How to Create a Wedding Registry in Nigeria (Step-by-Step)
Planning a Nigerian wedding is a full-time job. Between the traditional engagement, the church ceremony, the event place coordination, and the back and forth with vendors, the last thing you want is a mountain of duplicate gifts you didn’t ask for.
A wedding registry solves this cleanly. It tells your guests exactly what you need, lets family abroad contribute in their own currency, and means you spend your first year of marriage enjoying your home not wondering what to do with duplicate blenders.
This guide walks you through how to set one up in Nigeria, step by step, including how to handle the unique reality of having both a traditional and a church wedding.
📌 New to the concept? Read our beginner’s guide: “What is a gift registry? A guide for Nigerians” before continuing.
Why Nigerian couples need a wedding registry
Nigerian weddings are famously generous events. Guests spray money, bring gifts, and show up ready to celebrate. But without a registry, generosity can quickly become chaos:
- Three people buy the same blender
- You receive ten sets of plates and no wine glasses
- Your uncle in London wants to send something meaningful but has no idea what to buy
- Well-meaning relatives choose gifts based on their taste, not yours
A registry doesn’t reduce the giving culture, it channels it. Guests still give generously. They just give things you’ll actually use.
🇳🇬 Nigerian context: A Wishgum registry works alongside “spraying” at your reception. Guests who want to give cash still can, and guests who want to buy something specific have a clear guide. Both coexist perfectly.
How to create your wedding registry in Nigeria: 7 steps
Step 1: Sign up on Wishgum
Go to wishgum.com and create a free account. No credit card required, the platform is free to use.
Click “Create a free wihslist” and select “Wedding” as your event type. You’ll be prompted to:
- Select your username (Which determines your registry a custom URL), e.g. wishgum.com/amaka-and-chidi
- Add a short message to guests (optional but recommended)
- Adde delivery address and phone number (this is necessary for shipping, if you want gift items to be shipped)
✏️ Tip: Choose a username that’s easy to type from memory. Your guests will be copying it from a WhatsApp message or reading it off an invitation card.
Step 2: Add items to your registry
This is the fun part. Start adding items you genuinely need for your home and life together. Here’s how to think about it:
For your home (the essentials)
- Bed and bath: bedsheets, towels, duvet covers (specify size — 6x6, 7x7)
- Kitchen: blender, air fryer, pots set, cutlery, dinner plates
- Living room: rug, curtains, throw pillows, wall art
- Bedroom: bedside lamps, hangers, wardrobe organiser
- Electronics: smart TV, soundbar, kettle, toaster
Experience and cash fund goals
- Honeymoon fund
- Home furnishing fund
- Appliance fund
- Emergency fund contribution
💡 Tip: For expensive items on the list, you can use the contribution feature, to let guests donate towards a gift. This allows multiple to buy an item together.
Step 3: Add your bank account.
For cash gifts, payment is made directly into your bank account as soon as guest make the contribution. This is why it's essential to add your bank account. Payment is disbursed immediately and within 24 hours at the latest.
Step 4: Write a warm message to your guests
Most couples skip this, and they shouldn’t. A short, personal note on your registry page removes any awkwardness and sets the right tone. Something like:
“We’re so grateful you’re celebrating with us. If you’d like to bring a gift, we’ve put together a small list of things that would truly help us start our home. But your presence is already the best gift. With love — Amaka & Chidi”
This kind of message makes even registry-sceptical relatives feel warm about using it.
Step 5: Share your registry link everywhere
A registry is useless if people don’t know about it. Here’s where to share your Wishgum link:
On your wedding invitation
Add a small line at the bottom of your invite: “Our gift registry: wishgum.com/w/your-names”. You can also add a QR-code of your registry link to the invitation for guests to easily scan.
WhatsApp invitation message
When sending your invitation digitally on WhatsApp, include the registry link in the message. Keep it low-pressure: “For those asking about gifts, here’s our registry if you’d like to use it.”
Instagram and social media
Add your registry link to your Instagram bio in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Share a post explaining how to use it.
Your wedding website
If you have a wedding website, add a dedicated “Gifts” or “Registry” page with your Wishgum link.
Step 6: Manage your registry as gifts come in
Once your registry is live, you can track purchases in real time on your Wishgum dashboard. A few things to stay on top of:
- Check regularly so you can thank givers promptly
- Add new items if popular ones sell out
- Update cash fund progress so guests see how close you are to your goals
- Close or hide the registry after your last event
For cash fund contributions, you’ll receive payouts to your Nigerian bank account. For physical items, gifts are delivered within weeks of your event.
Step 7: Send thank-you messages
This is non-negotiable, and it’s easy because Wishgum tells you exactly who bought what. Send a personalised WhatsApp message or voice note to each giver within 2 weeks of your wedding. You can also use the "send thank you" feature on wishgum. This sends an email directly to your gift giver.
→ Create your free Wishgum wedding registry now — wishgum.com
5 common mistakes Nigerian couples make with wedding registries
- Only adding expensive items: Include gifts at every price point. ₦5,000 items are just as important as ₦200,000 ones.
- Not sharing it widely enough: If guests don’t know the registry exists, it doesn’t help. Share it at least 3 ways: invite, WhatsApp, social media.
- Creating it too late: Set up your registry at least 8 weeks before your wedding. Guests abroad need time to plan.
- Forgetting the diaspora: Family in the UK, US, and Canada want to give and be part of your day. Share it with them as well.
- Never updating it: If items are bought out before your wedding, other guests won't know what to gift. Check your registry every 2 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to include a registry link on a Nigerian wedding invitation?
No, and this is changing rapidly. Most Nigerian couples now include their registry link on WhatsApp invitations and even printed cards. Frame it positively: “For those who wish to give a gift, we’ve created a registry at...” It’s helpful, not demanding.
Can I create a registry for both my traditional and church wedding?
Yes. You can create a single combined registry on Wishgum that covers both events, or two separate ones if your guest lists are very different. Most couples find a single registry easier to manage and share.
How do guests abroad pay on a Nigerian wedding registry?
Wishgum supports foreign currency contributions, so your diaspora family and friends can contribute without needing a Nigerian bank account or Naira. Payouts to you are still made in Naira to your local account.
When should I set up my wedding registry?
Ideally 8–12 weeks before your wedding date. This gives guests enough time to plan and make contributions.
What if some guests refuse to use a registry and just bring gifts anyway?
That’s perfectly fine. The registry is an option, not a mandate. Many guests will still spray money or bring gifts of their choice. The registry just helps the ones who want guidance.
You’re ready to create your wedding registry
A Nigerian wedding is one of the most joyful, generous, and communal events in the world. A registry doesn’t change that, it makes it work better for everyone.
Your guests want to celebrate you well. Your registry gives them the clearest path to do it. Set it up early, share it widely, and spend your wedding day fully present not worrying about what you’ll do with four matching duvets.
→ Create your free Wishgum wedding registry in 2 minutes — wishgum.com
