Wedding Wednesday Wisdom with Amanda Allen of NewlyWish

June 20th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

Want to know where to find chic wedding gifts that break out of the traditional mold?  Amanda Allen can tell you exactly where to find to them—because it took planning her own wedding to ferret out the eclectic mix of stores and service providers she was looking for. NewlyWish is the child of Amanda’s and Robard Williams’s experience and their desire to create an online registry where others could easily find and share ideas and gifts from the sophisticated to the hip, and from place settings to artwork and fitness training sessions. We love that Amanda’s registry also features eco-friendly gift ideas. Amanda talks about trends in the wedding registry and what inspires her work.

 

What are the top trends in registry for 2012?

Of all parts of the wedding planning process, registry is the one that best lends itself to being done online from start to finish, so I think we’ll be seeing even greater use of existing online technologies and platforms as well as the development of new ones to help make the registry creation process simpler and even more attuned to couples’ needs.  One technological “advance” that we’ve seen over the past few of years is the growth of cash registries. Going forward, though, I think couples are going to increasingly focus on products and services for their registries (guests can always give cash or a check in card), drawing on improvements in ecommerce, generally, and registry-specific developments that allow couples to quickly reduce the world of available products down to just those that they want.

 Your go-to social media method:  Facebook or Twitter?

For clients, it’s Facebook, but for communicating with colleagues and friends in the industry, it’s Twitter.  Facebook is a great platform for keeping clients informed about what we’re up to.  People don’t necessarily check it every day, but when they do, we want to make sure that they find something interesting from us – be it a new product, promotion, or referral or something else interesting that is happing in our industry or area.  Also, since FB’s such an important platform, developers are constantly creating new apps that can be fun to try out.

Where do you network and how do you make the time?

 Ahh yes, making the time is key for networking. While it’s tough to say “yes” to every fabulous event, my goal is to make it to at least one industry event a month – whether it’s supporting a colleague’s product launch or anniversary or attending one of the local bridal tradeshows, such as NY Weddings, Wedding Library or the Wedding Salon.  I really try not to overcommit because I always feel a tremendous amount of guilt for accepting an invitation and not being able to make it.

I’ve found that the Engage Luxury Wedding Business Summits have been one of the best networking opportunities for growing my business and establishing relationships that extend well beyond the conferences. I’m off to my third conference next week in Vegas, and I couldn’t be more excited to reconnect with colleagues from both NYC and across the country, as well as meet new friends and explore ways to collaborate and help one another.

What’s your favorite wedding movie?

 Big fan of  Wedding Crashers, particularly the first half.  Don’t know if it’s strictly a wedding movie, but I’ll always sit and watch Meet the Parents if I come across it on cable.

If you could recommend one DIY project to a customer to stay on budget, what would it be?

My favorite DIY recommendation for gifts is one where you have multiple obligations (insert: Bridesmaids gifts!).  Select one of your favorite totes (whether it is monogrammed, has a memorable destination, or is just quirky and fun) and fill it with things you think your girls will love.  The tote will be a keepsake and the contents can be as simple as your gf’s favorite magazine, a box of homemade cookies, a framed picture of the two of you in college…anything that makes it personal and from the heart.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

I’d have to say the most rewarding part of my job is knowing that I’m adding a valuable service to the market – connecting brick-and-mortar shops and independent brands with couples that want a unique and personalized wedding registry – and making sure both constituents are super happy.  I feel rewarded by knowing that our offering is really helping two parties achieve a goal once not available to them: giving the couples choice, personalization and convenience they want for their registry; and for the shops, a technological, sales and marketing platform to reach the registry market. It feels good knowing that it’s a win/win.

Your next birthday: blowout bash or meditative retreat?

 I love a good blowout bash as much as the next gal, but I’m gonna’ have to say meditative retreat.  Registry is really a year-round industry, with couples filling their registries 8 to 12 months before the event, and then a big flurry of activity during the peak summer months, so it feels as though I’ve not had a vacation in forever.  Of course, my meditative retreat can include a few glasses of wine in the evenings, right?

NewlyWish is an online registry and wedding-related gifting service, with the express purpose of helping couples create gift registries that truly reflect their personal styles.  Amanda Allen and Robard Williams have built a network of more than 50 shops in a single, easy-to-use website so that couples can create a registry that includes everything for their home, from kitchen equipment, to tabletop items, bed and bath linens and home décor, as well as a range of unique experiences and less-traditional items such as food and wine, cooking and dancing lessons, artwork, and even tickets to the theater and sporting events. Plus you can find wonderful wedding party gifts and unique bridal accessories curated by some of the best in the business.