Wedding Planning 101: The Registry

Is this something amazing or something I will get sick of in 5 seconds?

If you haven't gathered by now, I am utterly clueless when it comes to wedding planning. My latest clueless moment? Putting together our registry. Yet another lesson in etiquette and organization that I am getting schooled on. 

Stainless steel or cast iron like these?

One of my friends suggested we use MyRegistry.com. It's sort of like Pinterest for registrys where you add a link to your toolbar and click it every time you find something, on any website, that you want to register for. Pretty amazing, if I knew what to register for right? Or is it better to register with 3-4 stores only? I mean, I don't want to miss out on the experience of walking around with that scanner gun right, shooting everything in sight? 

Do I want this just because it's pink or will I really use it?

Getting down to the actual items, there are so many rules about registering. What's asking too much, what's rude to ask for, what's considerate, what's a necessity, etc. I did some googling and found a wonderful list from my main girl Martha Stewart. BUT what I REALLY want to know is- what do you all recommend we register for? Any tips?! Helppppp!!

Sincerely,
The Most Clueless Bride

Comments

  1. Here's my advice: think about where people you are inviting shop/have in their city. We registered at Bloomingdales but only about two people bought off that registry. Everyone bought from C&B and Macy's. Also, Macy's offers sweet kickbacks- you get a gift card back from 5% (or 10, I forget) at the end.

    As for actual goods- I'd recommend registering for pots & pans and knives individually, rather than one of those sets. Brings items to a much more reasonable price point for guests, and cuts down on the superfluous meat cleaver or part of the set you have no use for.

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  2. Deep breath. Then go to Potterybarn.com, go to the registry site, and download the registry checklist. It has all the basics that you need listed. Breathe again...now shop :)

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  3. I think it's best to register at at least a few brick-and-mortar stores (for the technologically challenged gift-givers!). Also, it's important to have stores at a variety of price points. I personally registered at Macy's, Williams Sonoma, and Tiffany.

    Hope this helps! happy to share more details if you want :)

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  4. Almost everyone ordered from Amazon.com or Bed Bath and Beyond for us. Also I could not live without my Le Creuset dutch oven. That things comes in handy all the time, but I have yet to use my KitchenAid stand mixer and it has been well over a year. I'm just not a baker.

    Also screw the lists and just ask for the things you really need. We didn't register for linens because we still have decent linens and want to wait till we buy a house to buy new ones. We upgraded pots and pans because we needed them and tons of serving platters because we had none. We already had everyday plates, so we registered for china, but a simple pattern that would be nice 20 years down the road. "Fun" china is a something we can add later and mix in with our wedding classic china.

    TL;DR - Register for a Le Creuset dutch oven and then whatever you want/need. And get a classic china pattern.

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  5. We registered at BBB, C&B, and Macys. All were easy to order from online, as well as had great return policies if we got duplicates and decided we didn't want something afterall.

    My best advice with regards to what to register for is whatever you need. Go with classic china and maybe a fun every-day place setting somewhere else. We didn't register for crystal because we had no need for it, but we did register for great white and red wine glasses (a fun gift for people to get you). The KitchenAid stand mixer is life changing...go for it in a stainless steel or neutral color so you can bring it from kitchen to kitchen (I got the handmixer in pink b/c it sits in a cabinet!)

    And HAVE FUN WITH IT! Also pace yourself: we registered at all three places in one day and I thought I was going to die.

    Chelsea
    www.hautechildinthecity.com

    Chelsea
    www.hautechildinthecity.com

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    1. wonderful advice about the stand mixer!! thanks chelsea!!

      xo j

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  6. Registering is totally overwhelming-you're not alone there! The things that I love the most from our registry (18 months later) are our sheets and towels that are both from Macy's Hotel Collection. Seriously amazing stuff.

    The thing that I regret most is that we registered for stainless steel pots instead of nonstick. At the risk of sounding like an airhead, I wanted the shiny pretty silver pots, but they're a pain to clean and half of ours have black burn stuff that won't come off no matter what we do. So I kick myself for that every time I clean one!

    Good luck!

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    1. wonderful tip about the non-stick pots. i'm sure i would have gone for the pretty shiny ones too had i not known!!

      xo j

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  7. My recommendations would be:

    1) Only register at two main stores (e.g. Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Macy's, etc.) - if you pick too many stores, it becomes much more difficult to manage the registries and make returns after the wedding.

    2) Make a third registry at Amazon (you can add anything online to it - it's awesome!)

    3) Don't register for your honeymoon - in my opinion, it's a bit tacky: http://peoniestopalmtrees.com/2012/10/02/should-you-register-for-your-honeymoon/

    4) Try not to register for things that are really only for you - the gifts are supposed to be things that both you and your future-husband will enjoy. But who knows, maybe he DOES like pink blenders ; )

    Good luck!

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    1. excellent tips thank you! im looking forward to checking out the amazon registry!!

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  8. I think the dishes are amazing! love them.

    http://itsthelittlethingsblog.blogspot.com

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  9. Love the dishes. Maybe do a more simple classic setting and then get these for your salad plates. That what I did and I've been really happy with it. I would make sure to register for the big ticket items like pots and pans, knives, every day plates, every day cups, wine and champagne glasses, flatware etc. The stuff you don't want to pay for yourself but really need long term!

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    1. ohhh great tip about the salad plates- thanks a!!

      xo j

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  10. This is a fun post! My advice would be the following:

    1. Williams-Sonoma and Bloomingdales were a joy to work with... Great customer service, return policy and post-wedding discounts! From a management perspective, I wouldn't recommend having more than two open registries.
    2. As far as items go... Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer, All-Clad and Le Creuset Pots/Pans (A La Carte, No Sets), Knives (Individual), Linens, Riedel Wine Glasses/Decanters, Boos Cutting Board, Crystal Vases and a Vita-mix!

    Enjoy!

    http://www.ellamodern.blogspot.com


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    1. ohhhh great reminder about the crystal vases- completely slipped my mind!!

      xo j

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  11. I just registered at one store so far (Williams-Sonoma) with plans to register at some combination of a department store, Pottery Barn and maybe Crate & Barrel. One thing that friends told me was if you register at a store that has larger big ticket items, it's nice if you end up returning a lot that you can buy part of a piece of furniture instead of just sitting on a large gift card forever.

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  12. This is the perfect thing to use for the wedding planning registry and may give some idea for the wedding planning people. For the additional help of wedding planning, they may use the android wedding app and ease your tension.

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  13. The registry was my least favorite part of wedding planning! My husband and I had to leave the store the first time we attempted to register - I was just WAY too overwhelmed.

    The best advice I got was to register at stores you wouldn't mind getting a TON of gift for. First, because people will just get you a gift card to those stores - obviously. A friend told me she seriously regretted her Bed Bath and Beyond registry because she only need so much "home" stuff - but the Macy's gift cards were great. The second reason, is because I can't believe how much stuff we returned. We had so many duplicate items bought and then honestly, changed our mind on some stuff! We had almost $1,000 in gift cards that we used at Macy's - we bought other wedding gifts, Christmas gifts, and stuff we wanted. But a big range of products was great.

    On the Kitchen Aid - fave gift on my registry. I wouldn't classify myself as a baker (before or after getting married) but I use it multiple times a week and LOVE it. Got white, added a fun decal, and it is permanently on our counter. Plus, my hubby loves the attachments for making pasta and ice cream.

    My mom's big advice on the china was you'll need it eventually and it's not something you'd buy for yourself. Pots and pans, everyday dishes, wine glasses and such are semi-easy and not super expensive if you decide later on you'll want it. But china is a splurge - so have other people buy it for you! Glad we did, I love it. We went with a Ralph Lauren white and silver, very traditional pattern and have been very happy.

    My other fave gifts - non-stick pots and pans (used DAILY!) our everyday dishes, and our bedspread (I otherwise would never splurge on such an expensive duvet and pillows).

    Shew - that was long, but I hope it helps!

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  14. I found walking around stores to be the most helpful. You can feel the weight of the items and it is wonderful.

    We have a registry at Williams-Sonoma which is great as they have lots of incentives from the companies you register for, so you get free gifts, and then you get a discount to help finish out your registry. Target has one, sure, but you only get to use it once. Williams-Sonoma's is good for unlimited online and in-store purchases for 6 months post-wedding!

    Don't register for a cheap brand. Go for quality. If you go for quality you will have these items for forever. So, KitchenAid, Le Creuset, All-Clad, are all fantastic. Linens and towels are things people often forget but are helpful to have, too! Barware.

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