Tis the season for both engagements and shopping, which puts me in mind of wedding registries. Registering for ones wedding is one of the more fun aspects of the planning process (right behind cake tasting). But wedding registries are not what they used to be. Brides and grooms no longer just register for their china pattern at their favorite department store. Today couples have endless options of not only where to register, but also what kind of registry they may want.
With people marrying older now, many of us already go into marriages with nice silverware and the KitchenAid mixer that we purchased ourselves. But not registering is hardly an option if you don’t want three fondue pots. Below is my two cents about registering smartly.
1. Register even if you don’t think you need anything
2. Register for an array of price points
3. Register for more than you think you need. A) because things break and B) because people want options
4. Have more than one registry, but probably not more than three. Too many options can be confusing, but two options allow people to choose from where they are comfortable shopping.
5. Think about where your guests live and register somewhere with a store in most states
6. If you have an online registry (something like Amazon.com) offer a bricks and mortar store as well, some people do not shop online
7. Do not include your registry in with your wedding invitation
8. Do put your registry on a wedding website or on your shower invitations
9. Check out return policies, make sure you can easily return gifts and get a refund without a receipt because you will get two of something
10. Think about storage, unless you know you are moving, do not register for more than your home can handle
11. Start your registry in the store and edit it or finish it online. It is too much and too overwhelming to do all in one day at the store with your fiance
12. Write your thank you notes as the gifts come in, that way you won’t get behind.
Happy shopping!
