Amazon is the wedding registry of choice for half of US states — here's how it stacks up against the 4 other most popular sites

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When most of us think of wedding registries, we probably still associate them with the big, traditional department stores. However, according to one source, the soon-to-be-wed have definitely moved past the Macy's and JCPenneys of yore in favor of other sources.

Joy, a free wedding planning website and app that brings the many parts of wedding planning into one simple interface, recently found that Amazon is now the most popular wedding registry site in the country. 

To reach this conclusion, Joy randomly selected a sample size of 35,000 weddings from its user base and analyzed the registry usage by both couples and guests. The results were surprising and show some interesting geographic patterns — Amazon dominates the coasts, Target the Midwest, Bed Bath & Beyond the South, Zola the Northeast, and Crate & Barrel in its home state of Illinois. 

With so many wedding registry options to consider, Joy's team of wedding experts helped us compile some pros and cons of each of these most popular registries, so you can decide which one works best for you. 

See how the top wedding registries in the US stack up below.

Amazon, the top registry in 24 states

Pros

• The most options: You won't be relegated to one category (e.g. home, bath), and you'll have the opportunity to select from a variety of brands and price points. This is especially relevant because as couples continue to live together years before getting married, the “traditional” registry items make less and less sense. Amazon allows you to think outside the box and avoid unnecessary doubles of items you already own.
• Strong customer service: The customer service team is adept at processing returns and accommodating requests. This means that, should the lucky couple want to exchange anything, they won't run into any issues.
• Convenience and efficiency: Unlike many brands, which have a couple national warehouses, Amazon has 140 fulfillment centers in over 29 states. No matter where you are, you’ll likely be able to get your gift delivered in two days or less.
• List maintenance: Amazon maintains a list of who purchased which gift from your registry, so you can easily send out thank you messages afterwards.
• Familiarity and recognition: Your friends and family already know how to use the site and may already be Amazon Prime members, so they won’t go through the typical wedding registry learning curve and won’t be worried about entering credit card info. 
• Personal notes: Add pictures, notes and highlights on the items you love so that your guests will know why you picked something.
• Reviews: You can see reviews on the products you are picking.

Cons

• Inability to view your gift in person prior to purchasing.
• Return policy of 180 days.

Create your registry at Amazon here

Bed Bath & Beyond, the top registry in 12 states

Pros

• Number of physical locations: The chain has an impressive 1,550 physical locations, which means that for most people, it’s fairly easy to make it into a location nearby and view your gift in person before deciding to buy.
• In-store consultations: Expert consultants can help you build your registry so you or your guests can hone in on the perfect gift.
• Return policy: You have a whole year to make all returns, both in store and online.

Cons

• Smaller selection. 
• Less efficient delivery.
• The online shopping experience isn’t quite as quick and seamless as other options.

Create your registry at Bed Bath & Beyond here

Target, the top registry in 10 states

Pros

• Number of physical locations: Similar to Bed Bath & Beyond, Target has a far-reaching 1,828 physical locations. Most people will have fairly convenient access to a nearby Target.
• Easy returns: If you print the registry at the store, you don't need to bring a receipt. 
• Return policy: Similar to Bed Bath & Beyond, Target also has a one year return window, making returns, a huge sticking point for many, a bit easier.
• Familiarity and recognition: Your guests can kill multiple birds with one stone because they're already shopping at Target anyways, whether in-store or online. 
• Group gifting: Any item over $100 automatically qualifies. Otherwise, you can manually change the price settings. When a group gift is funded, you will receive a Target eGiftCard in the amount funded to use to buy anything on the site. 

Cons

• Option variety is not quite as wide as Amazon’s selection, making it slightly less appealing, especially for couples who are seeking more eclectic gifts.
• Does not have Amazon Prime delivery and logistics.
• The new household goods selection is stronger in Bed Bath and Beyond. 
• No in-store consultations or registry experts. 

Create your registry at Target here

See Also:

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