Registry

By and large, couples use their wedding registry to outfit a new home. Maybe you really need a new set of steak knives, are itching for a KitchenAid mixer, or have been dreaming of stemware, silverware, and fine china to add to your grandmother’s heirloom pieces. Experts at your local fine china retailers can help you mix and match to create a unique, eclectic collection. These kinds of household necessities and niceties are what traditional wedding registries are made of.

Select up to three or four stores that feel like a good fit. Registering at more than four places just makes more work for you, since you may have to complete and manage it along the way if not using a registry hub site.

Ideally, visit each store so you can see and touch various items before finalizing your selections. A retail store offers the convenance and fun of a barcode scanner to easily add gifts to your list. Double check the return policies because the range can vary greatly. For things you don’t need to see and touch, feel free to register online for the sake of convenience.

Online shopping is truly revolutionizing the wedding registry experience. When it comes to choosing retailers for your registry, consider using some stores with physical locations also. Some guests still prefer to shop in-store. An added bonus to in-person shopping: Most full-service stores offer a great deal of free registry help, and you’re encouraged to take advantage of this service.
It’s important to stay on top of what’s being purchased. Some stores and sites send automatic alerts when something has been bought off your registry. For others, you’ll have to check in every few weeks or so. This is especially critical as you near your wedding day. If the items remaining on your registry have dwindled, add to the list to accommodate any guests who are last-minute shoppers.

Consider what you already have as a couple, and think about what you want and need as you start your lives together. Most couples take this opportunity to round out their home’s basic goods for their kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.

However, it’s also customary to register for things that you would never buy for yourselves, but would help you live your newlywed life to the fullest. Don’t limit yourselves to just your current lifestyle. Look to the future and register for items you can see yourselves using down the road. For example, while you might not need that gorgeous serving platter in your daily lives, it might be perfect for hosting future holiday gatherings.

When it comes time to make your final selections, be sure to make decisions together. Include gifts in all price ranges, so that each guest can find something within their budget. Select more gifts than there are guests (remembering that every couple counts as “one”) to ensure that there are enough items to cover not only the wedding itself but any showers, too.

As many couples share a home before tying the knot these days, some couples feel they already have enough home items. Luckily, there are countless websites that allow couples to register for home goods and more intangible goodies.

Some popular Websites like Zola, MyRegistry, Joy and others, allow you to host your entire registry in one place, including your picks from various retail stores. They also give you the option to highlight certain items as a “group gift”, allowing guests to put a monetary gift of their choosing toward your registry’s pricier items. Fees for cash gifts may include a processing fee so read the details.

Similar to the group gift concept, online registry hubs, such as Honeyfund, give couples the option of registering for money alone, for a honeymoon fund or a first home fund. And if you truly don’t have anything that you want or need, you can always invite guests to donate to a favorite charity as their gift to you. Some sites allow you to include a link to the charity of your choice, as part of your registry.

Just as a wedding website is a no-brainer, it’s also easy as pie to include a link to your wedding registry on your website. Some wedding website platforms even allow guests to purchase registry items without ever leaving your site.

When sending out your wedding invitations, avoid calling out your registry specifically. It’s not a classy move. However, you can include your wedding website URL on your invites, which will accomplish the same thing without appearing greedy. And when it comes time for wedding showers, it is entirely appropriate for the host or hostess to include your registry information on the shower invites.

After your guests have been kind enough to send you a lovely gift, make sure to respond promptly and graciously with a heartfelt thank-you note. Do your utmost to handwrite each note and keep it personal and timely. If you receive gifts before the wedding, send the note out within two weeks at most. Trust us: You will not have more time after the wedding. For gifts received at or after the wedding, thank you notes should ideally be sent within four to six weeks — but of course the earlier, the better.

Most stores will keep your gift registry on file for at least a year after the wedding date, and sometimes they’ll even offer you a discount for the items that are still on your list. Take this opportunity to check out what’s left on your registry and decide what you can’t live without. You might be able to use some of your wedding gift cards to purchase any remaining must-haves.
No matter how you register, what items you choose, or how you get the word out to your wedding guests, remember that any wedding present is a gift of love. Cherish these gifts, show your gratitude, and count your blessings.