During my wedding planning, I could not wait to register. I was definitely more excited than my husband. I would think about the beautiful china for the dinner parties I would host, all the household appliances we would need, the champagne flutes that would match perfectly. The day finally came, and all I can remember, was how painful it was. It was a long process and we were so indecisive. I thought it would be great to share some strategies to help you when register for your gifts:

1. Wind down on your choices of where to register.  Three different registries is the way you want to go. You will give your guests a variety to select from, and it will not be an overwhelming process for your guests or yourself. When letting your guests know where you are registered, keep the old-fashion etiquette rule in mind. Do not include with your wedding invitations, where you are registered. You can include this information on your wedding website or your shower invites. The uests that want to give you a gift, will ask where you are registered.
2. Don’t select everything online, take some time to visit the stores and see what they have in stock. Not all your guests will feel comfortable to order online. Plus there are things you want to see for yourself, like your glassware and your china, and setup the place setting that you want for your new home.
3. Give your guests options. Mixing the stores you want to register from can help all your guests with the budget that they have for your gift. You can register at Crate and Barrel, Macy’s, and Bed, Bath and Beyond and this will give all your guests a variety of options. Your gifts should range a variety of prices. You can have gifts starting at $20 and then range higher.
4. You do not have to register for the exact amount of gifts as the guest count. Register for at least three times as many gifts as your guest list. The more gifts, the more options you are giving to your guests.
5. Make the registry about you and your fiance. Other people may have their opinion on what they needed and used, but it may not be on what you need or you will use. You may not need champagne flutes; don’t feel pressured to put them on your registry. Or if you don’t need fine china, then register for everyday dishes.
6. You definitely, want to register for more place settings than you may thing that you need, or additional serving pieces. Register for at least 10-12 place settings, and think about the holidays when registering for serving pieces. It will always come handy.
7. If you and your fiance have your own places, and you are combining both houses, you may want to consider upgrading your household items. Don’t feel bad trading up your items. You can always have a garage sale and sell the items you already have to make some extra money for the wedding, or you can donate the items to Goodwill or Salvation Army.
8. “We prefer monetary gifts.”  We all prefer to receive money, instead of household items, for so many different reasons. Please keep in mind, that no matter how much you need the money, it’s NEVER okay to ask for money on your invitations. Have your parents and bridal party spread the word for you. Setup a joint bank account, and deposit all monetary gifts in this account. You want to have this account setup at least 6 months before the wedding.
9. A new trend is to register for your honeymoon. You can setup the registry with your travel agent, and share this information on your wedding website or have your bridal party spread the word for you. Check out Honeyfund.com, it’s a free honeymoon registry and it includes every item that you may need for honeymoon, airlines, champagne, hotel room, excursions. You add the items that are important for your dream honeymoon, or they give you an option to collect your down payment for your new home. Either way, it’s a fun option for you and your guests.
10. Another option for registering is to ask your guests to give to a charity. You can contact your favorite charity, and ask them to setup a fund in honor of your wedding. You can include a card with the mailing address and website and a note that can read “In lieu of gifts, a donation to (insert the charity name here) would be greatly appreciated.” Its a great way to give back.

Registering is a fun experience, and a time that you get to know new things about your other half. It’s a time of compromise, surprise, and a learning experience. Enjoy it, and don’t let it get the best of you.

Happy Planning!