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Getting the perfect wedding gift: how to register
It may be better to give than receive, but when it's your wedding, there's no excuse for not at least hinting really loudly at what you'd like to unwrap. As my best friend so bluntly put it, here's your one chance in life to ask for $300 sheets and honestly think that some aunt may just love you enough buy them for you.
Should I register?
The answer is, OF COURSE YOU SHOULD! In fact, you should register for everything you can think of or imagine.
If you are getting married, you have official permission to ask for everything you want. It will take time to register, and it is worth every minute you spend.
Registering gives you a number of benefits:
You make life easier for your friends and family. They want to get you the perfect gift to commemorate this important event in your life. By registering your wish list, they can be sure in the knowledge that it will be a gift that you want or need to start your new life.
You make life easier for yourself. You’ve increased your chances that you will get what you want, and you will reduce the amount of time you will spend later, exchanging the things that you don’t want.
You bring your friends and family together. When you register, your friends and family can pool their funds together to buy you something truly special. Plus, they will have all that fun looking at your list and pouring over the details.
If you have friends and family from all over the country, I suggest that you register on line at The Knot.
Everyone will have easy access to your list, and ease of shopping for you.
Shop around and enjoy yourself. Most couples register at more than one store for they can not get all that they want at one place.
Remember, this time is all about you. Enjoy it!
However, registering is not as easy as it may appear. For some reason, most department stores have tucked their bridal registry in some obscure corner of a store, and are invetably manned by a clerk who is also collecting a heavy layer of dust. They seem to already know what you need and don't need, your tastes, and of course, your guests budget. Never mind that you'll never use a punch bowl or think that a big screen tv is more important than sterling silver flatware.
So before you venture into the world of bridal registring unaware, here's some advice.
- There should be only two people involved in registering. You and your fiance. No mother in laws, best friends or other guests.
- You can't register for too many items.
- Your guests probably have a fairly wide spending budget, from intimitate family to distant relatives and friends. Choose multiple items in a variety of price ranges.
- Sit down with your fiance and make a list of household items and appliances that are in need of replacement or that you would like for your life together. This doesn't have to be all about the kitchen! Don't forget areas like the den, garage, and patio.
- Don't need household items? Consider registering for non-traditional gifts such as a computer, home theater system, or even a matching set of golf clubs.