How to Set up a Wedding Registry

Creating a wedding registry may seem self-serving, but it is actually a convenience to your wedding guests since it eliminates the guess work when picking out wedding gifts.
Before setting up your wedding gift registry, you will need to determine when to register, how to choose your stores, and what to register for. This wedding registry guide will walk you through the process. Here are some key bridal registry tips:

When to Create your Wedding Gift Registry
Aim to register at least 6 months before the wedding. Remember, there may be engagement parties, showers and other pre-wedding festivities where gift-giving is appropriate. Help out your guests by providing them with some options.

Where to Set up Your Bridal Registries
Think about what stores you like and patronize frequently. If you will be creating a more traditional bridal registry, a good bet is choosing an all-inclusive department store for items like china, glassware and flatware and also choosing a homegoods specialty store (Pier 1, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel etc.) There is no hard fast rule about the number of stores you can choose for your gift registry, but 2-4 is a good number. Before making your final selections, consider the store’s wedding registry policies:

Selection
Does the store carry an array of items and price ranges? More importantly, do you actually like their selection?

Service
Does the store have a registry department or handle a lot of wedding registries? If so, you can expect the store to be knowledgeable and able to offer guidance and assistance along the way.

Convenience
What is the purchase process like for your guests? Does the store have locations that are convenient for the majority of gift-givers? Will your bridal registry be available online? Can your list be faxed? How long will the gift registry be kept active after the wedding? (technically, it should be at least one year)

Updates
How long does it take for a purchased item to be reflected on your bridal registry? How easy is it for you to make modifications to your list?

Bonuses
Many stores offer a completion program, allowing the bride and groom to purchase anything left on their gift registry at a discount.

What to Register For
Again, there is no rule that says you have to fill your bridal registry with china and flatware. However, please remember that these wedding gifts will be with you for the rest of your life. Even if you are not the entertaining types and dinnertime takes place on the couch with paper plates, fast forward to holiday meals and social events of the future. It’s a good idea to have at least a set of 12 matching place settings - whether formal or casual - so that you won’t find yourself limited down the road.

Typical wedding registries are divided into: china (formal and everyday), stemware (formal and everyday), barware (formal and everyday), flatware (formal and everyday), linens, kitchen appliances and gift items. Review and print and bring this complete wedding registry checklist with you to your chosen stores.

How to Spread the Word About Your Wedding Registry
It is never appropriate for the bride and groom to include gift registry information with invitations. They can, however, be included in other pre-wedding party invitations—since the bride and groom typically do not host those. Tell your closest friends and family and anyone who asks where you are registered, and they will spread the word. If you have a wedding website, you can also post your bridal registry information there. For more etiquette advice, consult this complete wedding etiquette guide.

Take Back Your Wedding Registry

Tired of registries filled with practical mainstays owned by every newlywed in town? Tailor your wish list to your personal style.

The Do Gooder
Do your heart some good by creating a wedding gift registry with a more altruistic bent.

Where to Find: featuring more than one million charities from which to choose, JustGive.org is a non-profit website that lets couples build a wedding registry directed to their favorite causes.

The Luxe Lover
Bedding is a registry staple, but this is your chance to sink those pedicured toes into the Mercedes of linens. Get sumptuous threads that feel delicious on your skin and last forever.

Where to Find: Down to Basics (downtobasics.com) offers a specialty registry for high-quality, high thread count linens from lines such as Ann Gish and Sferra. They also have a storefront on Newbury Street in Boston.

The Risk Taker
You met your fiancé while running a class V rapid and feel incomplete without your backpack. With such an affinity for the outdoors, why place house with your registry? Instead, ask for all those outdoor toys you’ve both been dreaming of.

Where to Find: Outdoor retailers such as REI (rei.com) offer gift registries conspicuously absent of china, linen and crystal.

Learn more about Alternative Stores for Your Gift Registry at the Unveiled wedding blog

Create Your Wish List With This Wedding Registry Checklist

Let's face it, the last time you were encouraged to create a list of gifts you wished to receive was when you penned that letter to Santa circa 1987. Only now that your setting up your wedding gift regsitry, you need to fill your wish list with essentials needed to start your home, rather than, say, a Lite Brite.

Not quite sure what to register for? This complete wedding registry checklist spells it out for you. Print it and take it with when creating your regsitry to ensure a complete home just waiting to host your first dinner party

Registry - How to let wedding guests know where you're registered

Q: I've heard that it's inappropriate to include registry information in your wedding invitations. How can you let your wedding guests know where you've registered?
-Jamile Wright - Brooklyn, NY-

A: You're correct that including registry information in your wedding invites is a no no (as it implies that gift-giving is required instead of optional). Here are your options to get the word out about your bridal registry:

The best way is for your family and bridal party to inform inquiring guests through word-of-mouth. Wedding guests realize that the couple has most likely set up a regsitry; if they want to know where the couple is registered - they'll ask.

Another option is to have your maid of honor include registry information in your shower invitations. Since bridal showers - by their very nature - are events where guests are to "shower" the bride with gifts, placing registry information in shower invitations is not considered a breach of etiquette.

If you have a wedding website, you can include it there amongst other wedding details. Just don't make your regsitry the focus of the entire site. Remember, the focus of a wedding should be on the couple's decision to make a lifelong commitment - not on their choice of china pattern.

-Cori Russell, Style and Etiquette Editor, Wedding Expert

For more etiquette advice, visit the complete Wedding Etiquette Guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple