Any wedding registry tips?

[bamagrad03]

My girlfriend and I got engaged two weeks ago. We're pretty close on a number of the bigger details for the wedding: venue, photography, caterer, etc.

But we're struggling on the registry side of things. Our wedding will run the gamut of well-to-do types to the broke and young folks. Given that I'm 31, an avid cook, and have had a good job for a while...I've already got a number of the things people normally register for:kitchen stuff, house stuff, etc.

So I'm curious, do any of you guys or gals have any pointers when doing a registry to accomodate a wide spectrum of folks who might want to get us a gift?

Thanks!

[watch em]

My girlfriend and I got engaged two weeks ago. We're pretty close on a number of the bigger details for the wedding: venue, photography, caterer, etc.

But we're struggling on the registry side of things. Our wedding will run the gamut of well-to-do types to the broke and young folks. Given that I'm 31, an avid cook, and have had a good job for a while...I've already got a number of the things people normally register for:kitchen stuff, house stuff, etc.

So I'm curious, do any of you guys or gals have any pointers when doing a registry to accomodate a wide spectrum of folks who might want to get us a gift?

Thanks!

I got married in November and was in about the same situation that you are in. I had everything I needed, so I politely asked for gift cards or honeymoon cash. We also kept it simple and went to Target and selected only odds and ends that we didnt have. That way the older folks can stay old fashoned and buy you a gift. My cousin set up a honeymoon donation website for her wedding.

[Monocrom]

A good friend of mine and his now wife were registered at a couple of places. The wedding was BIG! Huge extended family.

I bought them an expensive coffee-maker. One other guest had bought them a physical gift as well. Literally everyone else got them cash.

Few months later, my best friend got married. He pulled me aside and made it very clear that even though he realizes that I have excellent taste in picking out perfect gifts for others . . . he'd genuinely prefer cash instead. So, that's what they got from me.

I wouldn't worry too much about the registry.

[Brushed Steel]

It's a couple of weeks before my wedding. We also politely asked for cash. You could use one of them poems:

From: Poems for asking for Money as a Wedding Gift - Weddings Cornwall

We are sending out this invitation
In hope you will join a celebration
But if a gift is your intention
May we take this opportunity to mention
We have already got a kettle and toaster
crockery, dinner mats and matching coasters
So rather than something we've already got
We would appreciate money for our honeymoon pot
But most importantly we request
That you come to our wedding as our guest

[Monocrom]

No offense intended, but I think pulling guests aside individually and asking for money would be better than an invitation that just blatantly says so. Especially if it's in the form of a poem. Just seems a bit in bad taste for something like a wedding. Weddings get planned months in advance. Space out the pulling aside. Ask each guest individually when you get a chance to speak to them at other events or get-togethers before the wedding.

[Brushed Steel]

No offense intended, but I think pulling guests aside individually and asking for money would be better than an invitation that just blatantly says so. Especially if it's in the form of a poem. Just seems a bit in bad taste for something like a wedding. Weddings get planned months in advance. Space out the pulling aside. Ask each guest individually when you get a chance to speak to them at other events or get-togethers before the wedding.

None taken. Agreed, to me it feels awkward and a bit embarrassing but in our part of the world at least it's become acceptable. Telling individual guests personally does become a problem when you have a lot of them (I have 200+ and that number's been cut down considerably). I try to do that with guests we are not that close with. My close friends will understand. I do wish modern life could afford us more time to meet all our old friends and relatives.

[pukematrixx]

I thought I was set too with the exception of a good set of kitchen knives till my wife said otherwise. We ended up registering at Macy's and Crate and Barrel. Those stores will have something for everyone, broke or not.

[Bolaberlim]

Do a once over with your significant other, see what you guys have and what you want/need. If there's something, include it in the registry, if not, ask for cash or a honeymoon collection.
I think it's the same everywhere in the world. Latest weddings I went to, I gave cash. I haven't seen a registry in years, in fact I only saw three of them of all the weddings I attended. Truthfully, I think the registries sucked. It was clear to me that they just chose that stuff for the sake of choosing something so that the guests could buy. I saw porcelaine figurines in one. A dumb waiter in another ( that's what it's called here). They didn't NEED that. And I'm sure that if they were given the cash they would not purchase it at all, I know these people.
So they included that stuff so that people could have something to offer. See if you WANT or NEED something before adding to the registry. If not, don't include it. Ask for cash instead.

I think people will understand, newly weds need cash, that's how it is.

[dbakiva]

Sorry folks, but it's not polite to ask for anything. If you are asked, you can certainly direct people to a registry, but gifts are to be given freely, not mandated by you. As awkward as a registry is, many will ask where you are registered because it makes gift-giving simpler. Many will give cash, but please don't request it if you are not asked.

We registered one place: Justgive.org, and listed a couple charities we would be pleased for our friends to support. You can also, if asked, direct people to a charity of your choice (or give them the choice). This was, however, a second marriage for us, and having consolidated two households, we truly didn't need any more microwaves, cappuccino makers, or another silver setting. What we needed was closet space.

People expect to give wedding gifts, and are usually happy to do so for those they care about, but gifts should only be mentioned in response to an inquiry. You are not kids putting together a Christmas wish list for your parents, nor is it good taste to assume a price of admission to your wedding. People will give, and you can make it easier for them, but it is their choice. BTW, as much as we tried to discourage gifts, almost everybody did anyway, and the unexpected ones were the most treasured.

[dbakiva]

Whups! I realized I didn't really address the OP's question. Given your interests, there are a bunch of good choices: Crate and Barrel has a lot of kitchen and housewares items, as do Williams & Sonoma, and The Pampered Chef. Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and Target are also very practical choices. Then there are the fancier department stores like Macy's, Nordstroms, etc. There are also websites that allow you to consolidate a list from several or many stores. I just googled one, myregistry.com, which can do that. (I don't know anything about them, just came up on a Google search)

And ... Congratulations!