Bridal Registries: Trends and Tips

Bridal Registries: Trends and Tips

• Bridal registries have been including more untraditional items as well as the conventional crystal, china, and silver. Sporting goods, electronic equipment, artwork, furniture, cellular phones, answering machines, TVs, and computers are all popular choices.
• Another new trend has been for couples to register with travel agencies or mortgage lenders. A cash donation may be made to help finance the couple's honeymoon or down payment on a house.
• Visit many stores with your fiancée to find one which carries a variety of items that you both like. When you find the one you want to register at, go there on off-hours to avoid confusion and maximize personal attention from the bridal registry coordinator.
• Register as soon as you can after your engagement, so that your registry can be used for engagement, shower, and wedding gifts. Your place of registration may be announced on shower invitations, and otherwise spread by word of mouth from family and friends. It should never be included as part of the wedding invitations.
• When registering, ask as many questions as you can. Find out the store's policies on returns, deliveries, and special-orders. Will they mail a duplicate of your registration forms to you for verification?
• Update your registry frequently to avoid receiving duplicate gifts. Many registries are now computerized, and offer the advantage of instant updating upon purchase.
• Also keep up to date with thank you cards. Open each gift promptly upon receipt, and jot down the item, who sent it, and your initial thoughts upon opening it. Notes with a personal touch are always preferred, and failure to send a thank you card is a major etiquette faux pas.
• As a general rule, keep the gifts in the $25-$75 range. However, don't neglect the lower or higher priced items.