Creating your ultimate wedding wishlist is a fun experience and the perfect opportunity to ask for unique gifts. But what should NOT be included in a wedding gift registry?
Dear Cheryl,
I want to include non-traditional items in my wedding registry; are there some things that I shouldn’t include? What should I stay away from? Friends told me to register for anything I want, but I’m just not sure.
While it’s a short list, a few things are best left off your wedding gift registry.
- Personal items. Guests prefer to purchase something for you as a couple, something you will use together or that will enhance your new life together. Personal items like iPhones, iPads, or clothing should be left off your list.
- Anything Offensive. If anyone on your guest list might be offended, just leave it off.
A wedding registry is really for your guest’s convenience, so try to think about it from their point of view. What types of things do you like to see when shopping from someone’s wedding registry?
Wedding Registry Guidelines
To put you at ease, here are some additional guidelines for creating a wedding registry that will please you and your guests.
1. Give your Guests Choices when creating a “non-traditional” registry.
With so many unique registries available, it’s easy to get excited about the idea of creating a honeymoon or experience registry, active lifestyle registry, or even a wine registry. While those registries may generate a lot of buzz and excitement among your friends, a traditional registry should also be included for those guests and family members who are more comfortable giving more conventional or “practical” gifts.
2. Include your future spouse in the process.
It may be tempting to consult a friend instead of your future spouse, especially if he/she doesn’t really seem interested. But it’s important that both parties have a say when selecting registry items. After all, these are the things that will be in your home for years to come. If there’s a difference of opinion, listen with an open mind so that there are no regrets or hard feelings in the future.
3. Register for enough items to cover your guest list.
People prefer choosing from a wide selection of gifts. If you have too few items on your registry, early birds will wipe you out quickly, leaving other guests playing the guessing game. A good rule of thumb is registering for two gifts per invitation mailed. As the wedding date draws closer, you can add more if needed. For specific guidelines, view our article, “How Much and How Many? Your Guide to Wedding Registry Amounts”.
4. Register at more than one store.
I recommend creating a wedding gift registry at least two different locations. While you may love everything about one particular store, it’s nice to give guests options. Make sure at least one (but preferably all) of your registries offers an online option. Check out our comprehensive list of all the benefits and perks for wedding registries at some of our favorite stores.
5. Create a Balanced Registry.
Don’t hesitate to include your dream items of $200 and more, but your registry should also have a good mix of gifts in the under $75 and under $100 range. Each guest’s budget is different. The best registries have a mix of prices and types of items so that all your guests will feel comfortable finding something they will be excited to give you.
6. Don’t register for the same items at different stores.
Adding the same things to multiple registries will result in two things – duplicate gifts and confused guests.
7. Don’t abandon your Registry…
With everything going on in wedding planning, it’s easy to forget your registry. It’s important to review your registries every few weeks, more often as the wedding date approaches, and update if needed. Items may suddenly be out of stock or maybe even not excite you as much as when you added them. You may also have received a shower gift that you included on your registry, but your guest purchased it from another store.
While a small percentage of couples prefer not to register (and that’s perfectly acceptable), wedding guests have come to rely on the convenience of a gift registry. They want to feel confident they are buying you something you need and will truly enjoy. RegistryFinder.com makes it so simple for guests to find all of your wedding registries in one convenient place.
If you have questions or comments about gift-giving or wedding etiquette, please comment below or email AskCheryl@RegistryFinder.com.
Emails in this column are received from readers. They may be edited for spelling and grammar or to remove sensitive information; however, we are careful not to alter the intent or content of the question.
