Many department stores and specialty shops offer a free gift registry. This computerized service allows you to choose items you would like to receive as shower and wedding gifts and keeps track of items already purchased so that you won’t receive duplicates. The wedding registry allows guests to more easily choose items for you while making sure that they are getting a unique item that you need.
Start the registry process before you send out wedding invitations. You and your fiancé must first decide on the stores you want to include for your registry. The fewer stores the better. Choose stores that are easily accessible and have a wide presence as well as an online store for the convenience of your guests. You may want to register with one high-quality department store and one other department store to fulfill all your needs.
Decide on the things you want and need. Before visiting the store make a list of the items you definitely want. These days many couples already live together before the wedding and may already own many of the everyday items that couples needed years ago.
Next, visit the store to make your selections. Many stores have bridal registry consultants who will accompany you for your selections and assist you in the registry process. Be sure to include things that people with varying incomes can afford. Some guests may decide to go in together to purchase a more expensive gift. You can register for china, silverware and glassware if your guest list is large enough. Include some items in different categories such as kitchenware, bath ware, entertainment and decorative.
Many stores have pre-printed bridal registry sheets to allow you to easily make choices. Shop through the store looking at the various choices and noting your choice on the sheet. If you don’t need a particular item mark it as such. The store then enters your choices into the computer. Most are accessible at the store or on the Internet.
Guests will make choices based on your registry lists. Be sure to let people know where you are registered. When someone makes a purchase it should be automatically taken off the list. You may want to appoint someone, such as your mother, to periodically check the list for accuracy. Often times the guests will inform your mom of what they purchased. If it was not purchased from one of your registry stores your mother can call and have it manually removed. It is impolite and in poor taste for the bride and groom to look at the list before the wedding to see what they are getting.
Guests should include a gift receipt with the gift. If you do receive any duplicate gifts you can easily return one of them to the store. You should then pick out another gift that you need in replacement.