My registry advice is only register for stuff you actually want. People will buy the stuff on the registry--it's no fun to end up with some things you don't use or want but registered for because it was "fun" to run around Target/Macy's/etc scanning all kinds of stuff.

Register for gift cards. May be tacky but it's a much easier way to go just make sure they don't expire or start charging fees.
I've seen some ask to contribute to the honeymoon. You can always ask....

Get a great knife set

Register for the most luxurious sheets and towels you can find. My husband (of 12 years) and I still use the wonderful Pottery Barn towels that we received as gifts. They have held up well through a lot of wear. And it took us years before we could afford to add to our collection on our own.

Outside of a few family members, we barely received any of our registry items, maybe 6-10? Everything else was really random, homemade, or collected from someones spare closet, including an as-seen-on-TV 'griddle', those cheap cookbooks you buy for a kids fundraiser, weird leftover bread tubes from a Pampered Chef party, and an icicle freezy pop thing that's meant to keep white wine chilled. We did get some cash, but to be honest, I couldn't tell you what we spent it on.

We registered at Macy's and Bed Bath for very specific items like china and flatware that we wanted including a few big ticket items like caphelon pots and the registery staple kitchenaid stand mixer. Our lists were very short in comparison to most of my friends which worked out well because then we actually got most of our registery. I am the only person I know that got at least 90% of the china they regisiter for, everyone else was like 30%.

I think the best deal was the Macy's because they give you like 20% off of everything left on your list, plus we had gift cards and then due to the sale they let us take off an additional 20% using our macy's card. We spent like $300 for $700+ worth of home goods!

If you covet pricey stuff go for it but also have less expensive options.

Over register. Try not to be short sighted when creating your registry. No one will buy you china for a birthday, so if it's something you think you might want, do it. It's also nice to give your guests a lot of options so make it easy for them. Put more on there than you think you need. If after your wedding you don't think you'll actually use it or really need it, you can return gifts to use the credit toward a bigger purchase that you really do need- maybe you'll have money to put toward a new bed or sofa that you wouldn't really put on your registry. Also, try to have fun with your registry and not take it too seriously. It's the only time you get to do this, so enjoy!

Quality over quantity. Don't think about what people will say; just register for what you want. Include things at all price ranges.

agreed, only the stuff you want. AND THE STUFF YOU HAVE ROOM FOR. Also, most things will get shipped, so pick a shipping location that works for you. Don't try and register in person when you're in a rush or hungry, haha. And try and see things in person before you add them. We got some, "woah, those glasses have an etching??" moments. And use the time before the wedding to purge and make room for the new stuff. We saved a lot of our old pots/pans, etc. and downgraded them to the camping stash when we got a nicer replacement, or dontated them. Also, if you want the $300 sheets, go for it. When else will you have the chance? It's ok to be a little extravagant, but make sure you do hit a few price points.

When we registered, we chose items in a wide range of prices to suit the wide range of guests invited. We also registered with Heifer International. To be honest, I hope most people don't go by the registry. We did it to please our parents, but handmade or specially picked out gifts are so lovely.

If you travel a lot, consider registering for luggage. And if you travel internationally, where there are more restrictions on the weight of your baggage (even for carry-ons!), I would suggest a luggage scale.
We did not register for sheets since we would be moving in together after the wedding, and I didn't want to make "design decisions" before then. Even the towels we registered for had to be exchanged after I settled on the color schemes for the bathrooms.

My advice: register/ask for things you long for but would never buy for yourself. Instead of a registry, my maid of honour arranged for contributions to a luxury suite for our honeymoon. When it comes to household items, we just buy things when we need them and had no desire to accumulate a bunch of new stuff. It fits with the philosophy we embraced as a sort of marriage motto: spend money on experiences, not things. We had a glorious honeymoon and avoided a lot of new clutter (even though we did receive some lovely household gifts as well!)

To echo the "register for only what you need" comment: think about your lifestyle. Do either of you love to cook? No? Chances are, all the gadgets and fancy cookware is going to go unused. But do you like to entertain? Maybe serving pieces, glassware, and the like make more sense. Moving to a new place together looking to buy a house? Gift cards to furniture and appliance stores.

On the other hand, it is a good time to upgrade on necessities like sheets and towels.

In an ideal world, your guests will take what they know about you (especially if you communicate as much through wedding website or familial channels) and be creative, especially if you are more established and not in need of basics. Wine lovers? How about gift certificates to a favorite wine shop or subscription service for favorite wineries. Theater/opera/music/sports lovers? Maybe some tickets.

We went the opposite route and requested no gifts (we're older & have what we need, and the event is small and informal). The big day is yet to happen so I don't know how that will play out.

Agree with @POPSICLE. Only put on the registry things that you know you want. It's also the time to get the nicer version of the essentials like chinaware, silverware, knives, pots/pans, etc, that you know you'll use forever.. feel free to be a little indulgent and register things you really really want but might not usually get for yourself.. Roomba, anyone? If other people are willing to buy it for you, why not.. ;)

Only get what you need especially practical items. I wound up getting caught up in the excitement of scanning stuff and I wound up returning quite a few items. Especially fancy china. The reality was I thought I'd use fancy china and never did. Luckily after 2 years or so unused and still in the original packaging I was able to bring it back for credit. I also registered for a lot of gadgets like blender, coffee maker, and iron. Just be sure you'll use the items on a regular basis and have the room. You can always register for gift cards which comes in handy once you settle down.

@molly and ollie, I was the opposite. We knew ourselves far better than anyone else knew us. The last thing I wanted was for people to go "off-script" and give me something I would never use and feel guilty about receiving because it had cost them money. I would be grateful and appreciate the thought, but it would still ultimately go to waste.

I had people just give us gift card or certificates for stores were would actually use...Amazon, Crate&Barrel, REI. We are older and already have everything we could need so we kept it simple. Our guests appreciated the convenience and we get to buy fun stuff like books, music and dvds. Plus, the Amazon gift certificate doesn't expire so we use that as a little emergency fund...like when the circular saw broke and we needed another.

Good cookware is our registry priority! Since my boyfriend/now fiance and I moved in together 4+ years ago we have gradually purchased together most of the big things - nice towels, nice china, luggage, coffeemaker, etc - but everytime he pulled out one of our crusty old pans and said "I want some nice cookware!" I'd tell him to marry me, and then we'd see what we got!

Of all the stuff we registered for, the stuff we use the most are:
-Henkel knife set (every day)
-Cuisinart food processor ( comes in really handy but used less frequently)
-nice springform cake pans (I have been converted to the joys of springform and wish to make a little shrine of baking implements to worship them)
-mid range Caphlon pot set (we registsered for this but no one bought it, so we took advantage of the cash we received and the completion discount and bought it ourselves. We use them every day.)
-our china (we don't use it all that often, but I bought a really great hutch so I see them displayed every day and they look so pretty!)

I'll chime in with more of the same: register for anything you want. Don't put a single thing on there because you think you're supposed to. I put gift cards on there to give people the option of a gift at whatever price point they want/need. Some highlights from my registry:

* the complete West Wing series on DVD
* matching iPads
* Nikon lens

All of these things were purchased, and by people who are really close to us (and therefore know we appreciate these things over, say, a blender).

Amazon's registry was our go-to since you can add anything from any store. We registered at Crate and Barrel too since that seems like a rite of passage. Some people are just dead set on buying newlyweds a table cloth!

A plea from a guest - register for some stuff that isn't crazy luxurious or expensive. Many young folks have tons and tons of weddings to go to as all their friends tie the knot, and while I love my friends, and want to give them all lovely gifts, it becomes a financial burden. I want super nice pottery barn towels too, but if I can't get them for me, I can't get them for you - though I'd love to! Also - acknowledge if you already have a lovely kitchen full of nice gadgets and be green about it, you don't need to throw out your perfectly good coffee grinder just because you have an opportunity to get a new, nicer one.

Do not believe that having better cooking tools will make you a better cook. Putting Hamburger Helper into a $450 Mauviel copper saucepan doesn't make it bouef bourguignonn.

Register for knives individually. People may not buy you the $800 set, but they may buy the $100 chef knife or $50 paring knife. Then return all the individual knives and get the set.

Couples stress out about how many place setting to register for, and then completely forget to register for platters.

Gte a punch bowl or something to serve large quantities of drinks out of, or you will have to recruit someone into playing bartender all night.

Don't get a bread machine, yogurt maker, beer brewer or other gadgety thing that you do not already own.

You don't have to register for everything. The store will still be there even after you get married.

I've thanked my husband several times for talking me out of registering for china. We would never have used it! Of course, every couple is different, but we use all white IKEA dishes and have been using them ever since we got married three years ago. For fancy occasions when we entertain (like Thanksgiving or Christmas) we put our everyday plates on fancy chargers and it looks great.
We also registered at Macys' and that was wonderful because if you got something you didn't end up using, you could always take it back and get that amount on a gift card. That way, whenever you think of something you actually do need or want, you can just buy it without having to spend any cash!

Skip the fancy stuff (china and crystal) but go for really nice, high-quality practical stuff (good quality knives and pans - and registering for pieces rather than sets allows guests to select a lower price point). Pick stuff you think is really great and see yourself keeping for a long long time! Don't worry about putting a few pricey items on your list - they are great for groups who want to pool money for a gift (at the office, friend groups). Don't register for similar items at two different stores - you'll get them both and have to return one. Lastly, register for a lot - we thought our registry was huge but we received nearly everything on it.

I agree, @HMO, with some exceptions. The overriding rule should be "register according to your needs." Personally, I have absolutely no need for a punch bowl, but others probably do. And as for the knife set... $800 for a knife set is a ridiculous expense, and asking people to spend $50 on a paring knife only for you to return said expensive paring knife in order to use the funds toward that $800 knife block is pretty much a slap to the face. If you want the $800 knife block, just save up the money and buy it yourself. Don't ask family and friends to contribute to what they think is a nice gift, only to maybe realize later that you never wanted it in the first place and were always going to cannibalize it for a knife set.

IMy partner and I are getting married in the fall. We already live together and have all that we need. Registering for the sake of registering seems bizarre. What is the tactful way of indicating that money would be appreciated? We could use this towards a honeymoon that will be taken when time allows later in the year.

We only registered for one set of dishes, and did 12 place settings and 8 extra dinner plates, which has been wonderful for entertaining (because, really, who wants to store all those teacups??). We were also one of the rare couples that got 90% of our china. Also: skip the big or fragile wine glasses. We have a few that we get out when being fancy, but hate washing them by hand after a large dinner party so keep going back to the cheap ones we got at Target. Bloomingdales was horrible- they discontinued almost everything on our registry at least once. Also, if you do Amazon, keep in mind that you only have 30 days to return things from when the gift is received...so if you're having things shipped to your parents house in another state and won't be opening them for a while, make sure to only register for things that you're 100% sure you want. Also: people love Crate and Barrel. Almost every wedding I've been to (including my own): the C&B registry gets more or less sold out, but the other ones do not.

From the guest's point of view, I'd second covering different price points and also, don't register for anything you won't use just because it's what you're "supposed" to get. I love to bake and cook but as a single gal (no registry fairy) working in the NFP world (teeny budget) I make do with the bare minimum of cheap pots and pans. If I'm honest, it kind of pissed me off when I went to a shower and watched the couple receive a GIANT stack of baking tins, pans, coffee makers and any other kitchen gadget you could think of when neither of them can so much as boil an egg! It made me wonder whether the gift that I'd spent my hard-earned cash on and purchased from the registry was just as poorly thought through. I'd rather they'd have asked that we contribute to their honeymoon or buy a gift certificate to their favorite take-out place.

I agree with those that say to put all different price points on there. Maybe you like some nice towels from Target that are like $5, but your dream ones are from Pottery Barn that are $50. Put them both on there! And don't think that because it's pricey someone won't get it. Some people go in together on gifts, or they may just splurge on you. We put a Kitchenaid on our list, and ... not only did we get one from one friend, they also went to a different store than our registry to find us a purple one (because it's our favorite color and the color in our wedding). You never know!

The only other thing I would say is to go more for a set of nice dishes (not necessarily "find china") that you will use every day but can also be dressed up for nicer occasions. We didn't receive a single piece of our registered china, and you know what, even now, almost 6 years later, we still don't own it, and it doesn't bother me. Heck. I don't even remember what the pattern was!

I'm an old-fashioned Southern girl, so I registered for my Waterford crystal, Haviland Limoges china, and Gorham silver, plus a few Pottery Barn things. I actually use my china, silver, and crystal when guests come over, and think of the dear people who gave them to me each time. People smile and exclaim delightedly when they're given ice water in a hefty old-fashioned glass. It always feels like I'm a little girl playing "grown-up" and it adds to the fun.

We might be in the minority, in that both my husband and I were very uncomfortable with the idea of a registry. We had so many people traveling from out of state, and we felt the amount of time and money they spent in getting here was a gift in itself -- so our wedding was very explicitly "gift optional".

I almost never buy off of registries when I know the person really well, so for our guests who wanted to give a gift, we encouraged hand-made or second-hand or uniquely local items, and we received so many creative and personal items that we never would have thought to register for. We also suggested that people donate to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in lieu of gifts, and were happy that several people did!

We did end up having a small registry for people who didn't know us well (friends of parents, distant aunts and uncles), but the vast majority of guests who gave gifts didn't use it, which was fine by us.

Agree with towels, cookware, knives, and sheets. Get things that are going to last a lifetime. And get a good enamel cast iron crock pot. You'll use it for everything. Oh, and some table linens and roasting pan for when it's your turn to host thanksgiving!

Register for fun things-- video games, music, movie tickets, funny cookie cutters. The folks on budgets want to feel included, and those sorts of less expensive personal things are fun to buy for people. It's so much easier to feel good about buying $25 of movie tickets and date night fun, rather than one saucer for your china set and feeling like they're not contributing much. Also, it's so personal to have these non-generic things.

Some registries allow you to leave comments next to the gift (like amazon). We went through and wrote cute things about how "this will get him doing the dishes!" or "this has a safety guard. Important for clumsy wives." Makes things feel personal-- I had a ton of people tell me they loved it.

@Curator_Chris-- try honeyfund.com. People can donate money towards your honeymoon, tagged with specific uses (eg, $50 for a champagne brunch), and it just goes into your paypal account.

I would add that you should try to pick out some serious items and some whimsical items. We love the super-fancy Scrabble board we received, and it sees as much time out of the cupboard as the china does.

I always buy gifts for people off their registries, and I've noticed that people tend not to want to purchase some of the most useful items -- they are always left right before a wedding. I always buy people their towels, cloth napkins (everyone wants to give the tablecloth, but you need the napkins, too!), and everyday gadgetry since no one else seems to want to give those items.

The items people will buy first are the "signature" items. Candlesticks, vases, and recognizable gadgets (like the mixer) are popular because people want to give you a gift you will remember came from them. Try to provide a variety of these -- you're more likely to get these than the towels you actually need.

Also, I think people don't want to give a gift card with a small denomination. The variety of price points allows guests who want to give a gift but can't afford to give much the opportunity to save some face. Have a handful of nice items under $50 that you actually want.

Lots of options make it easy on your guests! I was frustrated when friends of mine only registered for 12 things. I wasn't able to purchase anything on their list.

I think they felt greedy registering for gifts because they already had most of the things they need. I wish they would have given alternate suggestions for a gift... maybe a charity they'd like their guests to donate to?

The reality is, I'm not going to show up empty handed to a wedding unless the invitation specifically states not to bring gifts. I consider a registry with lots of options to be a courtesy to guests!

Lots of great suggestions here!
I've been married 7 years and would definitely echo the sentiment of register for what you need/have room for/will use. I registered for fancy china, but while we love to entertain, we are not "fancy entertainers" and I don't see us ever using our fancy china. I have twelve settings of Vera Wang Grosgrain--anyone interested??!! I also thought it would be cool to have margarita glasses, but having a whole shelf in the kitchen taken up by 8 margarita glasses that don't get used isn't so cool.

I disagree with @Pi on the knife set. No one is going to know that you returned those knives to get the expensive set. And chances are, if you register for the set, no one will buy it for you. Same thing goes for good cookware.

And if you are clumsy like me, don't bother with expensive glasswear!

Register at Macy's. Guests can use their excellent coupons and also their sales are great. I love when my friends register there - they regularly have "buy one get one free" sales on china and tableware place settings, which enables guests to get you a great gift without totally breaking the bank.

Britinchitown, I totally agree. I'm single and cook and bake all the time, and it kills me that my friends who can barely boil water/microwave dinner registered for and got $1000 dollars plus worth of All-Clad, Le Creuset, etc. that they never use, just because they "should." I've taken to ransacking their kitchens (with permission of course) and borrowing things. I've had one friend's All-Clad soup pot for about a year now - she doesn't even want it back because she'll have to find a place to store it!

I wanted a knife set,and found out NOBODY wants to be the one to buy newlyweds knifes, apparently this is bad luck. At least that is what I was told by so many people. What everyone did want to get us was glassware sets, mixing bowl sets, towel and tablecloth sets. Wood salad bowl / utensil set. Pizza stone I got ended up getting lots of use. Best thing I ever got for my kitchen was the full Wusthof Classic Knives set w/ 15 slot block, but we had to convince one rich aunt to get it for us - nobody is going to buy individual knives. Pick out a nice set of plates and flatware from crate and barrel or something and set up the registry at one store. Look up a Stainless Steel Flatware Grades Guide, because you could still be using the same flatware 50 years from now, if everything goes well.

Register for things that fit your lifestyle. My husband and I both love to cook and entertain- but we are not fancy entertainers. I did not want China. We got basic white- perfectly nice Pottery barn plates, cups, bowls that work great for everything from everyday meals to Holiday entertaining. We also got some nice kitchen gadgets- Kitchen aid mixer, Cuisinart food processor, slow cooker, wine fridge. But that's about it for kitchen stuff.
We had just bought a house, so we registered on sites like Anthropologie and Viva terra for fun household decor, and guests told me they enjoyed picking out those more interesting items that you don't see on every registry!

@curator_chris - a year ago, a friend of mine had both a traditional registry and this thing called "honeyfund". I had never heard of it before, so I went to the site. You could "buy a drink" for $10 or a "zipline ride" for $50, etc. Ultimately, if I bought the zipline ride, it didn't mean she would go on a zipline ride, all the different donations went straight into one pot, which they used on their honeymoon as they wanted.

Once I figured out what the site was, I asked her what she'd prefer for her wedding: a gift from her registry or money. She admitted they could use the money for the honeymoon and that is what they'd prefer. So I just wrote a check and dropped it off to her house a couple days after the wedding since they had a week before the honeymoon (I also brought a small handmade gift that I knew the couple would appreciate, since it's nice to have something to open).

Frankly, I'm much happier that we were able to have an honest dialogue about it, as "tacky" as it might be. If I'm spending money on someone, I want it to be on something they want. I was happy to contribute to they honeymoon, knowing my donation could give them an extra experience.

Don't forget to register at places with a store front. I didn't realize the degree to which a lot of people (admittedly typically older) don't want to make purchases online (for friends my own age it was the opposite). I did Bed Bath and Beyond (which I don't really like) because my Mom's friends all just assumed I would be registered there. That said I felt like the particular guy who helped me register in store at BB&B in downtown Chicago was really annoying and sort sucked the join out of registering. I'm not 22, I cook I already have what I need or know what I need so having a pushy people helping was super unpleasant.

Amazon.com!!!! By far my favorite place to register. My husband could pick random things he wanted (including one video game) and I could pick a nice selection of home decor items I wanted (including new dining room chairs). Great returns, free shipping on most purchases, and a great selection.

Beyond that just make sure to register for things you actually want and will use. My parents were really pleasantly shocked and how nearly every gift I received I use regularly. Remember to get items that fit your lifestyle not someone elses (i.e.: I didn't need a formal set of china, or crystal goblets, or $200 picture frames, or random and useless kitchen gadgets).

Finally I did something I've always considered really tacky a honeymoon registry (for our third registry). Honeyfund.com. If you have friends mail you checks there isn't any cost at all (if you'd rather have it deposited there is a small fee). I was in my mid-20s, owned a condo, already cooked a ton, didn't need anything beyond really large purchases of furniture, I caved and decided to do this. We are really into traveling and because Honeyfund.com lets you write up cute little descriptions of things (like drinks at Harry's Bar in Venice) people really started to like the idea of giving experiences. It didn't pay for all our honeymoon of 4 weeks but it did allow us to do a few splurges we might not have done. Best of all we took pictures of ourselves in most of the locations and sent the picture along with a thank you note.

Most of all have fun. Get over the idea its tacky to ask for presents you want. It is tacky but people are lazy and want to make you happy and a registry really helps. And frankly people PLEASE don't go off the registry unless you are really close friends. I feel horrible saying this but most of what I got off the registry was junk to me regardless of whether it was customized or expensive. I try to live a simple life and I ended up donating nearly everything that I got off registry.

Register for cash. We used Honeyfund as well for our wedding, it paid for our honeymoon, house repairs, and a keepsake from our honeymoon. We have everything we needed the last thing we wanted was more stuff. Also, I understand quality over quantity but the truth is my friends and family can't necessarily afford to buy us expensive sheets, towels, knives, etc. I would hate to put anyone out expecting them to buy us an expensive gift, especially if they had to travel. Our wedding was also very low key, DIY, and intimate. Our budget was only $1,500, why would we register for very expensive, quality items?

Register for things you may not buy yourself- even those pricey items. Guests may pool together to get you that luxurious espresso maker. We're having a year and a half engagement so I also use our registry for birthdays and other holidays.

One other thing - depending on your age register for really cheap things. I know people will disagree with this but when I got married at 26 I know that a lot of my friends were happy to get me a few cheap things (like $1-10) rather than one $30 thing. People are at different stages of life and while I made it really really clear I didn't want gifts from friends most did it anyways. I got a $3 book holder from Amazon.com that I use everyday, every single day. Don't make people feel bad by starting gifts at $50 +.

My husband and I registered at Crate and Barrel, Bed Bath and Beyond, and myregistry.com. Crate and Barrel because we loved it, myregistry to cover random etsy things and the not so traditional household items, and Bed Bath and Beyond more or less to please our mothers. I remember not really wanting to include BBB because nothing there was really unique. Not that everything in Crate and Barrel is new and different, but because everything in BBB you can find anywhere. On the bright side the gift cards were extremely helpful once we actually merged our stuff and discovered we needed drawer dividers and baking supply containers. On the down side, even the gifts friends and family purchased I needed, but I wasn't in love with (unlike the green teakettle at CB, or the wisconsin shaped cutting board off etsy). BBB is not the maker of super memorable gifts, but goodness knows those OXO pop containers make my day.

If you are registering for flatware, buy one setting and eat with it before you commit. Make sure you actually put all the pieces in your mouth.

We didn't think to do that, and we wound up with spoons that look nice enough but feel horrible in my mouth. The bowls are too deep and there's always a little smear of soup or yogurt or whatever left, unless I turn the spoon upside down and lick it. It's revolting.

if you're more of an informal entertainer, register for a larger number of individual dinner and luncheon sized plates, dinner and dessert forks and spoons instead of complete place settings. and don't forget serving pieces. platters, bowls, drink serveware that go with your dining style. a punch bowl may be over the top for you, but a beverage dispenser with a spicket (think a higher grade version of the picnic variety) serves the same purpose. be honest with yourself about what your life looks like. are you going to be hosting lots of formal dinner parties or are you more apt to be having friends over for game night or superbowl parties? if you're low-key/informal by nature, you don't want to end up storing a bunch of pieces that - while pretty to look at, maybe - never get used.

Since statistically most marriages end in divorce, I make sure to give gifts that come in pairs or are at least divisible by two. Like a wine glass set or a pair of lamps etc.

Try not to register for anything that can't stand alone. Some friends of mine were just starting off and registered for a bunch of china. While none of their friends could afford to get them full settings, so they received bowls and plates and such, but they never had anywhere near the china they would need to entertain. If the china is a well known pattern that's not going anywhere, you could always save up and slowly finish off the collection, but you don't want to end up with a collection you can't complete. Don't assume you'll get everything and think about the ramifications if you don't.

I'm in that stage where I'm going to tons of weddings, and some registries drive me crazy! I agree with the posters above that are annoyed by the super high-end cookware. The stand mixer really gets me. I have maybe one friend that bakes anything more than once a year, but it's on every single registry.

On the other end of things, just because you registered at Target doesn't mean you should add a swiffer pads, shower curtain liners, or $99 stainless steel garbage cans (all things I've seen). No one wants to buy you that stuff. If you want to add items that are less expensive consider hardcover books or cute decor items.

Probably the best piece of advice I received in regards to our registry is to register for at least one thing from each area in the store- for instance, my instinct would be to ignore the crystal section, it's totally not my style. But my Aunt told me I should anyway because people tend to settle on one type of thing that they always buy for wedding gifts (my Mom gives knives for example) and if you don't have something in that area, they will go out and buy it anyway, but you won't be able to return it easily. And let me tell you that returning things on our registry was a million times easier than the things that weren't!

Also don't forget to register for things all over the price scale- you want to accommodate all the different types of people who will be attending. Some will want to spend more because they can and some will not be able to afford as much.

And lastly, we registered for things that weren't "typical" - two pairs of Hulk Hands (giant foam hands that look like the Hulk's) so we could duke it out. A video game we could play together, etc... and I think people like that stuff as well as the more traditional stuff.

One great piece of registry advice is to read reviews before you register for stuff. We registered for an entire set of dishes at C&B that turned out to have an incredibly stupid design flaw (the base was really small so when you cut near the edges of the plate, they would tip and cause you to fling food! Seriously not cool). We wound up returning them all and getting a different china set entirely, but not before several close friends and family members had bought us really cool pieces from the original set -- which would have been warm and fuzzy and sentimental, had we actually been able to keep them. It's nice and all that you *can* return stuff, but even better when you don't have to.

Another tip I strongly recommend is getting an Amazon registry -- not only do the not expire after 18 months the way other registries do, but the Universal feature is so fantastic for design-minded folks. Not all of your older or tech-challenged contacts are going to use it, but you'll be thrilled when that one cool friend tracks down, say, a crafted item on Etsy that you linked to. Nice to have options outside of your standard china-and-flatware selection -- we had some cousins band together and coordinate on getting us a cool Restoration Hardware (hush) mirror that no one relative would have shelled out for, and some other sharp friends procured MOMA items (before MOMA had a registry) and other cool individual tricks that stood out from typical setting up house stuff. Amazon's not great for fancy gift wrap, but at least they don't waste nine yards of extra fluffy paper and ribbon, either -- fanfare is cute but not practical if you're getting presents all the time. (I know, what a white wine, right? But seriously, all that cardboard adds up!)

Since we bought our house after getting married, we still use our registry as a portal for all the homey items we aspire to collect. Sometimes our family uses it and sometimes not -- now that Pinterest exists we might roll off of it -- but it's really been a pleasure to use. (Full disclosure; I know work for Amazon, but I didn't when we were engaged!)

Think carefully about your needs and what you anticipate your entertaining style is. Register for good quality items and definitely have a wide price range. It's amazing how many people want to buy a kitchen gadget to go with the check/gift card they're giving or allow a child to give a small gift.

Formal dinnerware requires much more space, care & time than I was ever willing to give it. Our cups and saucers have left the cabinet 3x in 15 years, making wish we'd registered for mugs instead. Knives and good cookware are important BUT only if you use them -- and think strongly of registering for them separately to break the cost down more. I think of the giver every day some pan is pulled out and think how lucky we are.

Think a bit outside the box, too! We have many friends who have registered at outdoor equipment or building supply stores. I certainly wish we'd registered for windows now!!! ;)

Good luck!

I'm from a rural area in the South, and wedding gifts are incredibly important here. I think our style is likely a little different from most areas but that some things are universal. While I haven't yet gone through the process myself, I've learned valuable lessons from friends' weddings.

1.) Register in-person. A good friend and her husband did their registry online, only to find that many of the local stores didn't carry all of the items they requested. Since many of their guests were older/unlikely to travel elsewhere, the likelihood of receiving those items had to be somewhere next to nil.

2.) Please, please, please, consider your guests' budgets when registering. When many of your friends are just finishing professional school or working in starter jobs (or you're from a lower income area, etc.), they can't afford $150+ items for you or themselves. I know from personal experience that guests will be sad when they can't pick anything from your list except a collection of random gadgets.

3.) BE GRATEFUL. Whether someone buys a gift from your registry or gives you something random, please be gracious. Manners cost nothing. Sometimes people buy items they love and hope you will enjoy, too. Sometimes they're on a tight budget or are under a great deal of stress. Occasionally, that means that you get duds. However, complaining that people got you things that weren't on your registry is inconsiderate. You might not like the gift, but no one is required to give you one at all, much less to follow specific guidelines. Also, send thank-you notes - including notes to your bridesmaids, close friends and family members. If you don't express gratitude, some people will likely be hurt. (And I know a fair number who wouldn't give you gifts in the future.)

Also, I'm aware it's a Southern thing, but here, requesting cash or gift cards is typically a major faux pas. While it may always be useful, in my area, asking for money is considered taboo unless you're raising funds for charity.

If you're relatively young (i.e., in your 20s or even 30s), keep in mind that your tastes will probably change over time, so it's best to register for classic designs that will stand the test of time. And be practical. I registered for a $70 iron when I don't even iron! That one was returned. And don't forget to keep in mind how much storage space you have. I had to store my wedding gifts at my parents' house for years!

We registered for normal stuff, but also said we loved family pieces and antiques (we linked to eBay searches for our sterling and china patterns). Got some lovely things like a set of sterling julep cups from a elderly widow who'd received then as a wedding gift! Also since we collect Blue Willow, we got a big box from an older man whose children weren't interested in it. Decluttering for our guests and nice meaningful stuff for us, win win.

We already had a bunch of stuff from living on our own, but it was mostly crap and worn out. Registering (and receiving) upgraded stuff was so great! Make sure to go through your linens and your kitchen stuff. These are the things you'll use for years. And those gadgets and tools you have always wanted but never want to spend your own cash on? Perfect for a registry. We registered for a big set of tools, which some people thought was weird, but it's great to have our tool set fleshed out. We also asked for a couple of board games and it's so fun to see who gives those to you because you'll want to invite them over to try out your gift.

Last, we did get carried away on a few things. Make sure you actually want and will use the stuff you register for. The Keurig we got is fantastic, but Husband is the one who insisted on it and he's never used it. Husband also registered for a deep fryer (without me knowing!) and I'm glad we didn't get it. I don't need an excuse to deep fry everything. We already had china from a family member, but it's a ridiculous and out-dated thing to register for unless you actually throw dinner parties. Ours is packed away somewhere and who knows if we'll EVER use it. I guess use a combination of practical thinking and some fun.

Cailo, you're not the only one to feel uncomfortable with the whole idea. We got married a year after college but had been living together, had everything we need (cheap, but serviceable), and our friends were as poor as we were. So we said 'no gifts' on the invitations and announcements. The older family members who wanted to give us gifts did so, and gave us useful things. Honestly, though, the idea that people who've been on their own for a while asking for things they could buy themselves really, really irks me! It just feels so self-centered.

Try not to go overboard!! It's easy to register for everything and anything, but you really don't need all that stuff!! Also, we ended up moving twice in two years after we got married. If you know you're going to move, don't unpack or use anything gifts until you move. Then you can return items as needed — if you don't have room, or realize you really do need that vacuum instead of the panini press!

CHINA/CRYSTAL: It's not worth it… While I love our china and crystal, I wish I hadn't even registered for it because we only received about 30% of what we registered for, and couldn't afford to finish the sets.

My registry advice: register for what you want, but don't tell anyone about the registry unless they specifically ask. It's a convenience for your friends, not for you.

And, while it's very true that you may only get 30% of a collection of china or crystal from the wedding haul, now you have something to direct in-laws and others so close that it wouldn't be rude (see above) towards for future bday, holiday, and anniversery gifts so that by year 5 you may be closing in on a complete collection. Hopefully you didn't pick something so trendy that by year 5 you would hate it.

Don't go with a registry. Trust your friends and family will buy gifts from their heart. If you must tell them how to spend their money, then set up a charity donation website and save a life.

I am so so so so so glad I got married 32 years ago, before "weddings" became the focus of the process. As someone how has been with my partner 36 35 years and has been married 32 (and is from a family where everyone --including all my grandparents and all my brothers and sisters--have been divorced at least once each), the wedding is the least of it. The lack of focus on the marriage,--you know,what happens after the "one time only show"--what it is and what it means is really depressing.

I agree with the registry for price points, but I was so worried that we would look greedy, I didn't put any expensive gifts on our registry. Now, five years later, most of the items from our registry have been thrown away due to the lack of quality. I would advise to register for quality dishes, towels and knives from a higher end store and save candles, picture frames and small decor items for Target.

My favorite thing on our registry was the board games (Cranium, Monopoly, Risk). What's the point of having housewares for entertaining without the entertainment?

My best advice is to start thinking about what you want a long time in advance. By the time we were setting our registry up I was a bit stressed with all the other wedding planning and it was hard to think through logically.

Katkopy -- I agree with you about asking for cash (but I don't think it's just a southern thing -- at least I hope not!). From a guest's perspective, being asked for cash feels... tacky. I want to give a gift that honors the occasion and represents my love and support for the couple. Some people will want to give cash anyway, but to be explicitly asked for it seems to put the focus on the wrong thing -- on what the couple wants to buy or do (a house or a honeymoon, usually), and not on the real reason for getting married -- to build a life with another person.

I agree with what M'Elizabeth said about registering but only telling people where you're registered if asked. I'm always a little surprised when a couple's wedding web site or invitation includes their registry info. Convenient, yes, but it also kind of says "give us gifts!" Part of the reason I registered at places like Crate & Barrel and BB&B is that I figured it was someplace people were likely to check if they went looking for a registry for us (it helps that my last name is pretty rare, so they weren't going to have to wade through a ton of Jane Smiths to find me).

I was definitely trying to include things in a range of prices, so among other things I registered for knives as open stock rather than as a set, though I had no intention of exchanging the individual knives for a set when I did this. I just really wanted decent knives, was not about to put an $800 item on the registry, and figured that a single knife here and there would be within more people's budgets. (Then my very generous MIL went and bought all the individual knives for us in one fell swoop for us before anyone else got a crack at them. Not that I'm complaining.)

Don't worry about what you register for you can always return it for something else or a bigger ticket item and although some might not agree which me you shouldn't feel bad about it. We received a number of smaller items off our registry and took all the things back and purchased a beautiful dining room table which we'll keep, use for years and will host dinner for all of the people that contributed to it on.

Use this chance to ask for what you'd really love, but only what you'll use. I agree on a good knife set, quality cutting boards and durable pots and pans and linens.

A quick note regarding knives and luck - some families have that tradition that giving a knife is back luck (basically, you don't want to give somebody a sharp object or something dangerous). The way to counteract is to give the knife-giver a penny - then it's like you are buying the knife from them, not that they are giving it to you with any ill will.

I ended up taping a penny into my thank-you cards for those people who did give us knives. I didn't count the table knives from our cutlery, just the cutting knives. Hope this helps. Everything else above also makes for good reading. I am with Rapunzel on the thorough registry for silver, china, etc. Some families are more traditional in this regard. I think it's lovely to give or get a single small piece of silver or tableware - over time, you can round out your collection.

As a guest, I agree that I get super annoyed when people register for things they won't use - read: expensive cookware when they don't cook. Just register for stuff you'll use and you have room for. Also as someone in their early 30s who has been on the wedding scene pretty much nonstop for the past few years, I've come to appreciate registries, especially when you don't know the person well.

I got married this year and a couple thoughts from our experience:

-we struggled with whether or not to have a registry. We ultimately did but also told people we'd be honored by a gift to a charity of their choice (and a few people did that, which we thought was great). We also made the links find-able on our wedding website but not a full tab called REGISTRY or anything like that. As I cook a lot, I'm really happy I did register because now I have nice cooking gear and I think of the person who gave me every item every time I use them. The other reason I registered is that my sisters did not, and they got tons of stuff they had duplicates of and had to return, so they really do serve a practical purpose.

-I registered for lots of price points and practical items like camping gear, tools, a safe, and I got several compliments on our registry I think for this reason. That said, it's true as someone said above that people won't get you things trashcans or mops (though I really did want these things!). Overall, people still prefer to buy cooking stuff.

-I also think it was good to think of gift 'packages'. For instance, a slow cooker cookbook and a slow cooker with a total cost of under $60. But, as someone mentioned below, some people will really go all out with wedding gifts. Guests: don't feel like you need to spend hundreds of dollars!

-We registered at C&B and Amazon. Nearly everything was bought off both. With Amazon we sorted items by "free super saver shipping". We also chose items from the Amazon universal registry, but no one used that.

-I wouldn't ask for cash. People will give it to you even if you have a registry.

I used RegistryLove and was blown away by their customer service and the beauty of my registry. My favorite part was the easy format they had that let me track my gifts, I could see who gave me what and mark off if I had thanked them yet, and even swap gifts I changed my mind about for different ones that hadn't been purchased for me! It saved me a lot of time I would've spent returning those unwanted items