Brides Take Note . . . Registering for Gifts Requires a Certain Etiquette, Too

The older I get the more weddings I am invited to. I suppose that is how it goes. Better than attending funerals which also happens the older you get. I much prefer weddings. Receiving the wedding invite in the mail is always exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. What am I going to wear; formal or evening? What gift should I buy; where are they registered? I am friends with both the bride and the groom; which side do I sit on? Wedding etiquette for guests can be overwhelming, but there are also etiquette tips that the happy couple-to-be should follow, too. Especially, when registering for gifts.

If you are a bride preparing to create your wish list keep these wedding registry etiquette rules in mind to make it a little easier on your guests.

1. Start Early

Register for your gifts wants and needs before sending out your invites. I am a procrastinator and will put off getting your gift before I arrive at the reception hall, but not every is like me. For those people whose social calendars are booked with weekend weddings for the next century, they would like to be able to buy your gift as soon as possible.

2. Price Matters

Okay, register for what you want. This is the only time in adulthood that we can ask for outrageous items. So, go ahead and register for the Tiffany vase. Ask for a pony. But remember to keep some of your items at a lower price point to accommodate those who may not be able to purchase a $300 blender. Otherwise, you may wind up with a lot of gift certificates to the Dollar General. Yikes!

3. Location and Accessibility

If you have a lot of out-of-town guests, consider registering at nationwide department stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom or Target. This will allow your guests to be able to shop in-store if they prefer. Registering at one of your favorite local boutiques is absolutely fine for those who live close by. Everyone likes to present an unique wedding gift, but by putting common registry items on your list at more accessible locations you can be guaranteed that you get more of what you want.

4. Mix It Up

This goes along with location and accessibility. Recently, a friend registered for her wedding entirely at one store and, to make matters, worse it wasn’t a traditional stone and mortar location. You could only purchase online. She thought this would be convenient for everyone. Her guests wouldn’t have to wrap and carry a present to the reception while her maid of honor wouldn’t be stuck trying to lug everything back to her place. The problem? She neglected to account for the fact that over half of her wedding guests were old-school and a couple generations older. Not everyone is comfortable or able to shop online.

5. Do Not Be a Demanding Bridezilla

Never demand that your guests only bring or purchase gifts from certain vendors. Crazy, right? But it happens. I received an invite to a bridal shower a few years ago and on the invite were specific instructions to only purchase gift cards from “. . . the shops mentioned below, to reduce the stress and headache Bill and Mandy [names changed to protect me from their wrath]may incur from trying to return gifts or gift cards from other locations.”

Brides, never do this. If I have to explain why, then we have more issues than your poor bride etiquette.

Do you attend a lot of weddings or bridal showers? What advice do you have for brides who are registering for gifts?