Premier Soirees Event Design & Coordination: {our quick guide to wedding registry}

Creating your wedding registry is easily considered as one of the most enjoyed activities in your wedding planning. It’s the chance to be able to create the ultimate wish list for your new life at your new home together. The whole registry process should be fun but at times can lead to an overwhelmed bride and groom trying to decide how many of everything they should get. We’ve provided below some helpful tips that we share with all of our couples to help them in their wedding registry process.

Take Stock

Make a list of what both of you have and will keep -- and what you still need and want. Consider the need for “everyday" and “formal" versions of dinnerware, glassware, table linens, and serving items. Important: Discuss what level of formality you want and general color schemes or patterns before you begin.

Be True to Yourself

Don't be a slave to traditional registry lists. If you never cook at home but love to camp, it makes more sense to register for a tent than to request crystal goblets. But be open to the fact that your tastes may change in the future. Even though you can't imagine the need at this moment in your life for that glass trifle bowl, it may become indispensable for future dinner party desserts.

Choose more than one spot

One is not enough; 10 is too many. Two to four registries give guests more choices, and it's a manageable number. To make it easy on yourself and others, pick one store for bedding, another for china, and so on. This will prevent you from signing up for the same items at different stores.

Do It Together

The two of you should be registering for gifts you'll both enjoy. To decide on what you need, talk about the style of home you'd both like, and divide and conquer categories (maybe he gets to choose electronics, while she gets to choose the bedding). And don't let Mom drag you around -- in this case, she may not know best.

Know Your Guests

Be sure to register for items in a range of prices so that people can choose gifts within their means. Provide a mix of goods: Think traditional for older relatives, affordable and fun for college pals. It may sound a bit manipulative, but you've got to make your registry choices appealing -- and easy for your guests to buy.

Ship Smart

Ask the store if it will ship to any address you designate. That spares guests the hassle of having to go to a store to pick up your gift and then to the post office to send it.

Let Your Guests Know

Unfortunately, it's not appropriate for the bride or groom to ask for wedding gifts, so you have to be careful with how you let people know where you're registered. Never include registry information with your wedding invitations -- word of mouth is the appropriate way to disseminate this. Your registry info can, however, be listed on your bridal shower invites since the invitation does not come from you, but from the person hosting the shower. You can also include such details on a wedding web page.

Cash Out

You can't ask for specific gifts from your guests, monetary or otherwise. If guests are curious, they'll ask someone close to you what you want and the word will spread that you prefer cash gifts. When writing thank-you notes, do let the giver know how you intend to spend the money.

Be Grateful

Thank-you notes for gifts received before the wedding should be sent within two weeks of arrival. Notes for gifts received on or after the wedding day should be sent within a month of your return from the honeymoon.