How Many Items Should Be On My Registry
If youre having a larger wedding, youre going to want to register for more items, Kay said. Most registries have an average of 100-150 items, depending on the wedding. But these can be small things, like a potato peeler, alongside bigger things like a new grill, a fire pit for the backyard, or a sound system for your house.
Is It Okay To Keep Adding To Your Registry
Absolutely! says Skurnik. Your registry is an evolution. The best way to get started is to take an inventory of your homethink about whats missing, what needs an upgrade. As wedding planning continues, it’s natural to think of more ideas and to continue to add as gifts are purchased. Nobody is going to think there are too many gifts, but they might feel disappointed if all of the gifts are purchased.
Hair And Makeup Trial
Help your stylists help you by researching some particulars before you come in for your trials. Look back at old photos of yourself so you can find something thats worked before and ensures you still look like yourself. Next, feel free to search social media for other inspiration just dont delude yourself with highly-filtered Instagram expectations.
Bring photos and be as specific as possible about what you want and dont want.
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Charity Choice Gift Card
Feel like you already have plenty of stuff? Your guests will still want to get you something, so consider adding something to your registry that will satisfy that need for them and allow you to give back.
Designate the funds to go to up to three charities of your choosing you can pick from an extensive list of over 1000 options, helpfully split up across 12 different categories, such as environment, children, military, and more.
Umbra Hub Modern & Contemporary Floor Mirror
Mirrors are notoriously expensive, so it’s all about getting the most bang for your buck. This full-length mirror doubles as a decorative ladder, which is convenient and also totally on-trend. The natural colors adapt to any home, and you’ll save yourselves the hassle of having to mount your mirror.
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Williams Sonoma Classic Cotton Chambray Napkins
Courtesy of Williams Sonoma
Just like you get plenty wear out of a chambray shirt, youll get plenty of use out of these chambray napkins. Durable, yet super cute, theyre the perfect choice for everyday, casual dining, and come in a charcoal hue that will work with any type of dishware, flatware, or other table linens.
Air fryers are the it appliance of the moment, well-deserving of all the buzz and hype. Particularly this one thats affordable and effective, yet has a nice and compact footprint so as to not take up too much space on your kitchen counter.
Its a game-changer for cooking crispy French fries , and also has a dehydrator function that lets you turn things like fruits and veggies into crunchy chips.
What Is A Registry For A Wedding
A bridal or wedding registry is a list of wedding gifts that an engaged couple has selected in advance. Registry service is typically provided by various stores free of charge to the prospective bride and groom and allows guests to choose the couples needs or wants. Need help planning your wedding? Check out our list of Wedding Event Planners here.
Registering for things like dishes and household items used to be away for a married couple to furnish their new home, but with many couples cohabitating before marriage, modern-day registries include a wide variety of items, with some even requesting donations to help pay for the couples honeymoon trip.
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Best Cashmere Blend: Brooklinen Heathered Cashmere
Courtesy of Brooklinen
These sheets will hands down make your bed your favorite place in your home. The finish is heathered cashmere, meaning it has a soft, muted look thanks to the weave. The fibers are the perfect marriage of materials, combining the softness of cashmere with the breathability of the cotton. Its a win-win if you ask us.
Plusthese sheets have the added bonus of getting softer with every wash and hold up well with lots of washes (you won’t get sick of sleeping in these any time soon. These come in three beautiful colorswere partial to the Frosted Blue.
Plants And Design Planters
You are a design-addict? Your guests might want to give you natural or artificial plants, together with design planters. Couples with a love for the outdoors will love this, the same as natural gardeners. They come in bamboos, glass, ceramics, pottery and even fabrics to give your lawn an appealing look. Design planters retail between $14.91-58.65 on .
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Scratch maps are wedding registry must-haves for adventurous couples who are in love with traveling. They allow you to scratch off places where you have been to around the globe, a beautiful way to preserve memories. Luckies of London retails for $31.98 on .
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Can We Have A Large Reception
A second wedding can be as intimate or as grand as you want it to be. Nowadays, a second wedding reception can range from close family and friends at a restaurant to a seaside destination to a black-tie ballroom party. Create an atmosphere that is different from your first wedding with different details and elements so it doesnt feel like déjà vu.
At the reception the newlyweds can take part in as many reception traditions they want to: first dance, parent dances, wedding party entrance, tossing the bouquet and cutting the cake.
Should You Be Paying Attention To The Cost Of Items
The value of a gift is not tied to the price tag, and its important to give guests options they feel comfortable with, says Skurnik. Each guest will approach your registry with a different price point in mind. Guests that want to spend more will often bundle items together to reach that goal, so its good to include a mix of items $50 and under, between $50 and $100, and over $100. And dont feel self-conscious about registering for a few higher ticket items as well. Loved ones often like to join in on gifts together, and you never know who might want to spring for something extra nice, says Skurnik.
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Where To Put Your Wedding Registry
You can put your wedding registry on your wedding website so its easy for guests to find and shop from. If youre having a bridal shower, your hosts will also share your registry details on the shower invitations. Finally, you can add your registry to your save-the-dates but leave it off the actual invitation.
Bath Towels & Hand Towels
Towels are always necessary whether they’re for you, guests, the kitchen, or even your pets. Before you finish your wedding registry, add some plush towels to your wish list and consider picking a style with the initial of your soon-to-be shared last name. While bath towels aren’t a “super fun” wedding gift, they’re always appreciated and will be a cozy addition to a couple’s newlywed home.Auberge monogrammed letter towels, $13-50/each by Matouk bloomingdales.com
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What Not To Put On Your Wedding Registry
Your wedding registry should be a shared list for you and your partner, so its probably not the best place for gifts that are super specific to just one of you. Instead, opt for things you can share with your significant other as you begin your new life together.
We also recommend avoiding too many expensive items for your registry. Be mindful of your guests and instead include a range of price points for them to choose from.
Lastly, dont put things on your wedding registry just for the sake of it. Select items that you will truly get good use out of and wont just stuff in a closet or drawer somewhere. Your guests want to get you something youll actually love, so make your selections intentional.
Check out our top 10 dos and donts of creating your wedding registry. Now that you know whats best to leave out, here are some great options to include on your list.
Covid Has Made Us Reprioritize What We Need Can We Ask For Cash
Asking for cash outright is another wedding registry etiquette faux pas. However, many registries today provide a great alternative. You can sign up for contribution-based items, such as a honeymoon, first house fund, or even stocks. If you go this route, be sure to also register for some physical items with a second registry as well. This way, guests can choose if they feel comfortable with a cash-only contribution or a physical gift .
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When To Start A Wedding Registry:
Once youre engaged, its never too early to start registering. However, you should have a complete registry at least four months before the wedding day. It can take time to set up a registry and choose your preferred gifts, so give yourself time and make it fun! The longer you wait the more stressful it can become. Its also important to have your registry complete before all the bridal showers and gift-giving events.
Can A Second Wedding Have A Traditional Wedding Party
A traditional wedding party is a great way to honor close friends and family, and theres no reason you cant have bridesmaids and groomsmen or bridesmen and groomswomen at your second wedding. It can even be comprised of some or all of the people you chose for your first weddings wedding party. You may want to add your children to the wedding party as a way to include them in the wedding day.
The responsibilities for the wedding party would remain the same, according to second wedding etiquette: host a shower, attend pre-wedding festivities, and wear a dress/suit that the couple selects or gives guidelines to select their own outfit. The couple may want to cover the costs of the wedding partys outfits, especially if youre selecting their looks, if they can afford to.
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We Have The Answers To Your Most Pressing Questions
Photo by Joel Serrato
In confusing times such as these, it’s expected for couples planning a wedding to feel overwhelmed with questions. From renegotiating contracts to figuring out the safest way to move forward, the process is about solving one problem at a time. But it’s not just couplestheir guests also need clarity on certain etiquette. This probably holds most true when it comes to gifts, particularly, the registry.
Since applying traditional etiquette in the current climate would be futile, we turned to experts Kelley Carter and Emily Forrest for answers to the most pressing wedding registry questions in the age of COVID-19.
Meet the Expert
- Kelley Carter is the Home Fashion Director at Bloomingdales. With a background in editorial, she previously held positions at O Magazine, Real Simple, and Refinery29.
- Emily Forrest is the Director of Communications at Zola and has been with the company for more than four years.
Should We Purchase A Gift For Both The Wedding Ceremony And Reception If Theyre Being Held On Different Dates
Because of COVID-19, many couples have decided to hold two events an intimate, micro-wedding celebration followed by a larger reception in 2021. While a gift is never an obligation, sending one is a nice gesture to recognize the couples wedding, especially if their big reception had to be postponed. We recommend sending a gift in recognition of their wedding ceremony, especially since they will likely be home using the gift. If you attend their reception at a later date, consider bringing a card or small monetary gesture, such as a gift card, if your budget allows.
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Is There Anything Thats Not Appropriate To Register For
I really believe that anything is on the table, says Skurnik. The rule of thumb is to make sure a registry is balanced between partners, so if one partner wants to register for the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, the other partner might want to add a super-plush bathrobe or some cookbooks. Partners don’t have to have the same taste or hobbies to be married they just have to create a comfy home.
Instead Of Disappearing Wedding Registries Are Evolving
Jennifer Spector, the brand director for Zola, told me that this notion is slowly changing. Gift-giving is no longer about paying for your plate, but more about gifting something that feels super personal and representative of the couple, she said, adding that she has seen couples use Zola wedding funds for everything from honeymoon funds to puppy funds and home renovation funds, and even a fund for a lifetime supply of avocados, which to me seems like a sneaky way of asking for cash without actually asking for cash. This doesnt mean registries are disappearing it just means couples are finding ways to ask for what they actually want.
In addition to traditional store registries and wedding-specific sites like Zola and the Knot, couples can register on Amazon and put just about anything on their list.
Honeymoon funds seem to be particularly popular, maybe because millennials, having accepted that theyll never be as rich as their parents and grandparents, increasingly prefer experiences over material goods. In addition to Zola, newlyweds can crowdfund honeymoons through websites like Honeyfund, which was founded by a husband-and-wife duo in 2006.
All these options give couples who dont want or need housewares the ability to ask for nontraditional gifts instead. But couples who dont want gifts may see these expanded registries as a necessary evil or a way of placating family members.
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Mistake : Not Registering For Enough Items In A Range Of Prices
Having excellent wedding registry etiquette means keeping your guests best interests in mind, so your list should have plenty of options and cater to various budgets. Theres a secret formula to help you determine how many gifts to add to your registry: multiply your guest list by two, and add a few extras. Over-registering will give loved ones plenty of options, especially as items start to get purchased. Plus, your friends and family may be buying multiple gifts, while some will be looking to splurge on a big-ticket item. To cover all the bases, register for facilities that fall between $50 and $200 or more. Guests will have no problem using your gift registry when it has plenty of ideas at all price ranges.
