Developing Your Wedding Registry Checklist
Keeping a wedding registry checklist will help you and your future spouse ensure that you remember to list and include all of the items you would like to receive from your wedding guests. It will keep you organized as you begin registries at your favorite stores. Many shops have consultants on staff that can help you select your gift registry items, but keeping your own wish list is a good idea, especially if you plan to register at more than one store.
Standard wedding registry checklist items
When putting together your checklist for wedding registry items, consider the things that every registry includes. Be sure to register for plates and dinnerware. You will want to list a formal set of china as well as the casual dishes you will use every day. Most sets include dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, and teacups or coffee mugs with saucers. Register for enough place settings. Think about the amount of entertaining you plan to do, and the size of your family. Most dinnerware sets come with four place settings, so register for at least two or three sets.
Stemware is an important item on your wedding gift registry checklist as well. Select wine glasses for both red and white wines. Do not forget the champagne flutes. In addition to the formal wine glasses, include other types of drinking glasses. You will want to register for everyday items such as water glasses and tumblers. Consider orange juice glasses too. If you plan to keep a bar, or entertain guests with cocktails, choose highball glasses, and other bar-ware items for your registry. Register for a cocktail shaker, a pitcher, and perhaps some margarita glasses.
The silverware you register for should complement your dinnerware. Pick a setting for casual, everyday use and a more formal setting for when you pull out the good china. Add linens to your checklist as well. Table clothes as well as linen napkins make good wedding and shower gifts.
Other linens to register for include sheets and towels. Many couples receive bedding sets as gifts, so pick out something that both the bride and groom like. Choose towels that will match the color scheme in your bathroom, and consider registering for other bathroom accessories such as a shower curtain, bath mat, and toothbrush holder.Pots, pans, and other cookware also belong on a wedding registry checklist. You can register for complete sets, or select each pot and pan individually. Make sure you have a couple of large pots, frying pans, sauce pans, a roasting pan, and several baking pans.
Specialized Wedding Registry Checklist Items
Your wedding registry checklist does not have to include the standard items only. Many couples personalize their gift registries, which is a good idea considering this is an opportunity to ask people for things that you really want, but perhaps cannot afford on your own. There are no limits to what you can include on your registry. There is no guarantee that you will receive everything on your list, but it does not hurt to ask.
Some brides and grooms register for grills and tools. Most registries were usually confined to large department stores and specialty gift shops, but not anymore. Couples are registering at home improvement stores as well, especially if they have recently bought a new home or are planning to build one.
Include appliances, whether small or large. Most people do register for toasters and can openers, and you can also think a little bigger. Add vacuum cleaners and washer and dryers to your wedding registry checklist. While they may seem too expensive, keep in mind that several of your guests can get together and pitch in to give you a big gift together.
Almost every place you register will give you the opportunity to ask for gift cards. Gift cards are a safe way for your wedding guests and well wishers to give you a gift they know you will use. You can specify gift cards in any monetary denomination, from $15 to over $100. This is a nice alternative to having your guests simply give you cash. They know you will be able to pick out something that you really want from a store that you registered in.
Planning a wedding can be stressful. There are so many details to manage and plans to finalize. One of the fun parts of getting married is registering for your gifts. Let yourself enjoy this part of the wedding planning. Put together a wedding registry checklist that covers all of the things you dream of receiving.
