Category — Registry

Bed Bath & Beyond dishes out registry tips in this article, “Getting Engaged Is Just the Beginning.”

But before you take those registry tips as gospel, you’ve got to ask yourself a question.  In fact, I urge you to ask yourself this question before you take ANYONE’S advice about your wedding.

“What’s in it for them?”

Bed Bath and Beyond encourages newly engaged couples to start a bridal registry immediately.  “Don’t be shy,” they coax, smiling with dollar signs in their eyes.  Register for at least twice as many gifts are you have givers.  Put at least three sets of sheets on your wedding registery.  And remember: register NOW because you won’t buy it later.

Could it be that they just might have something to gain by advising you to register for all those gifts?

MONEY.

If you need all that stuff, scan away to your heart’s content.  But be aware that if you put all those gifts on your wedding registry…your guests will buy them.  Which means fewer cash gifts.

Let’s be honest, here.  Do you really WANT or NEED all that stuff on your wedding registery?

If you’d rather ask for a wedding gift of money, check out my previous blog post for some suggestions on how to do it without being TACKY.

Like I tell you (repeatedly!) in my eBook, the bottom line is: DON’T do ANYTHING for your wedding just because somebody says you’re “supposed to.”  And always, always ask yourself what’s in it for them.  There are way to many opinions floating around out there looking for some poor, spineless bride to attach themselves to.  Don’t let that be you.

Honeymoon in Kauai by TravOC www.travsite.com

One of the many perks of getting married is…GIFTS!

But how do you ask for the wedding gifts you really want (without coming across as a selfish Bridezilla or violating etiquette wedding traditions) instead of toasters and fondue sets and hideous glazed platters painted with grape vines and cornucopias?

Not that there’s anything WRONG with cornuopias…

One solution is to find a fabulous gift registry, select the items you want, need and love for your married life together, and invite your guests to buy those gifts for you. It’s a no-brainer, really. Plus, you get the added excitement of peeking at your bridal registery to see what’s coming.

It’s okay to admit it: you’re a registry addict. You’re among friends here.

But what if you and your FI have been keeping house for years? You don’t need coffee makers and dish sets or wine goblets. Do you have to accept lame gifts you’ll never use?

Heck, no!

One of my brides found a great wedding registry option that her guests were SO EXCITED to give. Rachel and Seth booked their honeymoon in St. Lucia, then set up a honeymoon registry. Guest could give the gift of honeymoon activities for the newlyweds.

Rachel reported how excited her guests were about the idea. “I bought you breakfast in bed,” her aunt boasted. “We got them a zip-lining day trip,” his uncle chimed in.

(Spoiler: these honeymoon registry gifts are credits you can spend any way you want on your honeymoon, so you’re not stuck zip-lining if you’re afraid of heights.)

Here are a few online sites where you can find your registry:

The Honeymoon

Honeyfund

Honeymoon Wishes

The Honeymoon Gift

Caution: many of these honeymoon registries charge a fee for the service. But it’s a small price to pay for the convenience, and your guests will LOVE it. And you can end up having your dream honeymoon FREE!

I cover more creative ways to save on your honeymoon in my eBook.

So what is your dream honeymoon and how are you making it happen? Leave me a comment.