Picture this: the wedding is over, your guests have all gone home and the most anticipated moment of the evening has arrived at last. That’s right: it’s time to unveil the wedding gifts (contrary to what you were thinking). As you and your husband “ooh” and “ahh” over the lovely pieces of china and beautifully cut vases, those joyous sounds could quickly transform into “hmms” and “ughs” when you unwrap yet another toaster.
As a wedding guest, it’s difficult enough to dress to impress at the reception, but coming up with the perfect gift is next to impossible. Which is why we should be on our feet praising the mastermind behind the idea of the gift registry. Here are Weddingbells’ three easy steps to registering.
Pick and Choose
Make sure to register at least six months before the wedding to give your guests time to purchase gifts for the bridal shower and reception. First, make a list of products you need, whether it’s hand towels or a dining set. Next comes the fun part: pick a couple of stores to register in. Choosing one store could prove too hard for guests to get to and 10 is simply too many. If you already have the basics, consider picking stores which offer different specialty items.
Meet and Greet
Once you choose your stores, call to set up some appointments. Both you and your fiancé should go together to create the ultimate wish list. Don’t worry if this is all very foreign to you—most shops have a bridal consultant or specialist to make the process easier and faster. Remember to keep on track, no matter how tempting those $300 Spiegelau wine glasses may be. Choose something you know you’ll use on more than one occasion. Make sure to include items at a range of price points to accommodate guests' budgets.
Spread the Word
Now that the list has been created, it’s time to tell the whole world about your wedding registry. Some companies send out letters to guests letting them know where the betrothed couple have registered. The easiest way to get the information out is word of mouth. Let your friends and family know your gift registry is set up at certain stores and leave it up to them to do the rest of the talking. No matter how tempting it may be, don’t include your registry information on your invitations.
A Few Registry Tips
Many stores have online planning tools available, plus management systems to help organize thank-you cards and more. Most offer a completion program that allows you to make purchases on your registry after your wedding date at a slight discount. Lastly, it is always better to provide your guests with too many options rather than not enough.
