A Bridal Gift Registry
For Your Engagement and Wedding

A bridal gift registry is one of the first things you should put together after announcing your engagement. Friends and family will be looking and thinking about buying you an engagement or wedding gift (or both) as soon as they hear the news.

People often want to give engagement gifts (even if they don't have to) so it's always a good idea to have an engagement gift registry.

The engagement registry doesn't need to be separate or labelled as one, just make sure to include some lower cost items in your gift registry that are suitable as engagement presents.

Having a gift registry doesn't make you selfish or greedy, it's all about making it easier for those that love you to select something that they know you want and need.

Seven things to consider when putting together your bridal gift registry:

It's All About Choices

Sign up with two or three places that have a wide variety of items at various price levels. Having more than that makes it confusing for your friends and family and complicates things for them unnecessarily.

Go Online!

Make sure that at least one if not all your registries are available online. Remember that the registry is for your guests, not you, and making it easy for them to view and shop your registry should be your top priority.

The Department Store

Choose one major department store within the registry. They will have tons of stuff you want or need and lets your gift givers do some one-stop shopping. It also gives those that live out of town the opportunity to visit the same store in their city and check out your registry.

Wide Variety Of Prices

Make sure you include items at various price points. Remember some will use the registry to buy you engagement gifts, others for wedding gifts, and a few for both. So register for items under $25, under $50, under $75, under $100, under $200 and up from there so that everyone can find something that fits within their budgets.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

Include different types of items for different people. Your great-aunt Beatrice won't be keen on buying you something that your college buddies will, so make sure to include mix of items, both traditional and fun so that everyone finds something that they are excited about giving you.

It's all About Lifestyle

Think about the way you live and your lifestyle. So many people fall into the trap of wanting silver tea sets and crystal punch bowls. Think about it, do you really need those? Are you ever going to use them? So don't get caught up in the fantasies you see on TV and read in books. This is your life and your bridal gift registry so make sure that what is listed is tailored to you and your lifestyle.

Registry and Store Policies

Find out about the store's return and exchange policies. Depending on when you register and the time of year, some stores will change their merchandize and may no longer have some items that you selected in stock.

Or, you may have included a dozen wine glasses in your bridal gift registry and ended up with three dozen because some folks bought some from outside of the registry.

You need to be able to return or exchange your gifts so inquire at the outset before you register and know exactly what you're getting into.

A bridal gift registry is important for your loved ones. They may want to give you something you want or need for your engagement, wedding or other events surrounding your upcoming nuptials (bridal shower, luncheon, etc.).

Think about your overall gift registry and include a bunch of items within it that collectively would work as "mini registries". So think of items that would be appropriate for every part of the engagement and wedding process without labelling them as your "engagement gift registry", "bridal shower registry", etc... just include them in your registry and let your friends and family find the perfect gift for every occasion.