Registry FAQ’s
Registry FAQ’s
No. 1 - Where should I register?
Having too many registries can make it pretty complicated. I would go one of two routes. Certain places, such as Zola or The Knot, have a feature where you can add a gift from any store to the registry. That is a great advantage obviously since you aren’t limited to one store. If you go that route, I would only have that singular registry since you don’t need to add any other registries. A disadvantage to that is that older generations can struggle to utilize it.
Another problem that may arise is guests can’t go to a physical store to shop your registry, which some guests prefer. If you don’t think these would be that big of an issue and the convenience is something you like, then go for it. The second route is having 2-3 registries at traditional stores. (Think Amazon, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, etc.) The pros are that people easily recognize them, you have a variety of places, online and in-store options, and it’s much more traditional. Think about which option you have preferred when you have looked at other people's registries, and go with that.
No. 2 - How Much Should I Put On There?
A good rule of thumb is to have two gifts per household. If you invite 150 people, and of those 150 guests, 70 of those are distinct families/individuals, then an appropriate number of gifts would be 140. This is a good rule to follow for two reasons. The first is that occasionally, the couple will put only a handful of gifts, most of them big ticket items. Most of your guests will not pay for a big ticket item but are looking for a gift in the $25-75 range. Having two gifts per household, since it is infrequent for every member in a household to purchase a gift, allows for enough variety that the guest does not feel overwhelmed, but also that they are choosing a gift for you and not being forced to buy just anything. The second problem this rule bars against is having far too many gifts on your registry. I have seen an embarrassing number of brides list over 700 items on their registry. One had over 1,000 items. This is not only overwhelming but presents you as being extremely materialistic. I can assure you that you do not need 1,000 items on your registry. If you stick to the two gifts a household, I believe your registry will be full-bodied and well-rounded. If it is getting close to the wedding, and many of the gifts have been purchased, but a pretty big number of people have not purchased an item, feel free to add more gift items.
No. 3 - What Should I Put On My Registry?
To answer this question, you need to examine your lifestyle. Are you starting fresh and own a few household goods? Have you lived on your own for a while and would like upgrades? What typically goes on a registry are things to furnish your house. Think bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and decorations. There are also options to put cash reserves on the registry, although I have not seen these be very popular. If you do decide to put a cash option on the registry, I would limit those to two. In general, don’t put more than 5-6 “big ticket” items on your registry. Have a large variety of gifts in the $25-75 range since that’s what most guests will be purchasing. If you know super generous people and all your big ticket items get purchased before the wedding, feel free to add more on there. Ultimately, what is put on your registry is up to you, but examine your life. Does that towel warmer look super cool? Probably! But realistically, do you have space for it, and will you use it? These are the tough questions to ask. Another thing to keep in mind is that while the price point is important, don’t put low-quality goods on there for the sake of being cheap. Have high-quality items on there that will last you a long time. I’ve heard several stories of brides who were overly concerned with the price of the items and put the cheapest kitchenware on their registry, only to need to purchase new kitchenware within two years because it was bad quality. So the bottom line is this: Be reasonable, and consider what you like seeing on people's registries.
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