Registry Dos and Don'ts

[Kristy]

We registered at BB&B and Kaufmann's (like Macy's). One thing that's good to do is to start your registry online, like for BB&B. Then you don't have to wait forever for a bridal consultant (which in our case was someone with a nametag that gave us the gun and a list of must haves). If you even add one thing online, then you can just go and get a gun at the store to finish it.

I took my Mom b/c DH was annoyed after the first time we went. If you can go during the week or at non busy times at the store, that's always a good idea too.

[Angela]

Yes, DEFINITELY start the registry online first! It made the processes SO much easier.

And you have to compromise on some stuff. I'm not a huge fan of the color blue, but FH is (obviously). I gave in and we're making our kitchen blue. That's a room I can live with having that color in!

[christinas2006]

Do plan on spending lots of time completing your registry
Do expect your FH to scan parts of your body with scanner (it is a like a toy to them)
Don't register to early

[Angela]

Yeah, I had my butt scanned more than once....lol

I disagree about registering early.....we did, and we got a ton of gifts for birthdays, Christmas, as engagement gifts, etc. We waited to register for sheets and towels until recently, though, as those seem to be the things that change most often. Staples like kitchen utensils, KitchenAid mixers, etc. don't change often.

[*Sarah*]

Don't include registry information in your invitations.

[*TanyaJeanne*]

*Check the registry when you get home!*

Chris thought it would be fun to scan some really weird stuff while I wasn't looking!! Sorry hunny but we don't need new Playstation video games, or a Moose soap dispenser (wouldnt go with our theme), or some random stuff.
LOL :)

[nikkiana]

Don't be dissapointed that things you register for get discontinued.... I have been having a horrible time with flatware getting discontinued!

[walleye3]

*Check the registry when you get home!*

Chris thought it would be fun to scan some really weird stuff while I wasn't looking!! Sorry hunny but we don't need new Playstation video games, or a Moose soap dispenser (wouldnt go with our theme), or some random stuff.
LOL :)


I think we could have really used the moose soap dispenser.....it could have gone by the kitchen sink ;) It would have just been fun to get :)

I don't recall registering for playstation games.......

[walleye3]

Don't include registry information in your invitations.

I am not understanding why you wouldn't include registry info in with your invites, I know Tanya and I discussed this a lot with ours and I did put in some registery info with our directions card. Not the specific registries but where they can find, them on our website. My idea is why register if you don't tell people where you registered... :headscratch:

[Becki]

My tip. Make sure your registry info appears on the websites. I recently found out that the reason no one purchased anything from one of my registries was because when they searched for it, it didn't show up no matter what they did. I couldn't even find it when I searched. Double check everything.

[*Stacie*]

I am not understanding why you wouldn't include registry info in with your invites, I know Tanya and I discussed this a lot with ours and I did put in some registery info with our directions card. Not the specific registries but where they can find, them on our website. My idea is why register if you don't tell people where you registered... :headscratch:

Agreed!! We did include them with our invites. How else would people know where you are registered?? No one was offended because they all wanted to know where we were registered.

[KathyandJer]

We're going to let our families and wedding party know where we're registered. Figure that if anyone asks, they will ask family or a member of the wedding party and they'll pass on the word!

My tip - go into the stores with a list of things you definitely know you want to add on. We got sidetracked when starting our registry, and ended up with only a few of the things that we KNOW we wanted to add!

[Alice]

I am not understanding why you wouldn't include registry info in with your invites, I know Tanya and I discussed this a lot with ours and I did put in some registery info with our directions card. Not the specific registries but where they can find, them on our website. My idea is why register if you don't tell people where you registered... :headscratch:

The idea behind leaving any mention of a registry out of the invitations is that a wedding is not technically a gift-giving event, therefore mentioning gifts gives the impression that you're fishing for presents.

You do tell people where you're registered, of course... you just don't do it in the invitation. :} If you include the URL for your wedsite, your guests will likely be able to find the registry info themselves, w/o your having to tell them specifically that that's where it is. For the non tech-savvy guests, let your parents & attendants know where you're registered, & you'd be amazed at how far that "word of mouth" will spread. People are also likely to call or email you directly to ask. And, of course, you can include registry info w/ shower invitations, because a shower is a gift-giving event. :}

Nowadays, a lot of things are less formal than they have been in the past, and it's quite possible that nobody on your guest list will think twice if you include registry info w/ the invites... but I figure if there's a chance of offending anybody w/ something so easily done without, why would you do it? ::shrugs::

[Kari]

you'd be amazed at how far that "word of mouth" will spread.

If you'd like an example of what word of mouth can do, take a look at this webiste and how quickly it has grown :heee:

[Cindy]

Absolutely, Kari!

Word of mouth works for registries. My MOHs put where we are registered in the shower invites. Almost every shower invitation I've received has had that in it.

[walleye3]

The idea behind leaving any mention of a registry out of the invitations is that a wedding is not technically a gift-giving event, therefore mentioning gifts gives the impression that you're fishing for presents.

You do tell people where you're registered, of course... you just don't do it in the invitation. :} If you include the URL for your wedsite, your guests will likely be able to find the registry info themselves, w/o your having to tell them specifically that that's where it is. For the non tech-savvy guests, let your parents & attendants know where you're registered, & you'd be amazed at how far that "word of mouth" will spread. People are also likely to call or email you directly to ask. And, of course, you can include registry info w/ shower invitations, because a shower is a gift-giving event. :}

Nowadays, a lot of things are less formal than they have been in the past, and it's quite possible that nobody on your guest list will think twice if you include registry info w/ the invites... but I figure if there's a chance of offending anybody w/ something so easily done without, why would you do it? ::shrugs::

I agree with the included a web site url or something, that is what Tanya and I did and I had to fight for that. My thoughts was, that I didn't want to field a hundred phone calls or make my parents or grandparents field them as those would be the people that would be calling. I know myself, it is one of the things I look for on invitations when I get them from friends or other family members.

My thoughts on offending someone with including that info, is that there will more than likely be more people not offended than offended and I say majority rules ;) However, this could be a regional thing as well.

[Michelle]

I think the registry information included in the invitations is a regional thing, because I'm pretty sure I've read that brides in Europe include that with their invites and people appreciate the help. I don't think it's a big deal in Canada either, nor in Austrailia.

I guess it's just us crazy kids in the US!

[JerAndKathy]

I guess it's just us crazy kids in the US!

We're a sensitive bunch, ain't we? LoL

[Uma]

I'm not in US and I'd cringe if I'd get an invitation with a registry card. I'd wonder if they'd also have sponsor labels on the napkins and glasses at the reception.

I wish I could have registered at BBB, I really like that store. However, we decided not to register at all.

[JerAndKathy]

Guess I kinda look at it like this...

Person 1: "Merry Christmas! Buy me a power screwdriver!"

Oorrrrrr...

Person 1: "Merry Christmas!"
Person 2: "Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too! What do you want for Christmas?"
Person 1: "A power screwdriver."

Basically, it's the difference between assuming your guests will bring gifts, and just giving the info to the BP and parents so that if guests ask, they can tell them.

Some have said yes, well what about those guests at the other side of the country who don't know your family or your BP? Well, do you really think they're going to drive/fly cross country with a new set of dishes? Or just write a check? :) :dunno: Just me, tho. LoL

[*alissa*]

Agreed!! We did include them with our invites. How else would people know where you are registered?? No one was offended because they all wanted to know where we were registered.
We did this too. We just included a card directing them to our website, which read something like
"Please visit our website at (website here). View our story, wedding details, and photos. You may also RSVP online, and view registry information"
It didn't include any SPECIFIC registry info, but did direct them to where they could find it!

[Venus]

I am not understanding why you wouldn't include registry info in with your invites, I know Tanya and I discussed this a lot with ours and I did put in some registery info with our directions card. Not the specific registries but where they can find, them on our website. My idea is why register if you don't tell people where you registered... :headscratch:
I'm with you on this one, I realize it is rude to assume you will be getting a gift but the first thing that happened after the invites were received was my mom getting calls asking where we were registered and what we needed. I ended up giving my mom a wish list so she had something to go off of with all the calls.

[*Stacie*]

We did this too. We just included a card directing them to our website, which read something like
"Please visit our website at (website here). View our story, wedding details, and photos. You may also RSVP online, and view registry information"
It didn't include any SPECIFIC registry info, but did direct them to where they could find it!

Thats a great idea :)

[KathyandJer]

I also agree with putting the registry info on the website after seeing it in here - I guess if people take the time to LOOK for that information, then that's their choice right? We're just making it easier for people!

[*alissa*]

Kathy, I agree. There is a differance between a card saying "This is where we are regstered" and "Please visit our website where you can erad our engagement story, view details about our wedding, RSVP, and incedentally , our regsrty info "

[*heather*]

Person 1: "Merry Christmas! Buy me a power screwdriver!"

Oorrrrrr...

Person 1: "Merry Christmas!"
Person 2: "Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too! What do you want for Christmas?"
Person 1: "A power screwdriver."
I LOVE this explaination! :laugh3:

[JerAndKathy]

I LOVE this explaination! :laugh3:

It's true, tho...Don't you think? :lol:

[PurpleFlower]

It must be kind of a regional thing becuase here everyone puts their information in the invites. Not glowing or anything but just lightly mentioned kind of like where is available for them to stay if they were to come! Personally I think that when I get a card and it has nothing mentioned of where to find out what they want then it makes me upset. This could be just a regional thing though! I am inculding where we are registered in our invites (lightly mentioned and not on the invite itself just along with maps/directions and the hotels) If they choose to go there then they can or they can just ignore it!!!

[Sk8ermaiden]

Don't register for everything under the sun. Friends of ours registered for thousands of dollars worth of crap at three different stores when what they really wanted was their china.

They got lots of crap they already had (they registered for it just because it would be nice to have a "new one").

What did they get from their china? A pepper shaker and a gravy boat. I think if you register for every kitchen thing known to man, a lot of guests think you don't have anything, and will buy you that "necessary" stuff before they will buy you the "luxury" china.

[*Diane*]

Good point! Make sure you register for items in different price points. Remember that the cost of the gift does not reflect the amount of affection the guest has for you.