How does simple registry work

If you never cook at home but love to camp, it makes more sense to register for a tent than to request a crystal gravy boat. But, be open to the fact that your tastes may change in the future.

Even though you can't imagine a need at this moment in your life for that gravy boat, it may become indispensable for future Thanksgiving dinners with your in-laws. Take some time to think about your lifestyle now, as well as what it might look like in the future, and select gifts accordingly. You can also use our roundup of the best wedding gifts this year for some preliminary ideas. One of the most important wedding registry tips is to take inventory with your partner. If you're living together before marriage, you might want to skip traditional items if you already have them in your home.

Make a list of what you have, as well as what you still need and want. Perhaps you already own a simple coffee maker, but if you've been eyeing a brand new espresso machine it may deserve a spot on your wishlist. Also consider the need for "every day" and "formal" versions of dinnerware, glassware, table linens and serving items.

If you love being the go-to house for dinner parties, you might want to register for some extra serving sets for the next time your friends stop by unexpectedly. Taking stock of what you have and what you need is the best way to stay organized and efficient while making registry selections. You and your partner should register for gifts you'll both enjoy. To decide on what you need, talk about the style of home you'd both like and choose items together.

Need help? Take our wedding registry style quiz for inspo. While you might receive input from well-meaning family members and friends , remember that your wedding registry is for your home, not theirs, and such decisions should be made with your partner.

Set aside time specifically for your registry to curate a list that feels tailored to both of your interests. As you begin shopping online, you might wonder exactly how many gifts should be added to your registry. There's an easy way to figure it out, and all it takes is a secret math equation. Simply multiply your guest list by two, and add a few extra. You might worry that over-registering feels greedy, but that's far from the case.

It's better to have too many choices than not enough. This also ensures that gifting options won't run low as guests start to purchase presents. A great wedding registry includes gift ideas for all price ranges.

Guests will be able to spend different amounts on wedding gifts, so give them plenty of options at a variety of price points. Don't shy away from adding a few luxury items, because some guests will want to splurge. Plus, big-ticket products make for great group gifts too. But, don't forget to add some budget-friendly options as well.

Guests will appreciate your attention to detail. Since it's important to have plenty of gift options at a variety of price points, check your registry often to make sure there are still enough choices for guests. Selections will dwindle as your loved ones buy items leading up to the big day, so check back periodically to make sure there are options at all prices.

A good point to keep in mind when you start your registry is to select products you really want or need first, like a new mattress or a high-tech vacuum.

Then, as the items on your checklist start to dwindle, add more. That way you won't be stuck with a fruit basket when instead you really need those extra salad plates. You can definitely steal registry ideas from other couples. It's super easy to find your friends' registries and wedding websites on The Knot. We've also rounded up the most popular registry items by state to help you see what's trending in your area.

Use these guides to see what other to-be-weds are asking for, and add some of your favorite selections to your own wishlist. If you have longer than one year before the wedding, try to avoid registering for seasonal items that might be replaced in a few months. When guests go to purchase gifts, they may find those things have been discontinued.

This is another good reason to check your registry often. If things sell out or get discontinued, find a replacement ASAP. Pros: This is easy to set up and easy to add products from various online retailers. As with most other online registries, you also have the option to set up a cash fund.

Cons: While MyRegistry does not charge a fee for cash transactions, they set up the transfer of funds via Paypal, which does. You can expect to have 2. And as is the case with most Universal Registries, guests will still be directed to the third-party site your gift is sold from and have to input your address before coming back to mark an item as fulfilled.

Though thankfully they do have a pop-up which allows the guest to see your address and to remind them that they will have to come back to mark it as fulfilled. Click here to read more about MyRegistry to see a sample Wedding Registry click on the link at the bottom of their homepage. Deciding where to register online can be tricky, especially if you want to add to from multiple sources. If you want to register for several different brands of products but want guests to stay in one place, then Zola, Wayfair, and Amazon are going to be your best bets.

If you want to keep your existing wedding registries but still offer guests an option to see all your items in one place, then MyRegistry might be the best bet. Looking for a honeymoon gift?

Check out our 4 favorite honeymoon wedding registries. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hi Kira! We wrote about the best Honeymoon Registries here!

What about Honeyfund or Zank You? Have you tested out either of these online wedding registry options? Anyone have any suggestions on a card to include in the shower invite, to explain alert to the guest why not the traditional registry.

My fiance and I have all that we need, but created a zola registry for larger things we need for our home, like a fund for patio set and grill, honeymoon fund, we are still looking to purchase a dining room server table since we moved into a new place. So many of my gfs are like you have to have a registry. Registry information can be included on a wedding website, as long as the actual name of the store is not included on the same layer; organize your website so that guests must click down one level to find the details.

Register for more gifts than you have guests, so there will be plenty of items to choose from. Think about who your guests are, and register for gifts in a wide range of prices, or choose individual items rather than sets, as with pots and pans, for instance.

It is fine to put a few expensive items on your registry, but balance them with equally lovely options that are more affordable.

While it's still taboo to ask for money directly, financial registries try to make this less awkward; for example, couples can now register for stocks via a website such as GiftsofStock. Saving up for a house? Some banks have programs that let brides and grooms establish a special account to which guests can give money earmarked for a down payment.

If your registry doesn't automatically notify you when a gift has been purchased, review your registry every few weeks, and more frequently as the wedding approaches. Use your updated registry to help you keep up with writing thank-you notes. You'll be entertaining more in the years to come, so create a wish list of items: a platter for your first Thanksgiving dinner or champagne glasses for a New Year's toast.

Keep those special occasions in mind; it's a wonderful way to include loved ones in those important milestones," says registry expert Mary Rose Gearon, pictured at left. Ideally, you should acknowledge every present immediately; writing a note the day you receive it is best, but sending it within two weeks is also acceptable. Of course, the period surrounding your wedding is a busy time; if you fall behind, just make every effort to send a thank you as soon as you can—but no later than three months after the event.

If you don't receive everything you registered for, don't fret. Many stores have a completion program, which offers a discount on remaining items, or will keep the registry active for anywhere from a few months to a few years, so friends and relatives can continue to purchase gifts from it as other joyous occasions arise. He might not be invested in your bouquet flowers, the ceremony backdrop, or the hotel blocks for guests, but here's the groom's time to shine! While our servers are secured by the latest technology, someone could still gain access to your account if they discover your login information or if you use our site on a public computer and do not log out.

Since gift redemptions will only be distributed to the Primary Member, there is another layer of protection in one of these rare events. Even if a malicious user has access to your account, they still cannot get a check or money transfer sent to them in their own name. Note: Once an account has at least one gift there are absolutely no exceptions to this rule.

In order to keep fees low for everyone, we need to make sure that credit card transactions are not fraudulent. The hour delay allows us to catch any fraudulent activity. It's an unfortunate but necessary measure for us to take, and we apologize for any inconvenience. Common questions. What is SimpleRegistry? Why choose SimpleRegistry? How does it work?

Who can create a registry? How much does it cost? What is the fee for? Who can give a gift? How do I split up the cost of an expensive item? Are my guests charged sales tax? How does the fee compare to a "traditional" registry? How do I inform my guests about my registry? Can I protect my registry with a password? What is Instant Registry? What is the SimpleAdder? How do I redeem the gifts in my account? How long does it take to receive my gifts? Why can't I redeem via PayPal if my email address was changed?

What is the best way to thank a guest? Is my personal information safe? What if I purchased a registry item elsewhere? Is credit card information secure? Where does the money go when I receive a gift? How do I know when I receive a gift? Why do I receive notification cards for only some gifts? How long can I keep my account open? Why can't I change the name of the Primary Member on the account? Why does it take hours for my gifts to be available?