you have items over $100 guests can go in on it together, which is perfect for those big-ticket items (like that Dyson). But more on that below!
Once you decide on a product, you can also choose to mark it as “Most Wanted,” or add custom note to let guests know why you chose it.
DO: Personalize your registry with notes on larger ticket items. For example, “I’ve been dreaming about this cappuccino maker for 5 years, and would love to add it to our countertop if we’re lucky.”
Add a Gift Fund:
Target recently teamed up with Honeyfund, the OG cash fund registry, to help you register for everything from your dream home to a down payment on a house. What’s great about Honeyfund is that you can register for different experiences, such as a
Target Wedding Registry Perks:
In addition to free shipping and free returns, you can take advantage of these Target registry perks.
Exclusive offers: Who doesn’t love a free gift? Um, nobody. Which makes the “Exclusive Wedding Days Offers” on the Target wedding registry a definite win. Past promotions include one from Keurig where if you receive a Keurig brewer from your registry, you’ll get 2 free travel mugs.
Registry Coupon: The week of your event date, Target will enable a 15% coupon that can be used once online and one in store. This is actually better than a typical registry completion discount because you can use it on your registry items or anything else you want (though some exclusions do apply).
The Target App: Easy-to-navigate app that allows you to browse essentials and add them to your registry. You can also look at your checklist and scan items to your registry in store through camera access through the app.
Returns/Exchanges: Flexible policy that allows exchanges and returns up to a year after your wedding day for a full refund.
Target also offers:
- Price match guarantee
- Order pickup (friends and family can shop online and pick your gift up at their store)
- Free 2-day ship
- Gift tracking
Target Wedding Registry Pros and Cons At a Glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide selection of products | (Mostly) limited to Target’s inventory |
| Affordable and budget-friendly options | May lack high-end or luxury items |
| Convenient online and in-store experience | In-store availability may vary by location |
| Easy-to-use registry website | Limited international shipping options |
| Multiple completion discounts available | Potential for out-of-stock items |
| Universal registry feature for flexibility | Return policy restrictions for some items |
| Group gifting option for larger gifts | Can be overwhelming due to extensive choices |
| Target REDcard benefits and discounts | Limited customization options for registry page |
| Good track record of customer service | Possible difficulty managing multiple registries |
| Gift card flexibility | Lack of specialized or niche items |
Universal Registry:
Update: Many users have complained about Target’s universal registry feature not working for certain stores they tried to add it from, including IKEA, Pottery Barn, Amazon and more. They may be phasing this feature out, so if a universal registry is important to you I would consider using an Amazon wedding registry instead.
Target’s wedding registry includes a “Universal Registry” feature which works through a bookmarks link on your computer. If there is a product you want, but it’s not available through Target stores, you can add the product through another retailer’s website. For example, they list Williams Sonoma as a partner, and we were able to successfully add a set of their Encore Cabernet Wine Glasses. You simply add items by clicking the bookmark while on the the product page on the retailer’s website. A widget appears requesting a description of the item, the quantity desired and the product category. Guests can click the view/buy button on your Target registry page and will be redirected to the Williams Sonoma site to purchase directly. Note: Items must be returned or exchanged at the third-party retailer. While a great feature to have, we’re not sure it totally eliminates the need for a second registry.
Do: Try to limit the number of registries you use to three or less. Too many can be overwhelming for you and guests.
Group Gifting:
We were excited about this feature, as it allows guests to chip in and contribute to a larger token item as a group through an eGiftCard. The first guest starts by creating the gift card and indicating a date they want the gift to be delivered. The guest can include a personalized note and photos. Then, they can optionally invite friends to chip in by providing their email address and/or phone number. Other guests can then contribute (adding personalized notes/photos) until the monetary need is met. The gift card is then shipped at the requested date with all of the guest’s messages and photos. Though we love the group gifting option that’s available via other wedding registries, this one’s a bit more complicated since it’s through an eGiftCard. Just something to keep in mind!
WGM Says: The group gifting feature is automatically enabled for gifts over $100. However you can choose to disable it in the Home section of your registry. Just click ‘edit’ under your registry name, then deselect the group gifting option.
Does a Target registry sound perfect for you? Start your registry here!
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