7 Wedding Registry Mistakes You Should Avoid
It’s easy to fall in love with a scanner gun while setting up your registry. Cute pillows—zap! Wineglasses—zap! Outdoor grill—sure, zap!
Make sure you get the most out of your registry by avoiding these common gaffes.
Mistake #1: You don’t take inventory of what you already have
“We suggest surveying your home first to see what items you’re missing and what could use upgrading,” say s Jeremy Bare, group vice president of the wedding and gift registry at Macy’s. “This helps to create a registry of things that you actually need.”
Mistake #2: You don’t register early enough
This is not a task to procrastinate. Bare suggests setting up a registry soon after your partner pops the question to cover engagement gifts. Try starting with a couple of items and then build on the registry throughout your engagement.
Bare’s rule of thumb: As you get closer to your wedding day, have at least twice as many items on your list as guests attending.
Mistake #3: You limit your registry to one store
Whether it’s online or brick and mortar, one shopping destination won’t make gift givers happy, so give them two or three choices. Pick out different items at each store to avoid getting duplicates.
Mistake #4: You don’t register at different price points
Having a variety of price points means there’s something for everyone’s budget. “Don’t be afraid to register for items at higher price points. Guests will often go in together to purchase the bigger gifts like rugs,” says Bare.
Mistake #5: You don’t get the groom involved
Hey, remember him — the guy who you’re planning to spend forever with? He should have input into the registry too. If you’re thinking, “But he couldn’t care less about towels,” ask him to pick out things that do interest him, like grills or barware.
Also, you may want to sign up for a registry that focuses on fun or educational experiences you share, such as hot-air ballooning or cooking lessons.
Mistake #6: You want cash but don’t ask for it
In certain circumstances, it’s okay to request cash. But rather than spreading the word among your entire guest list, limit it to close friends and family who ask what you’d like.
When speaking to them, choose your words carefully, says Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert. “If you say, ‘We have so much already since we’ve been living together, and anything you give us will be wonderful, but we’re saving for a down payment for a house,’ then you can direct them to a cash-gift website.”
Mistake #7: You don’t put your registry info on your wedding website
This is the go-to place to let guests know about everything related to your wedding. While it’s often considered taboo to include registry details on the wedding invitation, it’s perfectly fine to do so on your website.