Wedding Registries

Registering Do’s and Don’ts

  Registering for the wedding is fun! It’s the chance for you and your fiancé(e) to head out together and really plan for your life together! Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you register and get ready for your life together.  

  Do: 

  Set up your registry early. About 9 months out is good as everyone should know that you’re engaged and be wondering what you’ll need to begin your life together.  

  Register for a wide range of gifts at two or three stores. Remember to have at least one brick and mortar store in the list! Have at least one gift per guest and divide them up by price range. A third of your registry items should be in the $50-150 range and the rest can be from $150 to whatever is appropriate based on what your average guest could afford. Remember to be reasonable!  

  Feel free to request a few items that are considered non-traditional but reflect you two as a couple. You’ll also want to make sure that you provide your guests with traditional items to choose from. Know your guest list! If you have more traditional-type people then you’ll want to register for more traditional than non-traditional gifts. 

  Write thank-you notes as soon as you receive a gift. The idea that a couple has up to a year to respond is inaccurate. You have at most three months after the wedding. But why wait? Each time a gift arrives sit down and write out a thank-you note. It will make it so much easier after the wedding! And remember, thank you notes should always be hand-written. Emails and phone calls are not acceptable. 

  Don’t: 

  Ask outright for money. If you have already established a home with your partner and don’t need traditional items you can open a special savings account with a bank or register for a honeymoon registry, but let these be spread through word of mouth. It’s tacky to ask for money outright!

  Include registry information with your invitations or save-the-dates. This is becoming a popular practice, but is still considered very gauche. Let your guests ask where you are registered when they receive your invitation and do list the information on your wedding website so they can easily find it!

  Keeping these things in mind as you register for gifts and informing your guests is important. You don’t want to step on toes and you want to make sure that you get the things you need in order to start your life together! If you’re not sure what you should include in your registry, think about the thing you need to run a household: towels, sheets, bedspreads, cutlery, dishes and small decor items such as picture frames! Start with these basic items and then include a few things that are uniquely you as a couple! Your guests will love having a variety to choose from!