Gift Registries

Create a gift registry that helps achieve your home or lifestyle goals while allowing guests to shows their own individuality.

Plan Ahead and Consider Your Lifestyle

Setting up gift registries is a tasteful and convenient way to let your guests know about gifts you love and desire. Planning a gift registry requires careful consideration from yourself and your groom so make decisions about your registry (or registries if you have more than one) early on. Creating your list at least six months before your wedding day is a great idea if you wish to let your guests know about your registry for an engagement party or other pre-wedding celebrations such as a bridal shower.

Informing Your Guests

The correct etiquette is to inform a few close members of your wedding party or family and rely on them to let others know about the registry. However these days it’s not usual to include gift registry details with your wedding invitation. Rather than include registry information on the invitation itself, many couples choose to include a small information card noting the registry details.

Selecting Your Registry

High-end department stores and the independent wedding gift registry companies are a popular choice for wedding gift registries as they offer a wide range of gifts. They are also accustomed to handling gift registries and usually have professional and thorough consultation services.

If you and your groom are well set up at home or want to start up or continue a collection, creating a registry at a specialist store works well, or consider setting up a gift registry that contributes to your honeymoon. Keep in mind that if your registry includes a smaller number of more expensive items, it’s considerate to give your guests the option to contribute rather than pay a whole amount.

Some couples choose to dedicate their wedding registry to a charity. You might like to select a few charities, or go through an organisation such as www.karmacurrency.com.au where guests have the choice of hundreds of different charitiestc.

Selecting Your Gifts

Your wedding gift registry is the perfect way to establish your domestic life together. Be realistic about what you need and what you will use. Take your lifestyles, work habits, and foreseeable living arrangements into consideration then start with the foundations and build from there. Opt for quality items that will last a long time and include a combination of everyday items along with a few special objects. Always select gifts within a range of prices, items and styles so you cater for all of your guests.

Traditional Wedding Gift Items

Stores with gift registries should provide you with a consultation on what you may need on your registry, they should also be able to help your guests select their gifts. Here is a list of what you may need to start up your new home together.

• Flatware: Including full cutlery sets, smaller sets (such as cake servers etc) or individual pieces. These are best in sterling silver, stainless steel, silver or gold plate
• Knives: High quality forged or stamped sets made from carbon or stainless. A complete set should also include a sharpening tool
• China: A full dinner set is an essential part of your home, as is tea and coffee sets. Consider porcelain, bone china, earthenware and stoneware
• Glassware: Your wedding is the best time to set up a full complement of red and white wine glasses, champagne flutes, cocktail glasses and fortified wine glasses
• Cookware: The highest quality yields the best cooking and longevity. A set of non-stick pots and pans for every day use, along with specialist pans for crepes and perhaps a range of cast iron for cooking at high heats
• Table linens: Although dining has become a less formal affair, a few high quality white linen table cloths never go out of style. Also consider undercloths, runners, place mats and napkins
• Bed and bath linens: Cotton is the best selection for sheet and towel sets that will last and grow more and more soft with wear and use
• Electrical appliances: Set up your kitchen with the very best. Look for coveted items such as Krups espresso coffee machines, Kitchenaid mixers and Waring appliances