10 Wedding Registry Mistakes to Avoid in 2020
So, you are finally ready to get out on a wedding shopping spree and that translates into creating the all-important wedding registry. Often times, couples fail to put in the time and effort to create the right registry and that can become a regret of a lifetime. When they look back, they start thinking about the options they had, but did not opt for: the things they could have done differently to make their wedding even more special.
Fortunately, to save you those regretful moments, we have listed some of the most common wedding registry mistakes which you can avoid making. Read through and take a closer look.
1. Waiting Until The Last Minute to Register
In an attempt not to look too greedy, often times couples wait until a week or so before the wedding to create a registry. When they do, they tend to choose gift preferences without much thought. Based on the registry you created, your guests send you gifts; many which are rendered useless.
Imagine that you wish to give an anniversary present or a birthday gift for your special someone. You plan and think for months to give the perfect gift. Apply the same principle to your wedding as well. You need to allow enough time so your friends, family and other guests select the perfect gift based on their budget and the registry. So better create a wedding registry well in time.
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2. Not Spending Time to Research
Do your research before making purchase decisions. Due to a lack of time, couples sometimes choose the first wedding registry retailer they come across. Look around so you don’t miss out on discounts and offers.
Check the registry programs with different retailers. List the pros and cons, the applicable return policies and discounts, etc. You also need to make sure the retailer’s website is easy to use and browse so your guests have little difficulty using it. Well thought out research will help you find the best retailer for your needs and the convenience of your guests.
3. Registering With Only One Retailer
Registering with just one retailer may seem to be the most convenient thing for you to do amidst all the runaround of the marriage preparations. But, it is not the best thing to do. That is because your guests might not find the ideal gift at the retailer you have registered with. Consider registering with a few retailers so your guests have multiple options to choose from.
Let them have the choice of selecting the best gift per their budget and preferences out of the multiple retailers you have registered with. Some of your guests will prefer to visit the stores personally to select a gift. Many retailers allow store visits and pickups for such guests.
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4. Failing to Consider Alternative Registry Options
If you and your would-be spouse have already set up your future home with all the essentials and household requisites, it is better to create alternative registries that allow your guests to gift you cash for the honeymoon, flight tickets, etc. Many times couples who already have all sorts of home items already, fail to create such alternative registries and as a result, end up having a huge pile of items that they would hardly ever need.
Therefore it is important to consider creating alternate cash registries so that you can utilize the gifting intent of your guests to sponsor the things and experiences you prefer rather than wasting their time, effort and money on something you already have.
5. Not Giving a Tangible Off-line Option
Among the guests, sometimes there are old school traditional types who do not dabble in e-commerce. These folks find offline means to be more reliable and fruitful. For such guests, you need to provide them with an alternate registry option. What can you do in a situation where your guest doesn’t want to gift cash or travel expenses?
Obviously, the online retailer websites will not work for such guests and to make it easier for them you should register with a brick and mortar retailer. This way your guest can just walk in and purchase a gift you prefer. This saves you the embarrassment of asking for cash when they insist on gifting something tangible and also saves them the inconvenience of going through websites they never want to.
6. Not Working With Your Partner
A marriage is a partnership and the same stands true with the wedding preparations. It is a trend to delegate the tasks to family and friends and to each other when taking care of the preparations. But, when you are creating a wedding registry, you should always ensure that you sit down with your spouse-to-be to do the do. Team up and select the items and gifts which will make your house a home. It will be a little time consuming and sometimes you will have to compromise, but it is surely going to pay off in the end.
The result will be a home full of things that both you and your partner truly love and not with things that are just lying in some corner of the house collecting dust. Moreover, this will perhaps be the beginning of your first successful exercise in deciding things together. Starting this task early is a good thing!
7. Not Registering For Enough Items
You may think being humble and shy is attractive, but that only reduces the range of options which your guests can choose from. Instead, ensure that you are registering for a large number of items so your guests can choose based on their budget and style. In fact, they will appreciate many options to choose from.
The calculation is to double the number of expected guests and create a registry for the same number of gifts. So do not shy away from registering for ample gifting options and items.
8. Not Creating a Mix of Budgets
When it comes to selecting a gift, you will have guests from all kinds of age groups, income brackets and budget preferences. Do not make the mistake of registering for all low budget gifts or all high priced items. Ensuring a perfect blend of the two creates an appealing registry for your guests. From a recipient’s perspective, you are also not devoid of getting some outstanding gifts. The general idea is to match the intent of gifting to your needs as a newly married couple. So, it is always better to register for all budgets. You never know when you’ll get lucky and receive something you’ve always dreamt about or treasure the most practical gift that’s used daily for years to come.
9. Not Thinking About the Future
Many couples make the mistake of only thinking about their present needs while registering. In fact, that is a wrong approach. Living in the present is fine, but make sure you think about the future, especially when it comes to creating your registry.
For instance, you might not need extra dinnerware now, but what happens when you host Thanksgiving Dinner at your place for your extended family? Why not create a registry while keeping in mind all the things that you might need in the future? Planning for the future is a good idea and you should select items accordingly in your registry.
10. Not Checking and Updating the Registry
Just setting up the registry is not enough. That’s because you need to ensure there still are gifts left in the registry for your guests to choose from. Based on what you have already received, you can add, delete or adjust the items. If you are not tracking the registry regularly and diligently, you might end up receiving duplicate items.
So… keep checking and updating your registry until the big day arrives.
In Conclusion
Now that you are well versed in the best wedding registry practices, you are certainly in a better position to create the perfect wedding registry for your 2020 wedding.
Keep these simple things in mind and get started creating your wedding registry today. You and your partner will be delighted with the end result!
