The Occasional Gift Boo-Boo

Occasionally, through no fault of the gift giver, a gift will arrive broken or damaged. Unless the gift was send insured, the chances are the giver can do nothing about it at this point, and will most certainly feel bad about the mishap- possible even feel obligated to send a second one- so avoid mentioning the fact that it broke. If the gift was sent directly by a department store, you can contact the store. Their customer service department will most likely see to the replacement of the gift.

Returning Gifts
Even with the miracles of modern registry, duplicate gifts happen. It is not necessary to tell the gift giver that it was their particular gift you returned. This is where the painstaking research you did before you registered will come in handy as you will only have selected stores that make returns as easy as pie. (Although, anyone who's ever made a successful pie knows that they are not easy!)

The Gift Arrives With No Mentions Of The Sender
Try calling the store to see if you can track the gift that way. If it didn't come from a store, check the package for a hint as to where it came from, geographically speaking. Hopefully that can help you narrow it down. Also check with your parents and close friends, maybe they can help you determine the mystery giver.

The Wedding Is Called Off
When a wedding is called off or canceled, then all of the gifts need to be returned to the givers, even the monogrammed and personalized ones. Include a brief note with each gift you're returning, thanking the person for their thoughtfulness and explaining that the wedding will not be taking place.

Thanking People For Their Gifts-

The Must-Have-Its
You must send a thank you not for every wedding (shower, engagement, etc.) gift you receive. The note must be written by the bride or the groom. Unlike other wedding tasks, this one cannot be delegated. The thank you notes must be sent out in a timely fashion. This means two weeks for gifts received before the wedding. For gifts received after the wedding, one month recommended but you have up to three months before the etiquette police begin pounding on your door.