How To Add Amazon Registry To Zola

Near
Latest Posts

Founder at Dearest Yous Tomorrow

Sue Fox founded Love You Tomorrow. Love You Tomorrow began every bit a passion projection in 2016. This was around the time when many of Sue's friends and family unit members were getting married. Knowing her expertise, they oft sought out her communication on wedding and engagement rings.

It wasn't until the 1920'southward when Macy's introduced a wedding registry that such a affair existed. Before and then, giving gifts was a tradition carried over from the idea of wedding dowries, and there were some guidelines, simply likewise a lot of guesswork when information technology came to selecting a gift for the couple. That's why I created this full comparison of Zola vs Amazon, so you tin brand an informed selection.

Just fifty-fifty with registries, selecting gifts meant visiting a brick and mortar store, sometimes to find items out of stock. It was also easier to go duplicates of items.

By 2010, 88% of engaged couples were using wedding registries, the majority partially, if not almost entirely, e-commerce based.

But while yous tin can't argue with the convenience of nuptials registries, selecting i can be downright daunting, when in that location are then many, and more than emerging every twelvemonth.

We'll have a look two of the about popular options–Zola and Amazon–and compare the two registries based on policies, products, and services offered.

Before You Shop: What You lot Should Know About Any Wedding Registry

No matter what registry you determine is best for you, information technology'due south of import to get a sense of what the registry offers and how, or if, it meets your needs. Ane clue? Hymeneals registries should make the procedure of requesting gifts (and souvenir giving, for the guests) easy and one less affair to worry about. If creating a registry is causing more headaches, chances are it'south not a slap-up fit.

Above all, the best wedding registries, at a minimum, should:

Have clear policies and terms of use
Have substantial customer support
Have a expert diverseness of gifts to choose from
Exist Organized and easy to navigate for both you and guests
Help you keep rails of your gifts
Impose no direct cost to y'all (with some exceptions, like purchasing a unique domain proper noun)

Zola Wedding Registry

Nosotros'll outset off by taking a look at Zola for 2 reasons: for ane, it'due south an arguably less known name than the behemothic Amazon, and for another, information technology's solely in business concern for all things related to wedding registries.

While it's fabricated a large proper noun for itself, Zola is relatively new–the company started up in 2013, and while at that place are enough of positive reviews across various platforms, Zola, like other smaller online companies, is not registered with the Better Business Bureau.

And then again, both Zola and Amazon's wedding registry services are costless to ready and utilize for engaged couples.

Wedding Services | Zola

Why I Prefer Zola:

I am often asked, "what is the all-time wedding registry service?" While it can depend on a few factors, my #1 get-to pick has to be Zola. It is more customizable and features hundreds of boosted merchant integrations.

Get the Best Registry

Nosotros earn a commission if yous click this link and make a purchase at no boosted cost to you.

The Pitch:

Zola touts itself as a 'free guide of wedding planning tools' with over 200 souvenir guides, piece of cake registration, a blog, and promotional events.
Zola isn't simply pitching its wedding registry: instead, a Zola registry comes with a number of complementary services like:
Adept Gift Giving/ Registry Advice
Creating your own complimentary wedding website
Free Shipping
App versions for IOS, with Android version on the way

Zola is a one-stop sort of thing: the idea is you'll have everything in 1 centralized places. While some couples opt to link separate registries to a separate wedding ceremony site, you can create a website, registry, and get communication all in one spot. For some this might feel confining, but more many couples, especially anyone who struggles with organization, it tin can be a large plus.

The Fine Print:

Before you get besides invested in whatsoever registry, information technology's worth taking a look at the company'due south terms and policies. Fortunately, information technology's easy to navigate on Zola and easy enough to get some information.

Fees: Zola makes its acquirement through fees it charges guests when they make their purchase. A ii.5% fee is added to items. In other words, a gift costing $97.50 will cost the invitee $100 before taxes.
Returns: Must be fabricated within ten days. Items that are final sale only include perishables, anything that'south been customized, or anything with a monogram. Buyers are refunded via a method of payment; the couple is refunded with Zola shop credit, which never expires.
Websites are free, but a unique/ non-Zola domain name costs money
Privacy Policies: Whatsoever data you enter may be collected, including simply not express to: names, date of the wedding, payment info, shipping info, OP system, browsing history, and search terms. While Zola promises it does not sell to 3rd parties, it does allow tertiary parties to collect some of this information. Your postal address may also be visible for marketers.
Terms of Use: Hymeneals registry and website updates are your responsibility. Any caching, copyright misuse or soliciting is prohibited. Too prohibited: links to competing registries
A Concrete Storefront in NY allows you to see featured items on showcase

To exist fair, many of these policies are adequately standard, merely they should give some a little pause. Make certain you fully understand and feel comfortable with Zola's privacy policies, and also make sure guests are aware of the relatively modest fourth dimension allotted for returns.

Creating a Registry

Bells and whistles aside, Zola is outset and foremost a wedding registry, and there'due south much to exist pleased about. For one, the promise of easy ready is lived upward to. To open a registry, you lot but create a new login or login with Facebook. Yous'll and then exist prompted to give your name, wedding date, and then you can proceed to select items to create your registry.

Simply you're non on your own when it comes to finding and selecting items. While Zola boasts a large inventory of over fifty,000 items, experiences, and funds (more than on that later), it likewise features corking categories that brand information technology easy to find what you're looking for:

Kitchen
Tabletop
Bed & Bath
Furniture
Home
Weekend (Hiking/Camping ground, Pets, Grills, etc)
Experiences (Gift cards, photo book, donations to charitable causes)
Cash Funds (For paying off big purchases, honeymoons, smaller getaways, and pocket-sized services like massages, museums, and fifty-fifty yoga classes)

Y'all'll find plenty of big name brands and quality items, but what really sets Zola apart, bated from its organisation and gift guides, is the ability to purchase towards something more than unconventional, similar a charity or a honeymoon. These are things couples are increasingly looking for aside from the traditional kitchenware, and Zola really delivers.

Integrated (and Gratis) Websites

Zola isn't the very best for creating a wedding website–but it's non a bad choice, either. While information technology may not accept all the tools a larger site like The Knot would, it does offer over 100 design templates, many catered to fit specific wedding themes and styles.

And like creating a registry, it'south pretty simple to do:

Select a Design/Template
Add Details, Photos, Text, and Travel Info
Share with an option to print the website accost for salve-the-dates

What's corking is that by creating a free website, you'll automatically enable your registry to sync, then guests volition easily be able to find your registry from your site. Yous can fifty-fifty edit privacy settings and make your site searchable via Google, then only guests volition exist able to observe information technology.

A downside: sharing isn't as intuitive every bit some sites; there'south not an easy way to share via social media unless yous re-create and paste the link yourself.

Virtual Icing on the Cake: For Guests

Something that registries oftentimes get incorrect: they are catered for the couple but non then much for guests. Zola has some features that nicely welcome both guests and engaged couples to make the feel more seamless.

Here are just a few:

Guests can R.Due south.V.P. online (through a hymeneals website)
Souvenir Tracker shows what gifts have been received and keeps rails of shipping dates
Registry Checklist provides a template of typical items and suggestions for creating a registry
Guests relish free shipping and their choice of a shipping date
Selection for Group Gifts (guests pay role of a larger items' worth) and Toll Matching

While some of Zola's privacy policies are not optimal and there are some limitations in terms of what gifts you can purchase, Zola shines in its integrated features, ability to source unusual gifts, and services to assistance manage both the registry and the wedding itself.

Amazon Wedding Registry

Information technology's near incommunicable to non have heard of Amazon, as the giant of all things e-commerce. In its twenty-third year of business, Amazon continues to acquire and partner with more and more than companies (even brick and mortar franchises like Whole Foods). And while it's a giant considering it offers customer service and an enormous collection of adept for sale, it too has come up under some fire.

In 2014, Amazon was confronted past the Federal Trade Commission and had to arrange its practices (and was investigated once more final yr). It holds an A- with the Better Business Bureau, which, while not optimal, still holds as a reputable company.

If nothing else, controversies aside, if Amazon knows something, information technology's east-commerce and the ability to bulldoze traffic to a wide range of services and products. And considering of its popularity, it'south the offset choice for many engaged couples when it comes to creating a wedding registry.

The Pitch:

Amazon sells itself as a Universal Wedding Tool. And that'southward not just an empty phrase. What that means is admission to literally about any souvenir you tin find online. Translation: guests can select gifts, and y'all can add gifts, even if they're not on Amazon.

That means endless possibilities and plenty of flexibility. It likewise, for some, might be a bit overwhelming. Amazon mostly focuses on admission to a virtually countless inventory, customer service, and discounts for Prime Members.

While Zola focuses on services, Amazon focuses more on sheer access.

The Fine Print:

Every bit you might imagine, there is less in the way of policies specific to the nuptials registry, and more umbrella policies and terms of use for Amazon Online equally a whole.

At any time, consumers can access their purchase history, personal data, and recent purchases or browsing sessions
Amazon's revenue is generated through tertiary-political party target ads. Cookies are used to track your browsing history, and data like date, time, and operating organization used in admission.
Deals for Amazon Prime Members: include free shipping for purchases over $25; 5% buyback on select 'big items'; Finance Options through Amazon Store Gift Cards; Select Brands offer a free souvenir to guests upon buy
Generous 180-twenty-four hours return policy (some restrictions may apply)

If y'all and a good bargain of your guests are Amazon Prime Members, there'south enough of reasons to consider a registry with Amazon. Not but is information technology a familiar site to navigate, just they won't be a charged a fee (similar Zola) and can still enjoy the perks of free shipping and finance options.

On the other mitt, not-Prime number Members may feel a little frustrated by the discrepancy of benefits.

Creating a Registry

Like Zola, Amazon makes it pretty simple to create a registry. Subsequently yous log in and supply basic details, though, you accept a few more than options to assist your guests decide what they should buy. At that place'south also easier sharing options.

Updates are registered within 15 minutes
You can share your registry via Facebook, email, and/or Twitter
Partners can be invited to edit the registry
Upload pictures, personal notes, and utilise a highlight characteristic to show what gifts are a priority, and brand others stand out

As well similar Zola, Amazon features a Souvenir Tracker and allows for group gifting for bigger items (any leftover items paid towards only not completely for will be given as store credit). You tin fifty-fifty enable or disable gifts for certain guests, so what they see on the registry is customized to/for them.

Creating a Website

Amazon doesn't offering its own website services. Instead, information technology's partnered with the Knot. And while at that place is an pick to sync a website (complimentary) from The Knot with Amazon, information technology'southward not equally integrated every bit what Zola offers. Then again, the flexibility may be a plus for some couples, and others may prefer creating a website with The Knot.

Other Noteworthy Features

Since Amazon'south supply as gifts is seemingly countless and constantly changing, there isn't much point to discuss what products it has to offer. You can shop or search past filters similar:

Nearly Popular
Brand
Gift Cards
Style (such equally Modernistic, Eclectic, Home, etc)
Finally, couples will enjoy the option to transport virtual thank yous's to guests, and the ability to handle returns online.

Concluding Thoughts: Zola or Amazon?

It all comes down to a matter of preference. While Amazon has been in concern longer, information technology also has more complaints and concerns. While Zola offers more in terms of services and unique gift options, Amazon has unparalleled admission to a massive inventory of gifts beyond the spider web.

Choose Amazon : if y'all want little to no restrictions on gifts to add to your registry. You lot also might consider Amazon if y'all prefer working with The Knot to create a site, are an gorging social media user, and if you have a practiced deal of guests who are Amazon Prime Members.

Choose Zola : if you want to register with a site devoted solely to registries, and practise amend with a big simply slightly more than express selection. If you want everything in the same place, require arrangement, or want to add unconventional gifts like funds for experiences, this is the better bet.

Wedding Services | Zola

Why I Prefer Zola:

I am often asked, "what is the best hymeneals registry service?" While it can depend on a few factors, my #i become-to selection has to exist Zola. Information technology is more customizable and features hundreds of additional merchant integrations.

Go the Best Registry

We earn a commission if you click this link and brand a buy at no additional cost to you lot.

Further Research on Wedding Registry'southward

Zola versus MyRegistry Compared
Best Honeyfund Alternatives
WeddingWire vs The Knot