![]() |
|
|
Story by
Vanessa
Published on March 6, 2009 in Spotlight |
Photo by |
We've all received the wedding registry wishlist from friends. In some ways, I think registries are great: I can see whether my friends need sheets or already have a blender. On the other hand, I work for — and am completely obsessed with — Etsy. If I can buy a handmade or vintage gift, why oh why would I get it at the mall?
In this wedding guide, I go the "off-road" approach to wedding gift shopping. In case you don't think these exact items fit the taste of your newlyweds-to-be, I've posted some handy search results links below. These are some of the classic items you might see on the average registry. Go rogue! Go Etsy!
- Dinnerware (First stop, the Handmade Ceramics and Pottery Category, next stop Vintage.)
- Tea towels (Check out this post for some truly inspiring tea towel action. There's a tea towel renaissance going on right now!)
- Bedding, pillows and linens (There's Vintage too, if your newlyweds are cool with secondhand sheets.)
- Picture frames (Handmade and Vintage. Try wall decals too.)
- Clocks (Handmade and Vintage)
- Cake stands
- Teapots (There are some amazing handmade teapots in the Ceramics and Pottery Category.)
- Mugs and glasses
- Photo Albums (Handmade or Vintage)
- Vases (Handmade or Vintage)
- Cutting boards
- Strainers
- Rugs (Handmade or Vintage)
- Other kitchen items (Try searching kitchen pots in Vintage!)
If you're getting married and want to get your family and friends into the Etsy gift-giving state of mind, check out Etsian dorana's Ning registry site, MyHandmadeRegistry.com.
Find out how it works. She's adapted the Etsy Favorites Mini to be used as a custom registry. Very cool, dorana! You can also check out these posts for some other custom registry sites.
Handmade Weddings | Vintage Wedding Items | Weddings and Celebrations Gift Guide
155 comments Login to add your own!
smashgirl
Can I get married again so I can have my own handmade registry?
VintageinBohemia
that pillowcase is so poetic.. it gives me chills! What a great collection!
julieandco
I love this idea! My oldest daughter is getting married this fall.....hmmm!! She is already an Etsy-fanatic, so this might work!
DanaLaymon
omg i wish i had known about this when i got married last year! what a great idea!
galit
Getting married? Need bridal or bridesmaids jewelry?
SPECIAL OFFER FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN DAY! THIS WEEKEND ONLY 3/6-3/8 !
Buy any item from my shop and receive any necklace or earrings for 50% off
squareware
Hmm, I will definetly look into this option as I'm getting married in july!
poppyswickedgarden
Those vintage glasses are too cute! This is a wonderful Idea! There are all kinds of handmade goodies that would be great wedding gifts too,, soaps, blankets, I've gotten fun potholders etc. too!
RachelLovesPeace
so cute! my friends are having a wedding tmw! if they new about this they would have had a handmade registry. shoot. great idea! ♥
quirkybeauty
I'm getting married in 2 months and have my tailor-made registry on mygiftlist.com. Oh how I wish I could post things from Etsy on the registry. I'm going to try it now!
4TheSparrowsNest
I would have LOVED to have received handmade gifts from Etsy for my wedding. No better kind of gift to give and receive, in my opinion...
BeSomethingNew
makes me want to get married again!, to the same guy of cource
PetitOiseau
Some of the best presents we received for our recent wedding were purchased on Etsy!
Entwife
LOVE the handmade registry idea. Shall we have something like this for any type of registry?
lfinkels
Sooo wonderfully informative! I am going to make one of these up asap for my upcoming wedding and will certainly spread the word. Thanks!
IlluminatedPerfume
The opening image is really stunning, I LOVE IT! Very cool about the handmade registry.
Waterrose
What great ideas! I remember seeing an atomic clock at my aunts house!
amyrwyatt
What stunning bedding, you would so have to take a photo and hang it on the wall.
moderncard
Oooohhhh, I like the handmade registry site idea. I'm waiting to hear back to see if I've been approved.
EmmaGordonLondon
Those Mayagrafik pillowcases are such a nice idea - so sweet!
MyDearest
don't forget cute handmade cards and tags for those awesome handmade gifts!!!
paintingpam
Great Idea!! I make handmade paper wedding invitation paper which can be folders!! Customized with flowers or any color paper or fabric.
bhangtiez
like the beer glasses, way 2 re-use...i sell a headpiece i made 4 my own wedding...
WanderlustBling
I love the ring pillow. I wish I had known of such an option when I got married!
OceanGrrl
THANKS for the link, I have been looking for something like this fore months!!!
KellesKitchen
My fiance and I already live together and have pretty much everything we NEED to live. We are planning to request that people chip in to buy us handmade pottery for our place settings and other handmade items for our home. I can't wait!!
dorana
Vanessa! thank you SO much for your wonderful feature of our handmade registry website! we're THRILLED to be able to offer our great community a place to share their HANDMADE FAVORITES with their friends and family! thank you again for allowing us to be a part of this amazing WEDDING GUIDE SERIES!
siempre - dorana
http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com/
BELLACOSAART
great write up
congrats dorana
I am proud to be a member of the http://handmaderegistry.com
GlistenDesigns
Congrats Dorana. Such a fantastic achievement for you!
Thanks for featuring me in your registry! It means alot!
The more people that buy handmade the better!
xox
Tina
TwirledTreasures
I'm so honored that Dorana is featuring my quilled jewelry on her site MyHandmadeRegistry.com under the category "My $5000 Handmade Wedding." This is such a great idea, and I'm so happy to be a part of it! Thanks Dorana!
PrincessAllure
What a great article!!! I hope it inspires some really great gift giving!
SissyPretties
Thanks Dorana for including my hand stamped wedding penny necklace in the "My $5000 Handmade Wedding" category of MyHandmadeRegistry.com. My custom hand stamped sterling jewelry make wonderful gifts for the bride or the bridal party!
Funkifolkart
Love it! I'm so happy to be a part of a wonderful unique site.
www.funkifolkart.etsy.com
H20works
Everyone should have a wishlist for handmade items! Go make one on www.myhandmaderegistry.com
FeltLunchbox
Thank you for adding my felt coasters to your handmade wedding registry. I have them in all different colors and can do custom orders. Again, thank you for adding my coasters I feel very honored right now!
amorevivo
This coverage is just so wonderful, giving brides and wedding gift-givers above and beyond the usual, outside-the-box for weddings of today!
Love myhandmaderegistry.com and the my5kwedding group there!!
Nickileigh
Congrats Dorana! You worked so very hard on this ;)
A proud member of the http://handmaderegistry.com
nikid
Yeah! Great job Dorana!!! I am a proud member of the handmade registry and 5k wedding group myself and I am very proud!! Thank you Vanessa and Etsy!!!
ourfrontyard
Wedding gifts that will be remembered. Not just another toaster. Thanks so much, more opened avenues.
TheCottageCheese
I'm so excited about this! I'm getting married this summer, and everything I love is from Etsy. Now I know how to set up my own Etsy registry, and although it will take a little work on my part to set up, I can even link to it from my blog. this is fantastic! Thanks to all of you involved in this. Oh, and I love the picks too!
BenalilyDesigns
The handmade registry is a super idea. Why didn't anyone think of this sooner? I am going mention this to everyone I know getting married.
withanindiantouch
Great job Dorana! A proud member of Handmade Registry!!
http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com
pinkshowercurtain
Great to hear about that site. I know people that have done an etsy wedding registry via a blog and/or favorites, but this is very cool.
ArtfulBeginnings
Geat collection and a wonderful wedding registry idea - congrats!
FairyMaid
Thanks for your hard work, Dorana! I'm a happy member of Handmade Registry. http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com
dinkybug
What a super idea!! Thanks so much for featuring our custom wine labels :)
yarncoture
This is awesome! Dorana did a wonderful job on putting all this together, and I am very honored to be a part of http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com !! Come join us!
lotionbarcafe
Thank you for featuring us , we feel privalaged to be apart . It looks awesome.Great Job!!!
bijougirldesigns
I wish I were getting married again (to the same person, of course;) Then I would register EVERYTHING handmade!!!!!! Love your picks.
NightSkyJewelry
Dorana has done a wonderful job of putting this together and getting Handmade Registry off the ground. I sure love those four aqua colored bowls!
fineartstoneware
Dorana, you did such a great job at this! And I love the article!
Dorana, I am so happy to be a part of your registry.
WearableByDesign
Great job, Dorana!! It's a beautiful thing!! Thanks for including my White Ophelia necklace.
reddhynes
Dorana, I'm so happy for you that all your hard work is paying off! Fabulous!
lovesmenot
handmade wedding registry!? fantastic idea! lovely picks, too.
fairyloreandmore
Thanks for the write up, and thanks to Dorana for working so hard and making her vision into a reality. To those of you who mentioned that you already got married....you can make a registry for any occasion. Put in your favorite items, make your Etsy mini then send your wishlist through my Handmade registry to everyone who would want to buy you a gift for any occasion. OR....now that your married, are you going to have children??? Why not do a handmade registry for your BABY SHOWER as there is a whole section on My Handmade Registry for Baby Showers.
Be sure to check it out!!
beyondtherockz
What a fabulous concept, and thank you Dorana for including our wedding ring!
LaurieSarahDesigns
I am honored to be a part of this wonderful Registry and be included among so many wonderful artists! Thank you Dorana for all the effort you put into this. It was a wonderful idea!!
Simag
:::C O N G R A T S Dorana::::
great job on putting all this together!!
I am proud to be a member of the http://handmaderegistry.com
TangleWitDesigns
Fabulous job Dorana!!! Brilliant idea! I love it! Makes me want to renew vows with my sweetheart so I can register! Will that count?
AwApplesauce
This is exactly what I did for a recent wedding. I found something they wanted from a crummy chain store on their registry, then found an infinitely better, handmade version on etsy! They loved it!
naturalezanica
Felicidades Dorana! My Handmade Registry is a great site, and much needed.
wildmagic
The registry is an awesome site! I had so much fun designing the graphics! Thank to Dorana for setting this up!!!! :)
magikjaz
Yay Dorana!!! congrats on being featured like this!!
I also am proud to be a member of the http://handmaderegistry.com
yoganoodles
Thanks for pointing out that handmade and weddings are the perfect mix! My Namaste' pillowcase (www.yoganoodles.etsy.com) actually began as a wedding gift idea for a friend!
LivaRutmane
I was just searching for something like this!
weddings are so confusing event for me, trying to find perfect gift!
BGBJewelry
This is such a great idea! It really expands our audience and exposure to new people! Thanks Dorana, And a huge thank you for including my earrings in one of your Etsy Minis!
http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com/gro...
Imke
Hey - this is great. Congrats Dorana and thank you so much for including my fortune cookies. Good luck to all of us!
SerendipityCrafts
What a fantastic idea! I know that there are many occasions to make a gift registry but, that doesn't stop me from wanting to get married again :)
Thanks Dorana for including our custom ceramic signature platter at www.MyHandmadeRegistry.com!
Elizabeth (& Hugh)
www.SerendipityCrafts.etsy.com
erinschock
Oh my oh my this is amazing...Im getting married in August and am definitley going to register handmade! Woo!
lalala08
omg keep this around so i can use it next year when i get married!!!!!
PipocaHandmade
Awesome idea! I'd do it all over again to have a handmade registry!
LushPunk
OMG if I were getting married I would totally do this! What a great idea!
breadandroses
The Handmade Registry is a marvelous idea! Since this article is promotiing handmade wedding gifts, perhaps the featured items should have been entirely handmade, too, and not include vintage. It's somewhat conflict of interest & contradictory message. (And I have an Etsy vintage shop too: Asundrynotion.).
designsbyericakortz
Great article! Thank you Dorana for putting this registry together. I am very honored to be a part of http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com !!
NorthwestBridal
Thank you Dorana for including my Swarovski rhinestone bouuqet jewels in the "My $5000 handmade wedding" category on www.MyHandmadeRegistry.com . My handmade Bouquet Jewelry stems are the perfect thing to add sparkle to your wedding bouquet!
MeridianStudio
Absolutely brillian as usual Dorana :D This is such a wonderful idea and without a doubt handmade gifts mean so much more as they really do come from the heart :D
bunnyboutique
Love that French tapestry. It looks like it been passed on from generation to generation. A real vintage treasure.
kunklebaby
Handmade wedding gifts are THE best! I have s few weddings to attend this summer, I've been searching etsy for the perfect presents.
funkeyfinds
::passes out:: that two tired milk glass stand is perfect!
le sigh.
belladonnabykt
Thank you so much Dorana for including my Bella Donna clips on www.MyHandmadeRegistry.com! This is a great write up on your FABULOUS site!! Congratulations!!!
indulgencecouture
Thank you so much for making me a part of this! You must have put so much work into this Dorana - I wouldn't know where to begin getting all this up and running - a big well done on the Registry!!
dorana
THANK YOU SO MUCH for what's truly been a MAGICAL weekend;for all the love and support - i am blessed to be a part of this amazing community! remember that you can create your WISH LIST for ANY event - birthdays, anniversary etc. - not just weddings! :o)
i couldn't do any of this without our site's fellow admin ulixis.etsy.com! she's an amazing asset to our handmade community! thank you uli! :o) may your day be filled with sunshine and smiles!
siempre - dorana
http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com/
mariagreene
Great job Dorana, and congratulations! Everyone, check out http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com
I really enjoy being part of that site.
xoxo
Maria
beaneandco
What a great idea...a wedding registry for Etsy! I wish I could have had something like that when I got married!
eternalimages
Great site. Awesome people on there, very friendly and helpful! Dorana is the best...Congrats!!!
~Jillian :D
DesignOle
I am thrilled to be a part of the handmade registry with my handpainted Wedding Cake ornament. What a wonderful idea for couples and their families and friends searching for something 'special'. Handmade is ALWAYS special!!!
desertembroidery
Wonderful idea! I LOVE working with brides! It always reminds me of when I got married! Remember....say ot with thread!
CreationsAnew
Great ideas for the "not" so run of the mill gift ideas!
Robin
1canoe2
I have some great heirloom letterpress RECIPE CARD BOXES in my shop which I think would make a lovely wedding gift!
Breathless
I'm o excited to be part of my5KHandmadewedding! This and the registry are a great idea!
http://www.Breathless.etsy.com
cpbunch
Thanks for featuring the wonderful site that Dorana created and it is indeed an honor to be featured here!! It's such a great idea to have an Etsy Registry list. I'm so glad to be a part of this site and to help carry out Dorana's vision! KUDOS to you girl!!!!
mmarielle
So true!! I made a complete set of dishes - serving, breakfast, lunch, dinner, cups etc. for my niece's wedding. Personally I would have loved those wonderful sheets!
norakaren
love the ideas,we plan to make a handmade wedding theme for the etsyinspanish team and for our own stores,adorable items
SleepingporchStudio
My son is getting married this August, this would be so cool! They would love this ,as they like vintage. What a great idea.
urbanheirlooms
Such a wonderful idea, this registry! I wish Etsy was around when I got married...
thefabricbar
great article! where was etsy when i got married????
i think the pillow is my favorite!
madgescott157
Thank you sou so much, it's quite wonderful. I just love those blue bowls
beadbeautyboutique
Thank you for letting me know! WOW what an awesome idea Dorana and you've done an excellent job on the site as well;) ((((passing it on))))
BizzieLizzie
Woot for handmade weddings! LOVE the article and have just discovered my Handmade Registry! What an INCREDIBLE place to check out!! I love it when a future bride contacts me to put together bags for her and the bridesmaids - so festive and fun!
BejeweledArts
Thanks dorana. I m proud to be a member of your handmade registry. thanks for having me-
http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com/
LillaDolce
Wow, thanks so much. I got the message that I was listed here with my blue ice poncho pattern but I am not seeing it with the other items. Still it was great to know it had been.
Rebecca
TheInspiredNest
Great article. While I was not etsy "registered" when I got married, I did buy my bridal birdcage veil on etsy. It was my very first etsy purchse from a great shop called MarlaJDesigns.
I think an etsy wedding registry is an awesome idea!



zombuki
craftyfolk
worksofwhimsy
FancifulForm
voleurdebijoux
ModishVintage
littlepancakes
misohappi
BluCille
uncharted
PlutosGiftShop
odiliafu
HouseofSixCats
nullalux
cleobelle
soapsrus
mykonos
lostmykitty
PenguinwareBoutique
SEAMS
vintagedazzle
valnorthwoods
AmyJoTatumBridal
ChocolateBeachFlower
fireetcheddesigns
CutieDynamite
RawOrganique
angelene
bellasparty
Divanni
OhFaro
VivaceCrafts
Liyana
Iammie
cottonbirddesigns
kimikal
Tsurfer
ValerieEssentials
CARAPAPA
StickyGraffiti
laurebelle
Tender
PinkLemonadeBags
lolos
chubbycheeksweaters
vivilian
madebysam
thaifabshop
jerise
ayatasarim
azuredandelion
sunstoneboutique
beautiful, beautiful jewelry! i love the idea of the artist ...
by SilverMadeStudio
on Quit Your Day Job: D...
great!
by RogueRetro
on Etsy Finds: What's Y...
Thanks for the tips I must print off more business ...
by mychildhooddolls
on Holiday Tips for Sel...
Great job, now more time to do what you love.
by woodworkingbymike
on Quit Your Day Job: D...
Loved the tips and I learned a good bit......thanks....you rock.
by onesweetpeach
on Holiday Tips for Sel...
As usual, great picks! I really like the green jumbley ...
by vintagegirldezigns
on Etsy Finds: Makin' A...
Haven't seen the movie yet, but I love the look.
by vintagetheory
on Etsy Finds Decor: On...