It is hard to deny the impact that social media has had on culture as a whole. It seems that every couple of years, a brand new platform emerges and gives a voice to a generation. TikTok, for example, has fast become one of the most popular apps to come about in recent times. While many people associate the platform with coordinated dances, humorous lipreads, and educational info dumps, the app has also had a massive impact on the wedding industry. Specifically, couples are using this social media option as a way of discovering new and exciting registry gifts.
If you’re looking for some exciting additions to include on your own wedding registry, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your options. Review these items made popular by TikTok and see how you can get more out of your gift experience.
Colorful Stemware On Social Media
Glassware and stemware have long been essential items to add to a registry list. However, the trend had always revolved around purchasing traditional options that the couple can use for many years to come. After many TikTok users began posting themselves drinking out of stemware with color-tinted glass, however, it introduced couples to a much more vibrant option. If you’re looking to add a few unique pieces to your gift list, consider colored drinkware produced by trusted brands like Estelle. Whether you use the glasses or merely keep them as decoration, you will appreciate the aesthetic offered.
Broom-Vacuum Hybrid
Many couples purchase a first home after tying the knot. For this reason, nearlyweds have often found it sensible to add certain gadgets and appliances to wedding registries in order to cut back on how much they will have to spend on essentials down the line. Thanks to social media, a brand new device has been introduced in terms of keeping homes clean: a broom-vacuum hybrid. As the name suggests, this device is a combination of both a vacuum cleaner and a broom. When you’re looking to make cleanup a snap, this is a device worth considering.
Digital Projector Rising On Social media
Once upon a time, projectors were a very common item to gift to couples for their weddings. Before the age of the internet and digital photography, couples would use projectors as a way of showing friends and family images from their honeymoons and other important vacations. Though the trend went away with the advent of digital cameras, TikTok has seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of projectors. Whether you’re looking for a retro way to project your pics or you want to host a movie night in your home, a digital projector may be the perfect addition to your list.
Music Displays
Though far from the most convenient way of listening to music in the current day and age, records have remained popular among audiophiles and collectors for decades. This has been made apparent with the younger generation, as countless TikTok posts center around playing records. One fun piece of décor that has emerged from the app is a frame that can be used to display a record currently being played. The “now playing” frame is an affordable and fun item to add to your registry, whether you actually play your records or you simply like to display the cover art.
Juice Anywhere
Some people are constantly on the go. For this reason, it makes sense that plenty of TikTok videos are centered around ways to make travel easier and more fun. If you’re someone who loves the taste of fresh juice, then a travel juicer you can take wherever you go is a helpful addition to consider.
Though TikTok and other social media platforms are used for a variety of reasons, plenty of couples have been scouring the apps in order to find fun and exciting gift options. Consider the options listed here or dive into the app yourself to find something unique to add to your list.
Attending a wedding can be a reason for excitement. Whether you have a close relationship with the couple of honor or you’re going as someone else’s guest, there is something electrifying about such celebrations. Naturally, there are also some concerns you might have. Getting the perfect gift can often prove to be a bit more challenging than some realize. While picking out the right present might not be straightforward, you can easily find a good fit with a bit of research. Review this guide and learn everything you need to know.
The Art of Giving Gifts
This might come as something of a shock to modern minds, but guests bringing gifts to weddings is a fairly recent concept. While presents and tokens of affection are somewhat synonymous with special celebrations, the current idea of wedding gifts stems loosely from the Renaissance practice of creating marriage chests. These chests served a utilitarian purpose, being the container a bride would use to store and transport her belongings to her husband’s home after a wedding. Over time, the tradition changed somewhat and it became common to fill the chest with items given to a bride for her wedding.
However, the idea of gifts in the modern sense can be traced to an exact point in time: 1924. During this year, the American department store Macy’s unveiled what it called the “wedding registry.” From this point on, the idea of giving a present to a couple tying the knot went from a thoughtful gesture to a cultural mandate. While there is no hard rule saying guests must bring presents to a wedding, to not do so is definitely considered a faux pas in a number of respects.
The Registry
Since it was first introduced, the wedding registry has become a staple in the process of planning a wedding. If you’re a guest, a registry provides the benefit of having a simple list that can be used to select a gift. This eliminates the stress that goes along with having to come up with an idea from scratch. However, it also creates the problem of limited availability. If the couple is asking for specific or expensive items, you might not have the time or funds to procure them.
Whether you use the registry comes down to your own personal preference. There is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding to pursue an alternate route when grabbing a gift. If you find that providing cash is the most sensible solution, then a rule of thumb is to give about $100 if you are alone and $200 if you are bringing a guest. The “plus one” should never be expected to bring a gift of his or her own, as this individual is a guest of a guest and typically doesn’t know the couple personally.
The Personal Spin
Another option to consider with wedding gifts is the personalized present. If you’ve known the happy couple for a long time, the standard items listed on the registry might not feel adequate to capture the importance of your connection. Do-it-yourself presents can be a wonderful option if you have a creative edge and enough time to complete a project. If you lack the ability to make something on your own, there are a number of businesses that create customized gifts using photos that can be a perfect fit for special occasions.
The Fun Factor
A wedding is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If you spend too much time worrying about the gift, you’ll likely have less fun at the actual event. The best way to pick a gift is to commit to your decision and leave it at that.
Picking a wedding gift can seem challenging, but the solution is as easy as weighing your options. Consider what the couple will appreciate most, and it will be a lot easier to feel confident in your decision.
Look over these suggestions to help you prepare the perfect gift registry, which can be quite a fun part of the wedding planning process.
It often seems like there are a million little tasks involved with planning for a wedding. Fortunately, not all of the items on your to-do list will be taxing. Creating your registry, for example, can actually be a fun experience. While perusing potential gifts can be exciting, you don’t want to simply rush into the process without any plan. Crafting the perfect registry takes time and a bit of forethought. These suggestions will guide you through some general steps so that you see success.
Start Early
Registering for gifts is one of the few tasks you can tackle as soon as you’ve set a date for your wedding. In fact, you want to try and get it started as early as possible. The sooner you’ve established a concrete list of gifts, the easier it is for friends and relatives to buy what you’ve requested. Nowadays, there are a lot of options involved with your registry. Do you want to stick to one large store or register across a number of businesses? What price points do you feel most comfortable with?
To answer these questions, you require ample time. Avoid feeling rushed by taking on the task as early as possible after you’ve gotten engaged.
Consider Your Actual Lifestyle
It is easy to get ahead of yourself when creating a wish list. As you begin browsing all of the items you can add to your registry, you may feel inclined to include every single thing you see. It is important that you learn to fight this urge. A great way to focus your registry is by considering your lifestyle. If you love to make smoothies every morning, ask for a new blender or food processor. By thinking about which gifts would see the most use in your household, you will have an easier time limiting your list.
Registry Return Policies
As straightforward as a registry can be, to err is human. Friends and relatives might make assumptions and purchase items that are slightly off from what you requested. Unfortunately, you could be stuck with these items if the store you register with has a very strict policy on returns. Before setting anything in stone for your wedding gifts, research how exchanges are handled. Most stores will be upfront about these policies, and some might work out a deal with you in order to retain your business.
Cash Options
While the registry is definitely where most guests will turn when looking for a gift, there are bound to be a number of people who will prefer to take another path. When providing registry information to guests, you might want to include instructions on how cash or other gifts can be given. Since you might not want to have a lot of cash or checks floating around in cards at the venue, a PayPal or Venmo handle can be provided. This allows guests to give you cash digitally without fear the card will get lost during the event.
Show Your Appreciation
Finally, don’t forget to show gratitude for the gifts you receive. Whether guests grab something from the registry or not, you should send out thank-you notes as soon as you have the opportunity. A number of apps centered around planning weddings include features that allow couples to fill out and mail thank-you cards right on their phones. This means you can take care of this task while on the plane to your honeymoon or over breakfast the day after the reception. Custom dictates they should be mailed out no later than three months, so don’t wait too long.
Creating a perfect registry is all about approaching the task from a very specific angle. Put in the effort, and you are far more likely to feel satisfied by the gifts you receive for your big day.
Before you consider forgoing a wedding registry, think about these unique and creative alternatives to the traditional department store registries.
Like many engaged couples, you may have lived on your own for some time before deciding to tie the knot. Maybe you’ve amassed a decent collection of housewares, furniture, and other home goods. So what do you do about your wedding registry? Before you make a decision, it’s worth examining some popular options and other alternatives to the classic wedding registry.
The Problem: You Already Have Enough Stuff
As you probably know, the wedding registry has taken the place of the traditional bride’s hope chest. The idea, of course, was to collect household goods and useful items that a young woman would need to set up her new home. During the 20th century, department stores created the wedding registry concept to encourage engaged couples’ families and friends to buy them gifts. The assumption was that the couple would need everything from fine china to bathroom towels.
Yet if you have a drawer full of flatware and more towels than you can count, registering for a full cache of home goods at a traditional department store probably won’t work for you. Still, you must choose from some possible courses of action:
Decide not to register at all.
Register only for a few items that you want or need.
Pick a universal registry with a major provider.
Choose a non-traditional type of registry.
Forgoing a wedding registry saves you time and effort, but The Knot’s Lauren Kay points out that your guests want guidance on how to gift you. Without any ideas, they may either send you money or take a stab in the dark and give you stuff that you don’t want or need. Carefully curated and universal registries, however, give them a few more options. Nontraditional options such as cash or travel fund registries allow them to show their generosity without playing guessing games about what you need.
Smart, Flexible Registry Solutions
When pondering your wedding registry options, it’s important to consider which ones will best serve your needs. If you have plenty of housewares but you could use a few more kitchen appliances, consider a small traditional registry with a few choice items. Kay recommends taking a thorough inventory of what you own, break up what you need into categories, and collaborate with your significant other to draft your final registry list. While you’re at it, don’t limit yourselves to registering for expensive pieces. Make sure you include items from a variety of price ranges, especially a few that are under $50.
If you’d rather not go the department store route, Bustle’s Ashley Mateo has other great suggestions. Honeymoon and travel registries are gaining popularity, along with charitable giving registry sites and registries that help couples fund new home purchases. Some specialty retailers offer registries for non-houseware items such as wine, luggage, or even scuba diving gear. Universal registries allow couples to pick products from several major retailers, and some have the additional capability for gift cards and honeymoon funding.
Whatever you select, make sure your chosen provider supports shipping to Canada and transferring funds to Canadian bank accounts. For instance, MyRegistry currently offers these services to Canadian couples and The Knot has partnered with Crowdrise, which permits international donations.
Which Choices Are Right for You?
Got a lot of stuff? Perhaps you’re wondering if you and your spouse-to-be should even create a wedding registry in the first place. Thankfully, you don’t need to resign yourself to being inundated with more dishes or linens. Small traditional registries, honeymoon and travel funds, charitable giving registries, specialty retailers, and universal online registries are just a few possibilities. You’re not without options, and a creative approach can result in a solution that works best for you and your guests.
When it comes to wedding gift-giving, there are many ways you can commit an accidental etiquette misstep, so knowing some basic guidelines can help.
Your upcoming wedding is a celebration. Sure, your ceremony carries with it importance and perhaps an air of dignity. Yet your reception is the time for your friends and family to make merry, and naturally, they may want to give you a gift. When it comes to wedding gifts, there are so many ways you can commit an accidental etiquette misstep. Knowing some basic guidelines can help you avoid embarrassment and offense.
Handling Gift Registry Details
Before you receive your first gift, you’ll need to create a wedding registry or two. You have many options from which to choose, but Martha Stewart Weddings suggests limiting yourself to a couple of different providers. Also, your gift registries should be completed between two and six months before the big day. However you proceed, remember that registry information should never be printed on your invitations. Your inner circle can spread the details through word-of-mouth, and you can post them on your wedding website. Just make sure that you include a clickable link and list the specifics on another page deeper in your site.
Is Asking for Cash a No-No?
Experts have been divided on whether asking or registering for cash is an acceptable practice. Thankfully, Anna Post from the Emily Post Institute offers some definite guidance. Registering for cash gifts is perfectly fine, but you should follow the same guidelines for publicizing it as you do for traditional registries. Let your family and friends spill the details, and be sure to have a standard registry as a backup. Not sure what to add to the alternate registry? Try some unique items you don’t already have, but offer a few low-cost gift options as well.
Brides writer Jaimie Mackey echoes the advice of never asking for cash on the invitation. She adds that you should be explicit about how you plan to use monetary gifts, whether it’s for a new home, a cross-country move, or your honeymoon. You can discuss these details on your wedding website if you wish. Don’t forget to provide a box for checks and gift cards at your reception, since some guests may bring these with them. Have a trusted individual check the box throughout the evening and securely store the contents to prevent theft.
Other Pitfalls To Avoid
You’ve followed all this great advice, but you’re still not home free. You’re probably not the type of couple that keeps score on gifts, but Wedding Wire Canada’s Diane Hall reminds readers that this is a major faux pas. After all, gifts aren’t an obligation, and The Knot sets the record straight on the “cover your plate” rule. On the flip side, you could encounter guests asking how much you’re spending per plate on your wedding to guide them in gift-giving. In those cases, you may need to deflect the question and stress that you value their company more.
While you’re at it, don’t neglect those all-important thank-you notes. Hall mentions that registry providers usually send you notifications when items have been purchased. You’ll want to send out your notes within three weeks of receiving each gift. For presents given to you on the big day, you should send out your notes within three months.
Don’t Proceed Without a Plan
Wedding gifts are a way for guests to show their affection and care for a happy couple. If you’re the ones tying the knot, graciousness and discretion are your best friends. First, count on your closest family and friends to let others know about your registry. Don’t be afraid to register for cash, but include some physical goods to provide your guests with alternatives. Finally, send out your thank-you notes in a timely manner. These tips should help you navigate the world of wedding gifts before and after the big day.
Do your gift registry the right way by planning ahead.
A wedding is a lovely experience for many reasons. While it might not be your primary incentive for tying the knot, you may be a bit excited thinking about all of the gifts that will be coming your way for your special day. Many couples opt to create a gift registry at their favorite shops in order to help guests find the perfect gifts. If you and your partner are planning on creating a registry, it stands to reason that you are going to be looking for some very specific items.
Most couples use their gift registry as a chance to ask for the items and appliances that will help them begin their married life together. This means finding gadgets and equipment for rooms like the kitchen. If you want to make a registry that you feel satisfied with, it can be a good idea to take a moment to think about how you can make the most of the process. Explore some of these ideas and see if you can craft a registry that gets you the best possible items for your future.
The First Step
There are many common mistakes that couples make when attempting to create registries for their weddings. For one, most couples assume that they should only be asking for items that they do not yet own. While this might be a great place to start, it does not completely capture the best way of thinking about your needs. You might own a blender already, but it also might be a blender that you have had in your possession for many years. This means it is already outdated and maybe even a bit worn.
Instead of simply creating a gift registry for all of the items that you do not yet own, think about putting items on your registry that you would like to upgrade. That blender in your kitchen may not last as long as you think. By asking for upgraded versions of items that you already own, you are helping to modernize your home and turn it into an up-to-date space you can feel proud of.
Entertaining
Appliances are some of the more common items that couples put on their gift registry, but there are other options worth thinking over. Dishware is also a common item to see on the list. Unfortunately, plenty of couples wind up making mistakes when they are attempting to register for plates, bowls, and cups. Since it is only you and your partner, you might assume that you only need two of everything. While this is understandable, you are forgetting that there are going to be times when you invite guests over for a meal.
Register for at least four, if not more, of each piece of flatware or stemware that you are considering. This will help you to have enough in your future home for when you are entertaining guests. It can also come in handy when your family starts to grow. Once you have children and they start to get older, you are going to be happy that you have enough plates and bowls in the house for each meal.
Stay Open About Your Gift Registry
You also might want to focus on appliances and gadgets that serve more than one purpose. A waffle maker might be on your radar, but it only makes waffles. This means that you will have a large single-use appliance in your kitchen taking up space. Instead, think about appliances that can serve multiple functions at once.
When it comes to registering for your wedding, you want to be sure that you are asking for items you can get some use out of. Look into all of your options and see if you can create a gift registry that will make you and your partner feel content.
It is hard to deny the impact that social media has had on culture as a whole. It seems that every couple of years, a brand new platform emerges and gives a voice to a generation. TikTok, for example, has fast become one of the most popular apps to come about in recent times. While many people associate the platform with coordinated dances, humorous lipreads, and educational info dumps, the app has also had a massive impact on the wedding industry. Specifically, couples are using this social media option as a way of discovering new and exciting registry gifts.
If you’re looking for some exciting additions to include on your own wedding registry, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your options. Review these items made popular by TikTok and see how you can get more out of your gift experience.
Colorful Stemware On Social Media
Glassware and stemware have long been essential items to add to a registry list. However, the trend had always revolved around purchasing traditional options that the couple can use for many years to come. After many TikTok users began posting themselves drinking out of stemware with color-tinted glass, however, it introduced couples to a much more vibrant option. If you’re looking to add a few unique pieces to your gift list, consider colored drinkware produced by trusted brands like Estelle. Whether you use the glasses or merely keep them as decoration, you will appreciate the aesthetic offered.
Broom-Vacuum Hybrid
Many couples purchase a first home after tying the knot. For this reason, nearlyweds have often found it sensible to add certain gadgets and appliances to wedding registries in order to cut back on how much they will have to spend on essentials down the line. Thanks to social media, a brand new device has been introduced in terms of keeping homes clean: a broom-vacuum hybrid. As the name suggests, this device is a combination of both a vacuum cleaner and a broom. When you’re looking to make cleanup a snap, this is a device worth considering.
Digital Projector Rising On Social media
Once upon a time, projectors were a very common item to gift to couples for their weddings. Before the age of the internet and digital photography, couples would use projectors as a way of showing friends and family images from their honeymoons and other important vacations. Though the trend went away with the advent of digital cameras, TikTok has seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of projectors. Whether you’re looking for a retro way to project your pics or you want to host a movie night in your home, a digital projector may be the perfect addition to your list.
Music Displays
Though far from the most convenient way of listening to music in the current day and age, records have remained popular among audiophiles and collectors for decades. This has been made apparent with the younger generation, as countless TikTok posts center around playing records. One fun piece of décor that has emerged from the app is a frame that can be used to display a record currently being played. The “now playing” frame is an affordable and fun item to add to your registry, whether you actually play your records or you simply like to display the cover art.
Juice Anywhere
Some people are constantly on the go. For this reason, it makes sense that plenty of TikTok videos are centered around ways to make travel easier and more fun. If you’re someone who loves the taste of fresh juice, then a travel juicer you can take wherever you go is a helpful addition to consider.
Though TikTok and other social media platforms are used for a variety of reasons, plenty of couples have been scouring the apps in order to find fun and exciting gift options. Consider the options listed here or dive into the app yourself to find something unique to add to your list.
Attending a wedding can be a reason for excitement. Whether you have a close relationship with the couple of honor or you’re going as someone else’s guest, there is something electrifying about such celebrations. Naturally, there are also some concerns you might have. Getting the perfect gift can often prove to be a bit more challenging than some realize. While picking out the right present might not be straightforward, you can easily find a good fit with a bit of research. Review this guide and learn everything you need to know.
The Art of Giving Gifts
This might come as something of a shock to modern minds, but guests bringing gifts to weddings is a fairly recent concept. While presents and tokens of affection are somewhat synonymous with special celebrations, the current idea of wedding gifts stems loosely from the Renaissance practice of creating marriage chests. These chests served a utilitarian purpose, being the container a bride would use to store and transport her belongings to her husband’s home after a wedding. Over time, the tradition changed somewhat and it became common to fill the chest with items given to a bride for her wedding.
However, the idea of gifts in the modern sense can be traced to an exact point in time: 1924. During this year, the American department store Macy’s unveiled what it called the “wedding registry.” From this point on, the idea of giving a present to a couple tying the knot went from a thoughtful gesture to a cultural mandate. While there is no hard rule saying guests must bring presents to a wedding, to not do so is definitely considered a faux pas in a number of respects.
The Registry
Since it was first introduced, the wedding registry has become a staple in the process of planning a wedding. If you’re a guest, a registry provides the benefit of having a simple list that can be used to select a gift. This eliminates the stress that goes along with having to come up with an idea from scratch. However, it also creates the problem of limited availability. If the couple is asking for specific or expensive items, you might not have the time or funds to procure them.
Whether you use the registry comes down to your own personal preference. There is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding to pursue an alternate route when grabbing a gift. If you find that providing cash is the most sensible solution, then a rule of thumb is to give about $100 if you are alone and $200 if you are bringing a guest. The “plus one” should never be expected to bring a gift of his or her own, as this individual is a guest of a guest and typically doesn’t know the couple personally.
The Personal Spin
Another option to consider with wedding gifts is the personalized present. If you’ve known the happy couple for a long time, the standard items listed on the registry might not feel adequate to capture the importance of your connection. Do-it-yourself presents can be a wonderful option if you have a creative edge and enough time to complete a project. If you lack the ability to make something on your own, there are a number of businesses that create customized gifts using photos that can be a perfect fit for special occasions.
The Fun Factor
A wedding is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If you spend too much time worrying about the gift, you’ll likely have less fun at the actual event. The best way to pick a gift is to commit to your decision and leave it at that.
Picking a wedding gift can seem challenging, but the solution is as easy as weighing your options. Consider what the couple will appreciate most, and it will be a lot easier to feel confident in your decision.
Look over these suggestions to help you prepare the perfect gift registry, which can be quite a fun part of the wedding planning process.
It often seems like there are a million little tasks involved with planning for a wedding. Fortunately, not all of the items on your to-do list will be taxing. Creating your registry, for example, can actually be a fun experience. While perusing potential gifts can be exciting, you don’t want to simply rush into the process without any plan. Crafting the perfect registry takes time and a bit of forethought. These suggestions will guide you through some general steps so that you see success.
Start Early
Registering for gifts is one of the few tasks you can tackle as soon as you’ve set a date for your wedding. In fact, you want to try and get it started as early as possible. The sooner you’ve established a concrete list of gifts, the easier it is for friends and relatives to buy what you’ve requested. Nowadays, there are a lot of options involved with your registry. Do you want to stick to one large store or register across a number of businesses? What price points do you feel most comfortable with?
To answer these questions, you require ample time. Avoid feeling rushed by taking on the task as early as possible after you’ve gotten engaged.
Consider Your Actual Lifestyle
It is easy to get ahead of yourself when creating a wish list. As you begin browsing all of the items you can add to your registry, you may feel inclined to include every single thing you see. It is important that you learn to fight this urge. A great way to focus your registry is by considering your lifestyle. If you love to make smoothies every morning, ask for a new blender or food processor. By thinking about which gifts would see the most use in your household, you will have an easier time limiting your list.
Registry Return Policies
As straightforward as a registry can be, to err is human. Friends and relatives might make assumptions and purchase items that are slightly off from what you requested. Unfortunately, you could be stuck with these items if the store you register with has a very strict policy on returns. Before setting anything in stone for your wedding gifts, research how exchanges are handled. Most stores will be upfront about these policies, and some might work out a deal with you in order to retain your business.
Cash Options
While the registry is definitely where most guests will turn when looking for a gift, there are bound to be a number of people who will prefer to take another path. When providing registry information to guests, you might want to include instructions on how cash or other gifts can be given. Since you might not want to have a lot of cash or checks floating around in cards at the venue, a PayPal or Venmo handle can be provided. This allows guests to give you cash digitally without fear the card will get lost during the event.
Show Your Appreciation
Finally, don’t forget to show gratitude for the gifts you receive. Whether guests grab something from the registry or not, you should send out thank-you notes as soon as you have the opportunity. A number of apps centered around planning weddings include features that allow couples to fill out and mail thank-you cards right on their phones. This means you can take care of this task while on the plane to your honeymoon or over breakfast the day after the reception. Custom dictates they should be mailed out no later than three months, so don’t wait too long.
Creating a perfect registry is all about approaching the task from a very specific angle. Put in the effort, and you are far more likely to feel satisfied by the gifts you receive for your big day.
Before you consider forgoing a wedding registry, think about these unique and creative alternatives to the traditional department store registries.
Like many engaged couples, you may have lived on your own for some time before deciding to tie the knot. Maybe you’ve amassed a decent collection of housewares, furniture, and other home goods. So what do you do about your wedding registry? Before you make a decision, it’s worth examining some popular options and other alternatives to the classic wedding registry.
The Problem: You Already Have Enough Stuff
As you probably know, the wedding registry has taken the place of the traditional bride’s hope chest. The idea, of course, was to collect household goods and useful items that a young woman would need to set up her new home. During the 20th century, department stores created the wedding registry concept to encourage engaged couples’ families and friends to buy them gifts. The assumption was that the couple would need everything from fine china to bathroom towels.
Yet if you have a drawer full of flatware and more towels than you can count, registering for a full cache of home goods at a traditional department store probably won’t work for you. Still, you must choose from some possible courses of action:
Decide not to register at all.
Register only for a few items that you want or need.
Pick a universal registry with a major provider.
Choose a non-traditional type of registry.
Forgoing a wedding registry saves you time and effort, but The Knot’s Lauren Kay points out that your guests want guidance on how to gift you. Without any ideas, they may either send you money or take a stab in the dark and give you stuff that you don’t want or need. Carefully curated and universal registries, however, give them a few more options. Nontraditional options such as cash or travel fund registries allow them to show their generosity without playing guessing games about what you need.
Smart, Flexible Registry Solutions
When pondering your wedding registry options, it’s important to consider which ones will best serve your needs. If you have plenty of housewares but you could use a few more kitchen appliances, consider a small traditional registry with a few choice items. Kay recommends taking a thorough inventory of what you own, break up what you need into categories, and collaborate with your significant other to draft your final registry list. While you’re at it, don’t limit yourselves to registering for expensive pieces. Make sure you include items from a variety of price ranges, especially a few that are under $50.
If you’d rather not go the department store route, Bustle’s Ashley Mateo has other great suggestions. Honeymoon and travel registries are gaining popularity, along with charitable giving registry sites and registries that help couples fund new home purchases. Some specialty retailers offer registries for non-houseware items such as wine, luggage, or even scuba diving gear. Universal registries allow couples to pick products from several major retailers, and some have the additional capability for gift cards and honeymoon funding.
Whatever you select, make sure your chosen provider supports shipping to Canada and transferring funds to Canadian bank accounts. For instance, MyRegistry currently offers these services to Canadian couples and The Knot has partnered with Crowdrise, which permits international donations.
Which Choices Are Right for You?
Got a lot of stuff? Perhaps you’re wondering if you and your spouse-to-be should even create a wedding registry in the first place. Thankfully, you don’t need to resign yourself to being inundated with more dishes or linens. Small traditional registries, honeymoon and travel funds, charitable giving registries, specialty retailers, and universal online registries are just a few possibilities. You’re not without options, and a creative approach can result in a solution that works best for you and your guests.
When it comes to wedding gift-giving, there are many ways you can commit an accidental etiquette misstep, so knowing some basic guidelines can help.
Your upcoming wedding is a celebration. Sure, your ceremony carries with it importance and perhaps an air of dignity. Yet your reception is the time for your friends and family to make merry, and naturally, they may want to give you a gift. When it comes to wedding gifts, there are so many ways you can commit an accidental etiquette misstep. Knowing some basic guidelines can help you avoid embarrassment and offense.
Handling Gift Registry Details
Before you receive your first gift, you’ll need to create a wedding registry or two. You have many options from which to choose, but Martha Stewart Weddings suggests limiting yourself to a couple of different providers. Also, your gift registries should be completed between two and six months before the big day. However you proceed, remember that registry information should never be printed on your invitations. Your inner circle can spread the details through word-of-mouth, and you can post them on your wedding website. Just make sure that you include a clickable link and list the specifics on another page deeper in your site.
Is Asking for Cash a No-No?
Experts have been divided on whether asking or registering for cash is an acceptable practice. Thankfully, Anna Post from the Emily Post Institute offers some definite guidance. Registering for cash gifts is perfectly fine, but you should follow the same guidelines for publicizing it as you do for traditional registries. Let your family and friends spill the details, and be sure to have a standard registry as a backup. Not sure what to add to the alternate registry? Try some unique items you don’t already have, but offer a few low-cost gift options as well.
Brides writer Jaimie Mackey echoes the advice of never asking for cash on the invitation. She adds that you should be explicit about how you plan to use monetary gifts, whether it’s for a new home, a cross-country move, or your honeymoon. You can discuss these details on your wedding website if you wish. Don’t forget to provide a box for checks and gift cards at your reception, since some guests may bring these with them. Have a trusted individual check the box throughout the evening and securely store the contents to prevent theft.
Other Pitfalls To Avoid
You’ve followed all this great advice, but you’re still not home free. You’re probably not the type of couple that keeps score on gifts, but Wedding Wire Canada’s Diane Hall reminds readers that this is a major faux pas. After all, gifts aren’t an obligation, and The Knot sets the record straight on the “cover your plate” rule. On the flip side, you could encounter guests asking how much you’re spending per plate on your wedding to guide them in gift-giving. In those cases, you may need to deflect the question and stress that you value their company more.
While you’re at it, don’t neglect those all-important thank-you notes. Hall mentions that registry providers usually send you notifications when items have been purchased. You’ll want to send out your notes within three weeks of receiving each gift. For presents given to you on the big day, you should send out your notes within three months.
Don’t Proceed Without a Plan
Wedding gifts are a way for guests to show their affection and care for a happy couple. If you’re the ones tying the knot, graciousness and discretion are your best friends. First, count on your closest family and friends to let others know about your registry. Don’t be afraid to register for cash, but include some physical goods to provide your guests with alternatives. Finally, send out your thank-you notes in a timely manner. These tips should help you navigate the world of wedding gifts before and after the big day.
Do your gift registry the right way by planning ahead.
A wedding is a lovely experience for many reasons. While it might not be your primary incentive for tying the knot, you may be a bit excited thinking about all of the gifts that will be coming your way for your special day. Many couples opt to create a gift registry at their favorite shops in order to help guests find the perfect gifts. If you and your partner are planning on creating a registry, it stands to reason that you are going to be looking for some very specific items.
Most couples use their gift registry as a chance to ask for the items and appliances that will help them begin their married life together. This means finding gadgets and equipment for rooms like the kitchen. If you want to make a registry that you feel satisfied with, it can be a good idea to take a moment to think about how you can make the most of the process. Explore some of these ideas and see if you can craft a registry that gets you the best possible items for your future.
The First Step
There are many common mistakes that couples make when attempting to create registries for their weddings. For one, most couples assume that they should only be asking for items that they do not yet own. While this might be a great place to start, it does not completely capture the best way of thinking about your needs. You might own a blender already, but it also might be a blender that you have had in your possession for many years. This means it is already outdated and maybe even a bit worn.
Instead of simply creating a gift registry for all of the items that you do not yet own, think about putting items on your registry that you would like to upgrade. That blender in your kitchen may not last as long as you think. By asking for upgraded versions of items that you already own, you are helping to modernize your home and turn it into an up-to-date space you can feel proud of.
Entertaining
Appliances are some of the more common items that couples put on their gift registry, but there are other options worth thinking over. Dishware is also a common item to see on the list. Unfortunately, plenty of couples wind up making mistakes when they are attempting to register for plates, bowls, and cups. Since it is only you and your partner, you might assume that you only need two of everything. While this is understandable, you are forgetting that there are going to be times when you invite guests over for a meal.
Register for at least four, if not more, of each piece of flatware or stemware that you are considering. This will help you to have enough in your future home for when you are entertaining guests. It can also come in handy when your family starts to grow. Once you have children and they start to get older, you are going to be happy that you have enough plates and bowls in the house for each meal.
Stay Open About Your Gift Registry
You also might want to focus on appliances and gadgets that serve more than one purpose. A waffle maker might be on your radar, but it only makes waffles. This means that you will have a large single-use appliance in your kitchen taking up space. Instead, think about appliances that can serve multiple functions at once.
When it comes to registering for your wedding, you want to be sure that you are asking for items you can get some use out of. Look into all of your options and see if you can create a gift registry that will make you and your partner feel content.
