The wedding is fast approaching and you are starting to get those awkward messages from relatives and friends concerning the all-important gifts. “Well, is there something you want or need?” You can only be polite for so long before you start to just tell people what to buy you. In reality, a wedding is a tricky time for guests. If you are moving into a new home it is usually a given that guests will buy you something for your house. If you are renting, it can be so difficult to choose a gift. Add the complexity that somewhere between 50 to 200 people are buying you gifts and you can be sure there will be many duplicates. The only solution to all this madness is a wedding registry.
While the wedding registry may seem greedy, it is just efficient. Telling people what you need makes your (and their) life easier. Embrace it. When listing your registry ensure you list gifts across a range of budget options so that you are not forcing people to spend a lot of money.
When choosing your gifts try and list things that will last as long as your marriage or longer. They should serve as reminders of the beautiful day and if you are lucky something you can pass on to your children with pride.
Typical gifts to include are:
On average 10 pieces of glassware (of each variety – wine, cocktail, tumbler, etc), 10 pieces of each silverware, 10 pieces of dinnerware, bed linens, etc.
Don’t feel you have to stick to a traditional list. It is your registry so choose things you will want. A nice idea is for you and your soon-to-be spouse to go shopping with your phone in hand and take note of all the items you find in a store that you would like.
You should aim to have 150% of gifts compared to the number of guests on your wedding registry so that they have plenty to choose from.
