We all know that having a wedding registry is an important step in every couple's wedding preparations.
In planning our wedding, my husband and I researched for months to find the best photographer, top-notch flower arrangements, and the perfect dress.
However, when we began creating our registry, we just started clicking on items with
a scanner or on a website before actually considering how we could make our registry really successful.
We started to make comments like, "This is something people register for, right? I guess it should go on our registry, too."
Unfortunately, we ended up registering for quite a few items that we didn't really like or use after five years into marriage.
Now being in the wedding industry and seeing so many great registries, I have been thinking a lot about how our wedding registry could have been more fruitful. Ultimately, I have found that by knowing yourselves as a couple, understanding your guests, and showing off your personalities, you can really create a registry that is not only successful, but a great expression of who you are and an extension of the wedding itself.
Know Yourselves as a Couple
Creating your registry is a great time to figure out your style as a couple. First, you will need to discuss each of your tastes and how you will blend your styles together. By finding out your style, wants, and needs together, you will know exactly what to look for when you begin building your registry.
You will also want to consider what items you will actually use over the next 20-plus years. Will you use formal china and crystal? Perhaps you would actually be better off with a camping tent. Will you host a lot of formal dinner parties or backyard barbecues? Think of the way you actually live and then register for the items that will fit your lifestyle.
Also, consider where you live and what will actually fit in your space. For instance, if you bought a new house together, you might need to add furniture, art, or home decor to your registry list. SimpleRegistry is a great choice for your registry if you are looking towards expensive furniture and art because you can split the cost of any item. Now a variety of guests can make smaller contributions to your large items.
If you will live in a smaller apartment, you might not have room for that KitchenAid stand mixer and other large items. Therefore, consider registering for experience gifts, like baseball tickets, gym memberships, or romantic dinners out at your favorite restaurants. This is also a great time to use SimpleRegistry because you can register for anything and anywhere, not just items featured in a store.
Know Your Guests
In creating your registry, here's an important question to ask yourself: "What type of people have we invited to our wedding and what kind of gifts will they feel comfortable and excited to give?"
If you're having a traditional southern wedding with mostly family, you will be receiving very different gifts than say an L.A. wedding with friends from college. It's important to have traditional items in addition to some fun items. This way, both your grandparents and fraternity brothers will be able to find items on your registry that they are comfortable and excited to purchase for you.
One of the most important aspects of having a successful wedding registry is the ability to add items with a wide range of prices for guests of different budgets. Guests will not want to purchase anything from your registry if all the items are way too expensive. Also, if you don't register for enough expensive items, one or two guests could purchase all the items on your registry.
Share a Little Bit of Yourself
Your guests want to see you and celebrate you! The first place they will begin this celebration is your registry, so personalize it just as much as your wedding. Be sure to include some of your favorite photos of you as a couple on your registry page. Also, write a personal message on the guest message area of your registry.
Finally, you will also want to add items to your registry that are personal. For example, if everyone knows that you are both "movie buffs", you will want to add items to your registry that reflect your personality such as DVDs, movie posters, movie tickets, and even a subscription to Entertainment Weekly.
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