How to Choose the Best Wedding Registry

eHow
June 30, 2011

Let’s be honest: aside from marrying the one you love, registering for gifts is the best part of getting married. A wish list for the beginning of married life, the registry should include everything you need and a few things you want, too. Crafting the perfect registry can be daunting with so many options, questions of etiquette, and practical concerns regarding space limitations, but there are no hard and fast rules of registering. Have fun and let your tastes guide you.

Step 1
Register early and often. Friends and family will want to send gifts for the engagement and shower before the wedding, so give them something to choose from early. You can update the registry throughout your engagement, but start with a foundation for the early birds.

Step 2
Choose several stores. Don’t rely on one store for your entire registry. Setting up lists at multiple stores gives both you and your guests a wider variety to choose from. Being considerate of your guests is an important part of registering. After all, they are buying you gifts. At least one of your registries should be available online. Most major department stores have this feature, as well as many specialty stores. At least one store should be brick-and-mortar for the traditionalists who wish to physically select your gift.

Step 3
Select gifts at various price points. Don’t register for only big ticket items. The bulk of your registry should be in the low to mid-price range and rounded out with a few expensive items. Guests may wish to purchase several moderately priced gifts, groups may want to pitch in for a large, lavish gift and some may only be able to offer a small token. Be considerate of your guests’ needs and preferences.

Step 4
Consider how you live. If you and your future spouse will get more mileage out of a kayak than a china set, register for the kayak. Non-traditional items display your personalities and give guests the option to choose something they know you’ll love. Register for the things you want, but include some conventional items for the traditionalists who want to be sure you have a toaster.

Step 5
Include gift cards on the registry. It is considered terribly rude to ask for cash outright, but gift cards to the stores you are registered in serve a dual purpose: they are no-brainers for guests, and they give you the freedom to choose your own gifts.

Step 6
Check the return and completion policies at the stores where you register. Liberal return policies are ideal in case you receive duplicate gifts or decide later that there is no room for an espresso machine. Some stores also have registry completion deals, where they offer a discount on any items you buy from your own registry after the wedding.

Step 7
Register for everything. You’ll never have another opportunity to receive so many gifts, so don’t be shy. A good rule of thumb is to register for twice as many gifts as there are guests, and keep the registry well-stocked to give guests a variety of things to choose from.

References
“Real Simple”; Wedding Registry Do’s and Don’ts; Ingela Ratledge
The Knot: Wedding Registry: 10 Tips on Registering for Wedding Gifts

Resources
“Real Simple”; 10 Common Registry Questions