Bride shops online for gifts

We’ve all seen at least one bridal registry that had everything from fine china to teeth whiteners; the type of registry that leaves you shaking your head. Many brides get carried away, clicking or pointing the hand-held scanner at every item in sight, without much thought of whether or not the item fits the décor or whether or not it’s appropriate for a bridal registry.

I’ve heard many stories where brides put everything from a hair brush to a toilet seat on their bridal registry. The last story I heard, my friend claimed that the overzealous bride had items on her registry that were not couple related; she had everything for her daughter on there – from Hello Kitty night lamps to the toddler bookshelf. This is a definite turn off for guests.

Here are some tips to help you avoid being the “talk of the town” for all the wrong reasons:

1. Plan your registry by making a list of any items that you don’t already have and would need. Consider both “everyday” and “formal” dinnerware, table linens, glassware etc. Select your color scheme and patterns, and coordinate the items.

2. Include your hubby in the planning process, so he can choose things that he may like. If he’s available to visit the store or go online with you to registry, that would be great too.

3. Dedicate a sufficient amount of time planning and registering. You do not want to rush the process and end up not having items that you want.

4. Think about the possibility that you’ll have to host family and gatherings such as dinner parties. Register for at least 8 place settings.

5. Register in advance of the wedding. Some brides like to register prior to the bridal shower, allowing guests the option of choosing a shower gift from the bridal registry and some brides just opt to have a separate registry to coordinate with the theme of the bridal shower.

6. Do your research and find out about Return Policies to ensure you’ll be able to return an item that you may not need. It’s best to have registries that are both available at traditional mortar-and-brick stores and online; giving guests buying options. This will especially come in handy for out of town guests or those who would not be able to attend the wedding, but would still love to send a gift.

7. Choose 2 or 4 places to have a registry, giving guests options to buy from their preferred place. Be sure not to have the same items on the registries to avoid excess and returning hassles. You can choose to have all linens from one store and all dinnerware from another.

8. Keep track of your registry; this will allow you to manage what items are remaining and if you will need to delete items from another registry.

9. Be sure to ask stores about any perks that they may offer. I remember receiving a cash-back reward for completing my registry, as well as a number of discount-off coupons.

10. Choose items in a range of prices that are affordable for your guests. Make the choices appealing for your guests, catering for the young and the old. Remember, grandma may not feel comfortable buying you lingerie.

Be sure to frequently check Forever Savvy for more tips on planning the perfect wedding registry. We’ll be adding more tips periodically.