One of my favorite tasks before my wedding was setting up our gift registries. Walking through the stores with a hand-held scanner gave me a strange sense of importance;
people were waiting for me to tell them what I wanted so they could buy it for me…cool! Of course I didn’t let my new-found power go to my head; my guests would want to
help me set up my house, not get me the purse that would match my new dress. The whole purpose of a registry after all is to point your friends and family in the direction
of things you and your new hubby will need to start your life together. Before you head out to the nearest store to start scanning everything in sight, here are 5 tips that
you’ll want to keep in mind.
1. Don’t wait to register- No you won’t look desperate or greedy if you register right after announcing your engagement; it actually shows you’re being considerate of your
guests. Remember that your registries won’t just be used for the wedding itself but also for the showers and parties you’ll be having. If you have a number of expensive
items on your list then registering early will ensure that your friends and family have enough time to plan for a group gift or decide who’s purchasing what. Some of your
guests may even require a little extra time to include gift-buying in their budget and knowing what you’re asking for will give them an idea of how much to save!
2. Register for your lifestyle- before you start scanning a dinner service for 20 think about how often you’ll use it. If large dinner parties are definitely part of your future
then go for it but if you prefer smaller gatherings then register for something more realistic. The same goes for everything else you’ll add to your list. If you don’t like to
cook but your hubby loves to barbeque then ask for just the essential kitchen items and go big with the grill accessories. Don’t feel like you have to add china or that giant
countertop mixer to your registry if you know you’ll never need them. Your guests want to buy you things that you’ll use, not that will sit on a shelf until your 25th anniversary.
3. Register together if possible- Going with your fiancé will ensure that you’re registering for things you both feel are important. To keep things balanced try splitting up the
responsibilities. If you get your way on the bath accessories then let him have his way when it comes to electronics. My husband-to-be was working full-time and going to school
during our engagement so registering together was not an option. If you find yourself in a similar situation then make sure you talk over what you need before heading off without
him. Try making one list of the things you both already have and another for the things he’d like included on the registry. Since most stores offer on-line registries, your man
can go back and add things on himself after you do the initial set-up; that way he’ll still be included if he can’t go with you at the start!
4. Don’t limit yourself to one store- Registering at a couple different stores will help make sure you’re providing a lot of different choices for your guests; this is especially
important if you’re having a large wedding or multiple showers. As more things start disappearing off your list you may need to go back and add more to it and the more places
you’re set up with the easier that will be. It also gives your friends and family gift options at a variety of different prices levels. That way your starving-student guests
won’t feel left out if they can’t afford the crystal goblets left on your list. Finally, choosing several different stores to register with will also ensure you’ve covered all
the necessities since some specialize in kitchen items while others are devoted to bed and bath things. Variety is key when it comes to registering so make sure you don’t limit
yourself…or your guests!
5. Think outside the box- If you and your future hubby have any special interests consider including them in your registry. Perhaps you’re really into camping or love sports.
Maybe you live to ski or can’t get enough snorkeling. Whatever your hobbies may be, there are sure to be stores that cater to them and now many of those places provide gift-registries.
Another option is to add gift cards to your list. More and more stores are allowing couples to add these to their registries. It’s a great way to give yourself a cushion for any
unexpected needs that might pop up post-wedding. It also lets the guest who agonizes about the perfect gift find a can’t-fail solution!
Don’t rush through setting up your registries; go when you have plenty of time and take a good support team. Most of all have fun! This is one of the only times in your adult life
where you’ll be able to make out a list pages long of things you want and have people actually buy them for you! Now get out there and start scanning!
- Kelsey Gonzalez