12 Must-Know Wedding Registry Tips for the Perfect Registry Experience

12 Must-Know Wedding Registry Tips for the Perfect Registry Experience

Of the millions of wedding registries created by MyRegistry.com users, every single one has been different. Creating a registry for your wedding is a unique experience. It is singular to you and your partner. 

Of course, you can look for advice about what to have on your registry, but you have your own style, values, wants, and needs. They should be accommodated by your choices regarding the items you add.  MyRegistry.com has served the needs of engaged couples for the past 17 years and we have a few wedding registry tips worth sharing. 

It’s 2023 – How exactly does a Wedding Registry work today?

Once upon a time brides would go with their mothers to their city’s local department store to “register.” Marshall Fields in Chicago was the first to establish a registry for its newly engaged customers in 1924. Through the 20th Century the “Wedding Registry” was copied by stores in cities coast to coast.  

With the advent of the internet, today’s bride and groom isn’t limited to an in-store experience to register. While some engaged couples follow traditions that include a store-focused wedding registry at a national department store like Nordstrom, Neimann Marcus, Bloomingdales, or Macy’s. However, many couples create a digital universal wedding registry that can connect to dozens, if not hundreds, of different retailers. 

The digital wedding registry is not limited by time or place. Merely sharing a link to the bride and groom’s registry makes it accessible to everyone invited to the wedding - local or long-distance. So it makes sense to put the link on your wedding site, or even your invitation. Guests can search and purchase gifts directly from the registry and the items will be delivered where the bride and groom want them to be. It makes for extremely convenient gift giving.  

Basic Wedding Registry Tips: Setting one up is as simple as 1, 2, 3

Basic Wedding Registry Tips

So how does an expectant bride set up their wedding registry?  Here are some basic wedding registry tips.

  1. Select a wedding registry platform. There are many out there. We happen to think that MyRegistry.com offers the best option for any newly engaged couple. Alternatively, there are excellent retailers that offer special perks for shoppers where you might choose to set up a registry such as Crate & Barrel, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales, as well as local stores. Luckily these retailers, along with many others, actually sync with MyRegistry.com’s universal wedding registry - allowing you to enjoy their store perks and still have a single point of access for every gift you wish to add. 
  2. Create an account. The account creation process is straightforward. Input your marriage date, name, email and a password. Voila! You can now add items, and create your wedding registry
  3. Add desired items. Once you have an account, you can now start adding items from any store you want - big box retailers like Target or Home Depot, stores like Crate & Barrel, Bloomingdale’s, or Neiman Marcus, and internet stores like Amazon or Wayfair. You can add gifts from any e-retailer site using MyRegistry.com’s web browser extension or from local brick and mortar stores that may not have a web presence by taking a picture of the item and inputting the details manually.
  4. Share your wedding registry. If you don’t let your wedding guests, friends, and family know that you have a registry they won’t know where to go to get the gifts that you actually want. So put it on your wedding website, include it with your invitation, send it via email or text, if you’re asked “Where are you registered?”

These are the basics for getting started. But as promised, the following are 12 must-know wedding registry tips that can guide you to make the most of your entire experience creating and using a registry for your upcoming wedding.

12 Wedding Registry Tips that Really Will Make Your Life Easier

12 Wedding Registry Tips that Really Will Make Your Life Easier

  1. Create your wedding registry early

    Once you get engaged there will be many tasks you need to accomplish, appointments to set, and things to plan. Many may take precedence over creating a wedding registry, but don’t wait too long to get started. It can take some time and energy to create a registry that really captures all the stuff you need, and want. This wedding registry tip is all about making it easy for your guests to know what you want and giving them the opportunity to get it for you. 

  2. Focus on finding items you really want

    Every wedding registry on MyRegistry.com is totally unique. Why? Because every couple has different needs, wants, styles and values. So here’s a great wedding registry tip: Your wedding registry should reflect the couple who is creating it. Remember your registry is a list of gifts that could be purchased for your wedding. If it’s on the list, it may become yours - so make sure it’s what you want. You don’t want to be hassling with returns or thinking about how to regift a wedding present as a newlywed.

  3. Review what you have and what you need

    Couples start out at different places in life. In fact, many folks are waiting longer to get married these days. Which means by the time the ring appears, you may already have plates and glasses you love. So take stock of what you have, what you may want replaced, and what you really need. Maybe find out what gifts others have ended up using the most from their registries. It might help you prioritize. 

  4. Do a little research

    Active research never hurts the process. This wedding registry tip will let you know you’re not alone in your attempt to create the perfect gift registry. Check out your friends, or stranger’s wedding registries. You’ll see how they are using their gift registry. Read lots of wedding gift guide articles. Explore the offerings of your favorite stores.

  5. Include your partner

    Though this is fifth on the list, it’s really the most important wedding registry tip. We rarely use negatives at MyRegistry.com, but Do Not under any circumstance create your registry without your partner. Your wedding registry is a list of all the items that you and your betrothed will be using to start a new life together. Of course, they are going to be interested in doing it together! It will be an amazing bonding experience, and you will learn even more about each other.

  6. Have fun with your style

    Your wedding is probably one of the few times in your life when all your friends and family are going to be showering you with gifts. It’s an opportunity to let them know who you are, what you and your partner value, and express your style. If you like quirky, include quirky. Colorful? Be loud. Prefer monochromatic, modern country?  You name it, your wedding registry can reflect the style. Enjoy!

  7. Look for items that serve double duty

    These wedding registry tips would be only 99% useful if we didn’t also suggest some very practical stuff. Gifts that do double duty help you make sure when your wedding is over that you are fully stocked to start your married life. A fun little pouf is both an extra chair for guests in your living room and a leg rest by your couch. A quaint painted tray can be used for breakfast in bed or for serving dessert at a party.  

  8. But go beyond essentials.

    It’s great to make sure all your essentials are taken care of, and it’s ok to ask for luxuries. The “nice to haves” will make all the difference in the comfort of your new home and life as a newlywed. 

  9. Don’t be bashful. You can ask for cash.

    Your wedding is the start of a new life with your partner. Sometimes what you want and need to get that life started on the right foot is cash. Creating a cash fund on your registry makes it easy to ask for money and give. You can give the fund a name - like “Annual Vacation Fund,” “First Home Fund,” or “Rainy Day Savings Fund,” so people know how you plan on using the money.

  10. There will always be a late shopper

    Even though you thought ahead and created and shared your perfect wedding registry with all your guests, undoubtedly, someone will visit the registry at the last minute. Many times all the gifts they want to give have already been bought.  Keep this in mind, as there may be items that you request extra of or add at the last minute. The universal wedding registry is never static; you can update it whenever you want.

  11. Gift cards are your friend.

    This wedding registry tip is a corollary to #10. If there are stores, restaurants, hotels, or other services that you love, frequent, or rely on, ask for gift cards from them or non-specific gift cards that are as good as cash from American Express, Visa, or Mastercard. If your imagination eventually gives out, throw a few gift cards on your list.  You’ll be glad you did.

  12. Be grateful and gracious

    Above all, be thankful for any gifts you and your partner receive. Your guests are honored to be a part of your special day, and with their gift - whatever it might be - they are doing their best to show love to you and the partner that you are choosing. The most wonderful gift at a wedding is gratitude for a loving community that supports you. 

We hope these wedding registry tips come in handy as you create and use your wedding registry. You are planning your wedding down to the tiniest detail.  Why not plan your registry as well? The gifts your guests give you from your registry will last as long as the memories you’ll have from your wedding day; so take the time to make it great.

CREATE A WEDDING REGISTRY

Find Something You Like?

You can add any of these items to your MyRegistry.com Wedding Registry. Don’t have one yet? It’s easy! Create a Universal Wedding Registry today, then add wedding gifts from all your favorite stores.

Looking for More Wedding Registry Ideas?

See more on our Wedding Registry Inspiration Boards.

We are a Universal Gift Registry website where people can create a registry and add gifts from any store in the world. If you buy any of the products listed here, we may be compensated. Thanks for reading—we love you!

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