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R E G I S T R Y & F I R S T H O M E
C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
W W W . C H I C A G O W E D D I N G R E S O U R C E . C O M80
It’s easy to fall in love with a scanner gun while setting up
your registry. Cute pillows—zap! Wineglasses—zap! Out-
door grill—sure, zap!
Make sure you get the most out of your registry by avoiding
these common gaffes.
MISTAKE #1: YOU DON’T TAKE INVENTORY
OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
Survey your home first to see what items you’re missing and
what could use upgrading. This helps to create a registry of
things that you actually need.
MISTAKE #2: YOU DON’T REGISTER
EARLY ENOUGH
This is not a task to procrastinate. Set up a registry soon
after your partner pops the question to cover engagement
gifts. Try starting with a couple of items and then build on
the registry throughout your engagement.
Rule of thumb: As you get closer to your wedding day, have
at least twice as many items on your list as guests attending.
MISTAKE #3: YOU LIMIT YOUR REGISTRY
TO ONE STORE
Whether it’s online or brick and mortar, one shopping des-
tination won’t make gift givers happy, so give them two or
three choices. Pick out different items at each store to avoid
getting duplicates.
MISTAKE #4: YOU DON’T REGISTER
AT DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS
Having a variety of price points means there’s something
for everyone’s budget. Don’t be afraid to register for items
at higher price points. Guests will often go in together to
purchase the bigger gifts like rugs.
MISTAKE #5: YOU DON’T GET
THE GROOM INVOLVED
Hey, remember him — the guy who you’re planning to
spend forever with? He should have input into the registry
too. If you’re thinking, “But he couldn’t care less about
towels,” ask him to pick out things that do interest him, like
grills or barware.
Also, you may want to sign up for a registry that focuses on
fun or educational experiences you share, such as hot-air
ballooning or cooking lessons.
MISTAKE #6: YOU WANT CASH
BUT DON’T ASK FOR IT
In certain circumstances, it’s okay to request cash. But rath-
er than spreading the word among your entire guest list,
limit it to close friends and family who ask what you’d like.
When speaking to them, choose your words carefully. If
you say, ‘We have so much already since we’ve been living
together, and anything you give us will be wonderful, but
we’re saving for a down payment for a house,’ then you can
direct them to a cash-gift website.
MISTAKE #7: YOU DON’T PUT YOUR REGISTRY
INFO ON YOUR WEDDING WEBSITE
This is the go-to place to let guests know about everything
related to your wedding. While it’s often considered taboo
to include registry details on the wedding invitation, it’s
perfectly fine to do so on your website.
© CTW Features
7 Wedding Registry Mistakes
You Should Avoid
Before you start
picking out coffee
makers and
casserole dishes,
check out these tips
from registry and
etiquette experts
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By Nancy Mattia, CTW Features