Wedding Gift Registry: Do’s and Don’ts
April 16, 2007
When planning your wedding, creating a wedding gift registry is usually at the top of the list of things to do. For young newlyweds, a wedding gift registry can help guests choose the gifts that you most need as you start your new life together. For couples who are already established in life, though, stereotypical wedding gifts may not be needed; toasters, knife sets, and wine glasses are items that you probably already own. Luckily, couples can now register at a growing number of locations, from home improvement warehouses to sports stores to online merchants, so there is something out there for every couple.
Here are a few guidelines to follow when planning your wedding gift registry. When in doubt, ask around for others’ opinions and use your common sense.
DO open your registry six months in advance or more so that guests have ample time to select and purchase a gift. Remember that registries are a convenience for your guests, and that guests are not limited to the registry when choosing a gift. While many guests will buy a gift from your registry, some may prefer to select your gift personally. If you plan to use the same gift registry for several occasions (such as engagement parties, showers, and the wedding itself), include an ample selection of gifts so that guests have plenty to choose from.
DO register online. This makes it easier for guests to shop, and even purchase, from wherever they may be. Be sure that the store(s) will ship gifts to whatever location you specify, and check their return and exchange policies carefully.
DON’T include your registry information in the wedding invitation. A small card matching the invitation should contain the wedding gift registry details and be given to your guests along with their invitation.
DO consider opening registries in more than one store. This allows guests more choice in not only what to buy, but how much to spend. If having multiple gift registries seems confusing to you, websites such as MyRegistry.com allow you to create a single gift registry for items from multiple stores, whether online or bricks-and-mortar. You can even include nontraditional gift requests, such as travel vouchers, cash donations, and dining certificates. Although requesting cash or donations to honeymoon funds and so forth has been traditionally frowned upon, the practice has become more commonplace over the course of time. Nonetheless, some people do find appeals for cash to be in poor taste, so bear in mind how your guests would likely react to such a request. A good way to ask for cash is to use a wishing well card, this card can have a sweet poem explaining to your guests that you have everything you need for your house, but how cash would really be appreciated.
DON’T forget to keep track of who bought each gift for you. Send a personalized thank-you note to each guest to show how much you appreciated not only the gift, but his or her participation in your special day.
Keywords: Wedding Planning, Weddingblog, Wedding
