How to Create and Share QR Codes for Gift Registries

Anyone who’s planned—or is currently planning—a big celebration like a wedding, baby shower or graduation party knows that the lead-up to the event comes with its fair share of stressful moments. Of course, the big day itself will be full of joy and unforgettable memories. But it takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get there. 

From managing your budget and choosing the perfect color scheme to finalizing the guest list, and, of course, curating a gift registry, it’s no surprise that the process can feel a little overwhelming at times.

While QR Codes can’t take over your to-do list, ​​they can help you simplify sharing a gift registry. With a simple scan, guests will be able to access your online registry and choose from a selection of curated gifts they’ll know you’ll love—no awkward gift conversations or endless back-and-forth messages needed. Your guests simply scan, tap, and voila! 

Here, we’ll look at how to create QR Codes for your registry, plus other smart ways they can streamline your next big celebration.

*Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.

How to create QR Codes for gift registries

A baby shower, graduation party, or wedding registry QR Code makes it effortless for your loved ones to browse a wishlist that you’ve put together and choose the perfect gift for their budget—while ensuring it’s meaningful to you. 

The best part? Setting up a gift registry QR Code is as easy as using it. Here’s how to create a QR Code step by step.

Step 1: Create your gift registry

Before you generate a QR Code, you’ll need to create a digital gift registry: 

• Sign up or log in to your preferred registry site. (Amazon, Target, and MyRegistry are popular platforms.)
  
  
• Add the items you love and organize them as needed.
  
  
• Once your registry is ready, locate its shareable link—this is what your QR Code will direct guests to.

Note, if you’d prefer to receive monetary gifts, simply head into your preferred payments app—be it Venmo or CashApp—and generate a link to your profile. Then, follow the steps below! 

Step 2: Generate your QR Code

Once you have your registry link, it’s time to create your QR Code with QR Code Generator PRO:

1. Sign up or log in to QR Code Generator PRO.
   
   
2. Select URL as your QR Code type.
   
   
3. Paste your gift registry URL into the designated field.
   
   
4. Customize your QR Code template—adjust colors, add a frame, or even include a short message like “Scan to view our registry!” or “Our newlywed fund!”
   
   
5. Select Generate and download your QR Code in PNG format.

Follow QR Code best practices

To ensure your code works seamlessly for all your guests and remains free of scanning issues, follow these best practices:

•  Choose the right QR Code solution: QR Codes are incredibly versatile and can be customized to link to a variety of destinations. With QR Code Generator PRO, you can create either an Event QR Code or Dynamic URL QR Codes to share your registry.   
  
  
• Leverage Dynamic QR Codes: A Dynamic QR Code allows you to edit or update the destination URL even after you’ve printed the code. If you think you’ll need to tweak your registry link or redirect guests to a different landing page before the big day, choose a Dynamic code so you don’t have to create a new code and reprint materials.
  
  
• Test your QR Code before use: Before adding your QR Code to invitations, websites, or signage, test it to ensure it’s scannable from multiple devices and operating systems, and links to the correct webpage. 
  
  
• Be mindful of QR Code design and colors: For maximum scannability, ensure there’s a high contrast between the QR Code and its background. Dark codes on light backgrounds (or vice versa) typically work best.
  
  
• Make your code large enough to scan: QR Codes that are too small can be difficult to scan. As a rule of thumb, your code should be at least 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 in).

How to share gift registry QR Codes

QR Codes can be convenient for you and your guests—but only if they’re accessible! Here are a few of the best ways to share your QR Codes to maximize visibility: 

• On invitations: Print your QR Code on your party invites so guests have plenty of time to shop before the event.
  
  
• In email updates: If you plan to send out emails with further information for your guests, you can place your QR Codes into these messages.
  
  
• On table tents: Place the QR Code on table tents around the venue for last-minute gift buyers.

4 benefits of QR Codes for special events

On the fence about using QR Codes for gift registries for your next event? Here are five compelling reasons to incorporate them: 

1. Ease of use

Creating a QR Code reduces some of the stress of planning a big party. It only takes minutes to produce a beautiful, functioning design—especially with a user-friendly tool like QR Code Generator PRO. It’s as easy as pasting your registry URL, customizing the template, and downloading your code! 

Plus, for guests, QR Codes are a familiar, welcome sight. Research shows that 68% of people used QR Codes at least one time in the last year. Many people intuitively know how to use these codes—and they circumvent the need to search for your registry online or type in a long, clunky URL. 

2. Cost savings & sustainability

It’s no secret that hosting a wedding, baby shower, or any major life event can be expensive. With costs adding up for decor, food, drinks, flowers, and everything in between, it’s unsurprising the average wedding cost $33,000 in 2024.

Luckily, QR Codes can help you cut down on costs—starting with your gift registry communications. Unlike printed inserts or custom-designed gift registry cards, QR Codes are a more environmentally friendly, low- or no-cost alternative. If you don’t need advanced tracking or customization capabilities, you can even generate a sleek Static QR Code that links to your registry—completely free, and without additional paper waste! 

3. Customization

Whether you’re going for a rustic wedding theme, a boho baby shower, or a graduation party, your gift registry QR Code can seamlessly match your event’s aesthetic.

With QR Code Generator PRO, the customization options are endless. You can tweak the code’s appearance to ensure it complements your event, including: 

• Colors: Choose from a range of colors to match your event’s theme.
  
  
• Frames: Add a stylish frame to the QR Code, like a decorative border or a message like “Scan to view our registry!”
  
  
• Shape: Customize the shape of the code’s corners, go for a rounded look instead of the traditional square, and even change the design of the code’s pixelated pattern.
  
  
• Logo/Image: Incorporate a logo or small image in the center of the code—perhaps a photo of you, your wedding date, or a celebratory emoji.

4. Versatility

While QR Codes are fantastic for simplifying baby showers, graduation parties, and wedding gift registries, that’s just the beginning. These clever tools can be used in countless ways to streamline party planning and enhance the guest experience:

• Managing RSVPs:  QR Codes can transform how you manage RSVPs. Instead of asking guests to reply via email or text, a QR Code can link directly to a digital RSVP form via URL. 
  
  
• Seating charts: Another innovative use case is to create a QR Code seating chart. Simply place the QR Code on signage at the event’s entrance, and ask guests to scan as they arrive. 
  
  
• Sharing memories: A QR Code linking to a shared photo album lets guests upload and view event pictures in real-time—ensuring you have a photo album full of moments from your special day. 

Simplify sharing your gift registry with custom QR Codes

QR Codes simplify sharing your gift registry and receiving gifts. Easy to create and quick to share, they give guests instant access to your list, saving you valuable time on guest communications. Plus, with a variety of customization options, these codes are more than just functional—they can align with your event’s aesthetic, adding a polished, tech-savvy touch to the gift-giving process. 

With QR Code Generator PRO, creating custom QR Codes for weddings and other milestone parties is incredibly simple. In just minutes, you can design a bespoke QR Code that reflects your event’s theme—adjusting colors, adding a call to action (CTA), and even including a frame. And, with the ability to easily update the URLs or content connected to the code, you can print and share your QR Codes immediately, without worrying about having to reprint or redistribute the code to your guests. 

Ready to create your gift registry QR Code? Sign up for QR Code Generator PRO here!