Many couples open their wedding gifts and find three kettles, two irons and a pile of glass dishes they will never use. A registry is a simple way to avoid that.
A gift registry is a list of items a couple would like to receive. Guests choose from it, so the couple gets what they need and guests do not waste money.
Is it rude?
Some people feel that asking for gifts is impolite. But registries are becoming common in Ghana and Nigeria, especially among young professionals and diaspora couples. Many guests prefer them, because they do not know what to buy.
The key is to present the registry gently, as a help to guests rather than a demand.
Where to register
Couples can set up registries with large stores and supermarkets that offer the service, with online shops, or by creating a simple shared list online where guests mark items as bought. Couples abroad can use international registry sites.
What to include
Include items at different prices, from kitchen utensils and bedding to larger appliances. Think about what you will actually use in your first home: cookware, towels, storage, a good mattress, a fridge or a gas cooker.
Avoid filling the list with luxury items only; guests on small budgets should also be able to take part.
Cash gifts
Cash is common at West African weddings, often given in envelopes or sprayed at the reception. Some couples add a cash fund to their registry, for example for rent, a honeymoon or a first home. Mobile money and bank transfer details can be shared discreetly.
How to share it
Put the registry details on the wedding website, in digital invitations or on a small card. Family members and the bridal party can also tell guests who ask.
Keep it updated
Check the registry regularly and remove items already bought, so guests are not disappointed.
Thank-you notes
Keep a record of who gave what, so you can thank each guest properly after the wedding.
The traditional side
Registries do not replace the gifts families exchange at traditional ceremonies. Those follow custom and the lists given by the bride’s family.
A practical kindness
A registry sounds like a Western import, but its purpose is very West African: making sure the new couple leaves the wedding with everything they need to start a home, and not with ten blenders.
