Etsy is already a great place to search for unique save-the-date cards, charming centerpieces and other creative wedding inspiration — so now that the online marketplace for handcrafted goods has announced it will start its own wedding registry, it feels like a match made in heaven.
Etsy Registry was announced via blog post on the company’s news blog Wednesday morning along with a forecast of upcoming wedding trends. In the post, the company’s resident expert on the topic, Dayna Isom Johnson, said the site has seen a “staggering” 872% increase in searches for handmade gifts. She notes that the data indicates couples and their guests are moving away from mass-produced gifts.
“In addition to handmade and vintage, couples can also register for personalized items and specify the exact customization for their guests, making Etsy a one-stop-shop for gifts, wedding decor, and even bridal party items — all while supporting small businesses,” Johnson said in the post.
Etsy picked a good time to enter the registry game, with major player Bed Bath & Beyond announcing closures earlier this year. Even before Bed Bath & Beyond bowed out, the chain’s wedding registry business had lost ground to competitors such as Amazon, Target and Williams-Sonoma, CNN Business reported. The outlet also reported Etsy gained 7 million new customers in its last quarter and has 90 million active shoppers on its marketplace in total.
In its 2023 wedding trend guide, Etsy cites “lovecore” (think pinks and reds), oversized florals, Western-inspired weddings and statement accessories as ideas in vogue this year. Searches are also up for creative wedding programs, handmade wedding rings, and custom gifts that celebrate a couple’s story, like portraits, song plaques and recipe boxes.
As if the trend report wasn’t enough, the online handmade marketplace tapped a celebrity couple to highlight alongside its registry rollout. Antoni Porowski of Queer Eye fame and his fiancé, Kevin Harrington, created their own curated registry on the site showcasing talented makers from all over the world.
Do you know a crafty couple who would register on Etsy?
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