WebLady
12-13-2008, 11:07 AM
I am sure I have posted this somewhere before, but couldn't find it on its own, so I thought I'd post it here ...
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Do you think that the whole Bridal Registry thing is just too time consuming? Think you have everything you need and don't need another toaster? Well you can expect to get a toaster or two whether you register for it or not ;-)
I say always register for gifts! You see, people tend to spend more on wedding gifts than any other occasion! For example, when I got married, my husband’s grandparents gave us $1000 and we never get gifts from them, not even for Christmas!
Think about it, there are all sorts of things that you will need and want for your new home. (Or even your old home) Register for them all, everything from bath towels to good china and anything in between; even the non-traditional stuff, don‘t be scared.
Give your registry diversity so that there will be plenty of items with varied prices to choose from so no one feels left out. But again, don’t be afraid to add some of the higher priced items too. Even if you don’t have the generous grandparents I did, you never know if several of your family members might decide to go in together to get you something really nice.
It helps to register with national chain stores that are common in most cities and states, and/or those that have websites so that people can shop from your registry online. Like I said before, you may still get a toaster or two whether you register for it or not, but you surely won't get anything good if you don't ask for it!
Got everything you need, you say? Here is an idea; set up a gift registry with your photographer! The easiest way to do this is to have cards made that have the photographers' contact information on them and don't forget your name too. This way your friends and family could call in or send in monetary gifts that would build up a credit for you with the photographer for more pictures and upgrades to your album and such. Of course you will need to discuss this with your photographer so that they know to expect calls. I am sure they won't mind and I am sure there are many photographers that would gladly give you these cards for free. After all, it would mean more sales for them ;-)
Another option; you could set up an open account for your favorite charity and have your guests donate on your behalf instead of the traditional wedding gifts.
Or, how about a "Honeymoon Registry" have people help contribute to that as a gift. Perhaps have a little notice could be put in the shower invitation that reads “In lieu of traditional wedding gifts, the bride and groom are taking monetary contributions to the honeymoon”. Sometimes your travel agent can help set this up for you.
"No, really we just want cash!" I hear ya ;-) This is OK too, but be careful not to come off as rude. You can create a cash registry by setting up a PayPal account, best of all it is free!
But how do you let people know about your Registry? Well, etiquette says not to include information about the Registry in the actual wedding invitation, many see this as rude. It comes off like the gift is more important than having “the honor of their presence” at your wedding.
However, it is perfectly acceptable to put your Registry cards in with the shower invitations, as gifts are expected there, that is the purpose of a shower. Some people still mention the Registry in the wedding invitations though; if you choose to do so, put in a separate card as a notice, but do not put it in the actual wording of the invitation!
The traditional way to spread the word about the Registry is through the shower invitations and through word of mouth from friends and family. Another great way is to have a personal wedding website. This lets you tactfully let people know where you are registered and allows them to easily view the Registry online with the links provided. All while sharing all sorts of important details, pictures and other fun stuff about the wedding. And since it is online, it is available to friends and family everywhere, anytime of the day!
Best Wishes to all and Happy Planning!
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Do you think that the whole Bridal Registry thing is just too time consuming? Think you have everything you need and don't need another toaster? Well you can expect to get a toaster or two whether you register for it or not ;-)
I say always register for gifts! You see, people tend to spend more on wedding gifts than any other occasion! For example, when I got married, my husband’s grandparents gave us $1000 and we never get gifts from them, not even for Christmas!
Think about it, there are all sorts of things that you will need and want for your new home. (Or even your old home) Register for them all, everything from bath towels to good china and anything in between; even the non-traditional stuff, don‘t be scared.
Give your registry diversity so that there will be plenty of items with varied prices to choose from so no one feels left out. But again, don’t be afraid to add some of the higher priced items too. Even if you don’t have the generous grandparents I did, you never know if several of your family members might decide to go in together to get you something really nice.
It helps to register with national chain stores that are common in most cities and states, and/or those that have websites so that people can shop from your registry online. Like I said before, you may still get a toaster or two whether you register for it or not, but you surely won't get anything good if you don't ask for it!
Got everything you need, you say? Here is an idea; set up a gift registry with your photographer! The easiest way to do this is to have cards made that have the photographers' contact information on them and don't forget your name too. This way your friends and family could call in or send in monetary gifts that would build up a credit for you with the photographer for more pictures and upgrades to your album and such. Of course you will need to discuss this with your photographer so that they know to expect calls. I am sure they won't mind and I am sure there are many photographers that would gladly give you these cards for free. After all, it would mean more sales for them ;-)
Another option; you could set up an open account for your favorite charity and have your guests donate on your behalf instead of the traditional wedding gifts.
Or, how about a "Honeymoon Registry" have people help contribute to that as a gift. Perhaps have a little notice could be put in the shower invitation that reads “In lieu of traditional wedding gifts, the bride and groom are taking monetary contributions to the honeymoon”. Sometimes your travel agent can help set this up for you.
"No, really we just want cash!" I hear ya ;-) This is OK too, but be careful not to come off as rude. You can create a cash registry by setting up a PayPal account, best of all it is free!
But how do you let people know about your Registry? Well, etiquette says not to include information about the Registry in the actual wedding invitation, many see this as rude. It comes off like the gift is more important than having “the honor of their presence” at your wedding.
However, it is perfectly acceptable to put your Registry cards in with the shower invitations, as gifts are expected there, that is the purpose of a shower. Some people still mention the Registry in the wedding invitations though; if you choose to do so, put in a separate card as a notice, but do not put it in the actual wording of the invitation!
The traditional way to spread the word about the Registry is through the shower invitations and through word of mouth from friends and family. Another great way is to have a personal wedding website. This lets you tactfully let people know where you are registered and allows them to easily view the Registry online with the links provided. All while sharing all sorts of important details, pictures and other fun stuff about the wedding. And since it is online, it is available to friends and family everywhere, anytime of the day!
Best Wishes to all and Happy Planning!
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