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I thought it was cute gift! A card says, "Congratulations. May the vibrations from these bells reflect your own happiness and love."
I couldn't have said it better myself. And I hated the idea of buying one place setting, or three wine glasses, or clearing out the OXO kitchen utensil collections. I wanted to give a personal gift, one that meant something!
Then I got engaged.
We're getting married in September -- we just booked the hall today! But now we have to do...everything else. Except register. We did that months ago.
For some reason registering was easy, even though I felt really uncomfortable, if not greedy, doing it. The whole concept of telling your friends & family what to buy you? And I'm not a young girl, moving from her mother's house to her newlywed house, starting from scratch!
On the one hand, it makes life easier for your guests, so they don't have to guess what you want/need.
On the other hand, I feel like a cross between a spoiled princess and a jerk. Especially since if I hated buying stuff off the registry for my own peeps!!
My current attitude is that it's the thought that counts. Any gift is...a gift!! I don't care if we don't get ANY wedding presents!
Every wedding season brings such debate on this topic, it's like the sweetness of giving someone / getting a gift gets lost in the hubub!
What's your take - did you register? do you buy stuff off other peoples' registries?
Angie - I went thru the same thing with baby registries. At first I thought they were a little tacky, but now I think they’re a little necessary!!
Girlie, I KNOW what you mean! I just created one of our registries and I felt so bizarre doing it. As though it is just rude to tell people “THESE are the things that I want, bitches!!!!” Really, though, I could care less what anyone gets me - I guess it is just a “go by”. I think I may put that on my shower invitations when I send them out. Something like “I am registered at Target and Macy’s, but if you are kind enough to get us a gift, feel free to choose from anywhere you’d like!” Or something gay like that. I would hate to think people believe that we ONLY want things from the registry. Then again, I have talked to tons of people who like to shop off registries. I do, so I know that what I get them won’t get returned to the store or thrown in the garage, never to be used.
Anyway, weddings are a freakin’ hassle! I am getting married in less than four months now and I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown! ACK!
I had registries at three different places, and made sure to have a VARIETY of price points for my guests.
99% of the gifts we got off registry were worthless and are getting 86ed in a tag sale (or returned).
I always stick to the registry. It’s boring, and I’d MUCH rather think of something creative, but it’s safer. When you’re settling after a wedding, you don’t want to have to find a place to put that ugly clock you’ll NEVER hang in your house.
(I got married May 5… I have a pile of worthless things in my living room).
A good off-registry gift, though, is gift certificates to places you KNOW they love, like where they are registered already, or to the movies.
I’m SO GLAD you found a venue!
Brides to be, please do everyone a favor and register. Yes, I too suffered (for about 30 seconds) from the “oh, but should I” syndrome.
I was a late bloomer in the marriage department, already 10 years into my career, so I didn’t need the basic baby bride stuff. Believe me, when you’re a bride that’s already established in your home, a registry is appreciated - no one knows what to get you.
After all, the gifts are what make all the stress of the wedding worthwhile!
Thank ladies! Starting to feel better already… 
You shouldn’t feel like a spoiled princess. People need some guidelines and even though I’m the consummate shopper for all things relating to housewares, a little guidance is always helpful. Most people feel the same.
I registered. It was weird because I had my own place already and had most of the basics. I got everything on my registry with the exception of that rad Kitchen Aid Mixer! I think every bride-to-be puts that on her registry hoping some insane, rich relative will buy it for them. There were 200 ladies at my shower and I basically opened presents for 3 hours. It was crazy. The stuff that people bought off-registry was amazing.
I purchase things from the registry if I’m not super close to the bride and groom. If I know the bride really well I have become the giver of the “fun” presents. The ones that when the bride opens the box at the shower, all the attendees go, “Whoo!” You know the “bondage for beginners” set, the lacy racy, yet really pretty lingerie. Yeah, that’s me. The bringer of debauchery in a box. Ha!
CE I’m not sure if I’m going to have any showers, but if so, will you please come???
And the Mixmaster has been in its box for months in my front hall. Does anyone have room for it in their kitchen??! I can’t wait to use it though - maybe for the flag cake smackdown!!
I didn’t register for the same reasons you described...I didn’t want to ASK for things, but after wondering through the stores looking for a baby gift for my niece not knowing what she already had, I found out she was registered at the local baby store. I got the list and was able to buy the things she REALLY wanted or needed. Now I always ask before weddings and showers...."where are they registered”. I don’t HAVE to buy from the list, but it can save a lot of time and hassle not only for me, but for the recipient who could get duplicates, etc.