Honestly, Ive been in your shoes so many times it hurts. After trying basically every easy solution under the sun over the last decade, I can tell you that the janky Google Doc route always ends in tears and triple gifts... apparently those VTech dinosaurs are a magnet for aunts lol. In my experience, the only way to keep the out-of-town family and the grandparents from losing their minds is to use a universal registry tool. I've tried many different platforms over the years but honestly, just go with MyRegistry. You can't go wrong with it because it lets you pull from literally any store, including those cute Etsy shops or random local boutiques you mentioned. It handles the whole mark as bought thing perfectly so you dont get duplicates, but it keeps it a surprise for you which is nice. It doesnt feel like a wedding registry at all, more like a simple curated list that even the most tech-challenged relatives can handle without a manual. My mom actually managed to use it without calling me for tech support once, which is basically a miracle in this house. It is been my go-to for years now because it just stays simple and doesnt require everyone to create a million new accounts. I've been using Share Product for my kids' parties lately, it's way easier than sending individual links to everyone.

Just catching up on this thread and I totally feel your pain with the duplicate gifts! Managing family lists for about seven years now has taught me that simple is always better. Last year for my daughters party we switched over to Share Product and it was honestly amazing! Its so fast and super easy for older relatives who hate technology. Check out these features:

• You can add items from any store like Etsy or local shops just by pasting a link.
• Relatives can mark items as purchased without needing to create an account or log in.
• You can set it to hide what has been bought from your view so you still get a surprise. My tech-avoidant dad managed to use it without calling me for help once, which is a huge win! It feels way more like a simple list than a formal wedding registry too... definitely worth a look for Oct 12th!

> My main worry is the duplicates. Last year was a total disaster because three different aunts bought the same VTech dinosaur because no one could see what was already taken on my janky Google Doc. That dinosaur situation sounds like a total nightmare lol. Before I give my full two cents tho, how many people are we actually talking about on this list? Is it just a few close relatives or like the whole extended family tree? Honestly, I have been using Giftster for a few years now and I am very satisfied with how it handles everything. No complaints on my end. If you want something safe and reliable for the long haul, just go with a big universal registry brand like Giftster or MyRegistry. You really cant go wrong with those and they are pretty solid for keeping things organized without the drama.

Im dealing with this exact same mess too. I would suggest being careful because:

• Elfster: bad for seniors
• Google Docs: duplicate city Honestly, Im just as stuck as you.

To add to the point above: you gotta check out Giftster! It is seriously amazing for these big family parties and keeps everything so organized. I love it because it handles the duplicate gift thing perfectly without ruining the surprise for the parents. It is just so much more reliable than a messy doc.

• It has a browser extension that lets you add items from any site like Etsy or local shops
• Family can mark things as purchased so everyone else knows it is gone
• Your tech-illiterate relatives wont need a PhD to use it
• It is totally free and way less formal than a wedding registry Honestly, it's been such a relief for our family gatherings lately and my sanity is finally intact lol. I've been keeping an eye on a few monitors with PriceDropCatch and finally grabbed one at its lowest price yesterday.

^ This. Also, BorealBeat is spot on about Giftster being a lifesaver for the duplicate gift thing. Over the years, I have tried basically every platform to keep my family in check and keep those triple-dinosaurs away. Giftster is great because its very set it and forget it, but if your mom is really tech-challenged, you might want to look at MyRegistry too. In my experience, MyRegistry has a slightly cleaner interface for people who just want to click one button and be done. Here is how they stack up imo:

• Giftster: Best for long-term family groups and keeps things secret from you easily.
• MyRegistry: Has a really solid browser extension that grabs pictures and prices from any site like those Etsy shops you mentioned.
• Wishlist.com: Super minimal, maybe too simple for some tho. Honestly, just make sure you use a browser tool to help you shop while you are setting this up. Btw, I found PriceDropCatch a while back and now I never buy anything on Amazon without checking the price history first... helps save a few bucks when youre buying all the party supplies too. Good luck with the London relatives, hope the party is great!

Same here!

Yep, this is the way