Wedding Registry 101

From my own wedding to all of the others I've been to, here the best tips and tricks I've learned about registering for gifts. Check it out after the jump...


1. Don't register for sets of things. Pick out individual pots, knives, bedding items, and luggage instead. You end up with more affordable options for guests buying the gifts and then, after the wedding, you can exchange the individual items for the matching sets. As a bonus, the sets are typically a better value so you you'll end up with a bit of store credit to pick up something else you might need. It sounds weird, but this is what Macys recommended to me when I was registering, mainly to give your guest more options for price points. You can't expect everyone to want to shell out hundreds on a set of pots.
2. Chose gifts for every type of giver. Even if you don't want crystal, silver or china put a few pieces on the registry anyway. They are traditional gifts and you're bound to have a great aunt who will want to buy that for you. If you register for it, they will pick pieces off of your registry that either a) you will love and keep or b) you'll be able to return, because you'll know where it came from. I recommend these Kate Spade vases, which I have and love or this, which, if you don't like, then you have $125 to spend at Crate and Barrel.  If you don't give your guests options you might just wind up with a creepy crystal dolphin statue that you have no way of returning. If this happens to you, at least you're set for your next white elephant gift exchange.
3. Have themed bridal showers. Do you have more pillows and duvets than you could ever need but nothing to eat on? Talk to the person throwing your shower about giving it a kitchen theme. That way shower attendees will be encouraged toward getting you the things on your registry you really need. 

4. Choose quality products. This is the only time in your life when everyone one you know is buying you a present so make it count. Be sure to choose things that will last a long time. We registered for a cheap vacuum and less than a year later had to get a new one. I'm now obsessed with my Dyson and recommend it to everyone.

5. Get what you want. Did you know that REI, Home Depot and Amazon all offer gift registries? If that's more your style, go for it!
6. Don't need a lot of stuff? Register to give to some of your favorite causes. OR- make a big impact in one place, with water.org you could fundraise for a well and bring clean water to an entire community.

Here are a few shots I took at my dear friend Mollie's shower. She got all the kitchen stuff she needed, including a friend's Ernie cookie jar she coveted as a child. And above, Mollie & Peter on their wedding day, shot by Jason, jkoephoto.com.

Oh, and one more thing... you know that when you go to register in stores you get to use one of those barcode scanner guns, right? Just sayin', it's pretty fun! Jason and I might have fought over who got to hold it and scan things. Although, to be honest, in the long run, I found it much easier to update the registry online.

Have something you want to see in a future Wedding Wednesday post? Let me know in the comments.

Check out our other Wedding Wednesday Posts
Three Tips for the Big Day, Finding the Perfect Dress, Engagement Photo Tips, Photo Booths and more!