9 Tips for Creating Your Registry

Selecting your bridal registry can be a fun but daunting task. Below are a few tips to help you complete your wedding registry!

1. Don’t Register Everywhere

Stick with two or three stores that you love. Make sure to include one national department store or chain that carries household items. This helps your guests that live out of town when shopping for a gift. You can include a local specialty store as well. Most of your guests will ship a gift before the big day so also consider whether shipping is available through the registry.

2. Register Gifts That Vary in Price

Consider putting items of various cost on your registry. It’s fine to include more expensive items, but balance your registry out by including equally nice gifts that are at a lower price point to give your guests options to choose from. 

3. Register Ahead of Time 

Ideally, you want to register about six months before your wedding day. This will give your guests enough time to purchase and send gifts, and helps with guests that will be attending a shower. 

4. Let Your Guests Know Where You are Registered 

After you’ve registered, make sure to inform your family and wedding party where everything is listed. You can also include this information on your wedding website, if you have one, with links to each registry.
5. Register for Enough Gifts 

It’s best to have a variety so people have a range of options to choose from with different price points. This helps guests who want to include a few items, or for guests that want to gift you with something at multiple wedding festivities. 

6. Write Thank-You Notes as Gifts Arrive 

The best way to stay on top of your thank-you notes is to write them as soon as you receive the gift. This way, you don’t get overwhelmed with your notes after your wedding. Following an engagement party or shower, try to send notes out within a couple of weeks of the celebration. 

7. Involve the Grom

He may not have a huge interest in all of the wedding planning details, but make sure to get his opinion when registering for things that you both will be using for years to come! He will likely have input on the tools he would like to have or other helpful household items. 

8. Don’t Hesitate to Return Items

Don’t feel obligated to keep a gift if it ends up not working with your decor or the way you envisioned it. This happens all the time, so don’t hold onto something that you won’t end up using. Guests will sometimes purchase a gift without taking it off of the registry, and you end up with multiples of items you don’t need. In this case, make sure you return or exchange the items within the timeframe of return.

9. Don’t Fret if You Don’t Get Everything on Your Registry
No need to worry if there are items left unpurchased on your registry. A lot of stores offer a discount on remaining items not purchased and some will keep your registry active for a few months following your wedding. Friends and family can refer to the registry when looking for a gift for another occasion or even an anniversary gift.