The Most Sought-After Wedding Gifts Of the Year — Airbnb Stays, Sports Tickets and House Payments Are Now Coveted

The Knot wedding planning website offers advice on everything from invitations and etiquette to attire. It has become a one-stop shop for many couples anticipating their big day. The Knot’s quickly become one of the most complete wedding registry sites as well.

If you want to know what the most popular gifts are in any category, look no further than the annual The Knot Registry Awards, which feature the most requested items and expert picks.

You might be surprised by this year’s hottest wedding gift trends. PaperCity caught up with Senior Editor of Weddings at The Knot, Hannah Nowack for more wedding insights.

Paper City: What makes The Knot registry so unique?

Hannah Nowack: Unlike other registry offerings, The Knot is a one-stop-shop destination. Within The Knot Registry Store, couples can access products, cash funds, experiences, gift cards, charitable donations and registries from all the top registry retailers and sync them into one list.

Couples can easily manage and share their registry with guests through their own wedding website or directly from their custom registry URL. They can also stay organized and up-to-date with features such as The Knot Registry’s Gift Tracker – a tool that notifies couples when they have a new gift coming their way while tracking which gifts were purchased, and by whom.

PC: By registering at The Knot Registry, brides and grooms can register at all your partner retailers as well?

Nowack: Yes, The Knot Registry makes the registry process a breeze. Couples can choose products within The Knot Registry Store and if they create registries with other retailers, such as Wayfair, Crate & Barrel, Target and Amazon, they can link them back to their The Knot Registry for a streamlined experience.

PC: Why are virtual gifts and experiential gifts so trendy these days?

Nowack: The last two-plus years of the pandemic have caused couples to reevaluate what they value. Couples are more empowered than ever to prioritize what matters to them —and they’re becoming more forthright about registering for the items they truly want.

This can be anything from cash funds for the couple to adopt and raise a puppy together to helping the couple give back to their community to landing courtside seats to their favorite sporting event.

Virtual gifts are also on the rise. Gift cards and cash funds are quickly becoming the most sought-after gifts on registries, as couples can put these towards airfare and travel stays, as well as honeymoons and house payments. Among this year’s winners of The Knot Registry Awards, Airbnb and Delta Airlines are currently two of the most registered-for gift cards on The Knot Registry Store.

PC: Why has The Knot Registry decided to offer sports tickets across all major sports categories this year? Has this been a big hit so far?

Nowack: It’s our goal to provide couples with a variety of gift options to choose from. As the only major registry to offer sports events ticketing, The Knot Registry Store makes it easy for couples to request gifts that reflect their personalities and to share experiences that will last a lifetime.

Our offerings for experiences beyond sports ticketing range from local wine tastings and cooking classes to international activities such as sunset sailing in Trinidad and Tobago or zip-lining in Puerto Rico and parasailing in Belize.

PC: How can The Knot Registry Awards help gifters and registrants alike narrow down their search for the perfect wedding gifts? 

Nowack: We know that setting up a registry can at times seem daunting or overwhelming. That’s where we come in.

Through The Knot’s Annual Registry Awards, The Knot editors test and compile their expert recommendations for gifts that have been highly requested by our registered couples. A perfect guide for newly engaged couples to build their registries, the awards cover plenty of categories from kitchenware and smart home devices to outdoor and travel.

The best registries consist of a wide selection of desired gifts in multiple price points so that guests can choose what best aligns with their personal budgets, which is why The Knot Registry Store is constantly making updates and adding to our offerings.