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Putting together a wedding registry can be overwhelming and stressful. You’re already dedicating all of your time to planning the wedding itself, and then you have to throw in thinking of everything you need to start your home. I personally loved registering for our wedding and today I’m sharing my best tips and registry must-haves to make registering a breeze.
Where to Register
When choosing where to register, keep in mind that when it comes to gifting, people shop where they know. My husband and I registered at three different stores. That’s right, THREE! Don’t limit yourself to just one store for convenience. Every store has its perks and everyone likes to buy gifts at different stores. We chose Target, Amazon, and Bed Bath & Beyond. I felt like these three provided every age group of our guests with shopping where they prefer and gave us so many options. Each of these stores also has some great benefits.
What to Register For
A huge perk of registering at stores like Target is they have created a room-by-room list of things you should register for. One of my biggest tips for registering is: REGISTER FOR EVERYTHING. This is the best way to get the things you actually want and need. Plus, if it’s on the registry and once you’ve opened all your gifts you decide you don’t want it, return it for an in-store gift card! If you register at stores like Target and Walmart, you can even use those gift cards on groceries.
Below are some of my favorite tips for registering!
Take an inventory of what you already own. Every couple’s situation is different. Some people are on their own for years before they get married. Others have lived with their parents until they’re married. Whatever situation you are in, you’re bound to already have some necessities, and you might as well save some storage space.
I would also recommend to take note of every item you use in your morning routine–especially the items that won’t be coming with you when you’re married. This helped us remember to register for those little thing you may not think about (like a toilet plunger).
Register for multiples of everything at different price points. This is a tip my mom gave me. Every guest has a different budget and it’s important that there’s something for everyone on your registry. If you register for only top of the line kitchen appliances, you’re likely not to get any of them. Additionally, sometimes the items you register for go out of stock and it’s important to have a backup.
Register for decorations. If you’re anything like me, one of the most exciting things about getting married is decorating your first place together. Even a small apartment has room for some decor. Wedding gifts don’t have to be limited to toasters and towels. A lot of newlyweds have a tight budget and don’t want to make room for home decor in the budget. If you get home decor as a gift, you get to add a little happy to your home for free! I planned the colors I wanted to use throughout our house before I registered so I ended up with items that all went great together.
Update your registry. When I got married, I got about 100 cookie sheets at my first bridal shower. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I did get way more cookie sheets than anyone would need in their kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, I was so grateful for every gift I received and the thought that went into it. However, our apartment just did not have room for any other cookie sheets. That night, I logged onto each of my registries and removed cookie sheets from every one.
Not only can you remove items from your registry to prevent duplicates, but you can add items to your registry at any time! There were many nights I thought of something new to add to our registry and just logged on and found what we needed. You can even add items after your wedding. Some stores offer a discount for you to purchase anything still on your registry for a discount. We added everything from home necessities to groceries and used that discount to our advantage.
I’ve compiled a list of some of my must-have registry items along with links to some specifics:
Kitchen
- Tableware. I registered for a plastic set and a ceramic set of dishes. This way we could make sure we had something nice in case we have someone over for dinner. As for the plastic, it’s always nice to have something you don’t have to worry about breaking.
- Utensils. When it comes to utensils, you go through them a lot faster than you realize. I put two sets of the same utensils on my registry to avoid having to run an empty dishwasher.
Alexis Mullins 