Wedding vendor love: Honeypot Registry
A modern gift registry
If you're engaged, wedding presents are almost definitely coming your way. But what if you'd rather receive contributions to your new life together, rather than just more 'stuff'? And how do you navigate the awkwardness that is asking for cash?
Fortunately for us, local New Zealand business Honeypot has the answer! We checked in with Verity, one of the Honeypot team, to get some expert advice and all the details on Honeypot registries.
We’ve all been friends for years – Katie and Shane knew each other at Intermediate, and Shane and I (Verity) were in the same class when we started high school. Katie and Shane got together right before our last year of school – so real high school sweethearts!
A few years ago, as they were planning their wedding, they were searching for a honeymoon registry but couldn’t find one that was right for Kiwi couples. They thought about starting a business themselves and kept chatting to me about it (I run a communications agency by day, so work with heaps of businesses). One day Shane asked if I wanted to come in on it – and the rest, as they say, was history! We launched Honeypot just in time for Katie and Shane to be the first ever Honeypot users, and we were all able to give them gifts via Honeypot for their wedding (I paid for half their trip to Disneyland Tokyo!).
Can you explain Honeypot in a nutshell?
Essentially, Honeypot lets Kiwi couples create personalised registries you and your guests can feel good about.
If you would love to ask for money for your honeymoon or to buy household treasures from multiple stores instead of just one, Honeypot helps your guests feel comfortable giving, so you don’t have to feel awkward asking. You can add anything you like (from visiting a castle in Germany to a show in New York to a new fridge or lounge suite), personalise each item with a name, description, and estimated cost, then your guests can contribute as much or as little as they like. You’ll get the money in your bank account each fortnight, and your guests will feel excited that you get a gift you’re really looking forward to.
Sometimes it can be a bit awkward asking for money rather than leaving the floor open for wedding guests to bring presents... do you have any tips for engaged New Zealanders considering a non-traditional registry for their wedding gifts?
Absolutely! That’s exactly why we started Honeypot. One of our biggest tips for future Honeypotters would be to really personalise what you’re asking for.
So instead of asking for contributions to one big honeymoon fund, break it down into exciting parts of your honeymoon – visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, cocktails on the beach in Fiji, or skydiving in Queenstown. Or instead of asking for money towards a furniture fund, break it down into a new washing machine, that beautiful shelving unit you love, or anything else you might need.
We find that the registries with the most engagement and enjoyment from guests have more specific items for them to choose from. Whatever you choose, making the items really specific makes people feel like they’re giving you that special gift instead of just cash.
What are some of your favourite things wedding guests have contributed to on a Honeypot registry?
We love seeing people be really creative – so one couple asked for homewares, but photoshopped themselves into photos of people using the products and made hilarious, pun-filled descriptions for each. Other favourites include a puppy (!!!) and some pretty epic honeymoons – we’ve seen them spread right across Europe, Asia, South America, the States, and the Islands.
What wedding planning advice do you have for New Zealanders?
Just relax! There are absolutely no rules – while others might tell you what you should and shouldn’t do, your wedding is about you and your partner. If you’re dreaming of a big, formal wedding with hundreds of guests, go for it! If you want to invite 30 people over to your backyard, then that’s awesome too!
Just do your research, choose the things that bring you joy and reflect you as a couple, and don’t feel pressured to follow any traditions. At the end of the day, it’s about marrying the person you love – not about what you spend on the day.
If you want to check out more from Honeypot, you can visit their website or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.
As a special gift for the Clarence & Co. squad, Honeypot have given us our very own discount code! To experience the joy of Honeypot, use the code CLAR&CO10 when you go live to get 10% off your own personalised registry xo