Host guides · 4 min read
Sharing your list with guests
A registry only helps once guests can find it. The good news: you only need one link, and it works everywhere, from a wedding website to the family group chat.
Decide who can see it
In Settings you can choose who sees your registry. “Anyone with the link” is the usual pick: guests you send it to can open it, but it doesn't show up when strangers search TheBowList. “Public” also lets guests find it by searching your names, which helps when relatives don't have the link. “Password protected” asks for a password you choose.
- Public is handy for big weddings where great-aunts will search rather than ask.
- A password adds a step for every guest, so use it only if you really need it.
Make the page feel like yours
Before you share, add a cover photo, pick a page style and write a short welcome note. Guests are far more likely to browse a page that looks like you than a plain list.
- Use the welcome note for thanks, the date and any wishes, like “we'd love help with the honeymoon”.
- Tap “See what guests see” on the Share tab to check it the way they will.
Where to share the link
Copy your link from the Share tab and put it wherever your guests already look: your wedding or event website, the details card in your invitations, the group chat, an email to family, or your shower invite on Evite or Paperless Post.
- On a phone, the Share button on your registry page opens your phone's own share sheet.
- Guests can pass the link on themselves with the Share button on your page, so ask your parents or wedding party to help spread it.
What to say
Keep it light and lead with thanks. A line like “Your company is the best gift. If you'd like to celebrate with something more, we've put a few ideas together here” works for almost any occasion.
Shower and party hosts can share it for you. In many families that's the expected way, and it keeps the couple or parents-to-be from having to ask.
- Mention cash funds gently: “a few experiences we're saving for” reads better than “we'd prefer money”.
- Send one reminder a couple of weeks before the event. More than that starts to feel pushy.
Keep the surprise if you like
Spoiler mode hides what guests have bought from you, so gifts are still a surprise on the day. Guests still see what's taken, so you won't get duplicates. Turn it off whenever you're ready to see everything.
- Turn spoiler mode off before writing thank-yous, so you can see who gave what.
Ready to try it?
Open your registry to put this guide to work. Everything here is free.