Wedding Gift Registry

One of the greatest inventions in the world of gift giving is the gift registry. No longer do we have to linger in gift limbo wandering aimlessly trying to please a soon-to-be-married couple. The engaged couple has already done the planning, found the stores, and chosen the presents they really want or need. All we have to do is print out the lists and purchase the gift.

First and foremost, couples choose gifts from the major department stores. In the beginning of gift registries, the bride and groom were given a clipboard and a pen and told to write down the items they wanted.

Later the store workers would add the items to their computer or just add the paper list to a Bridal notebook. This process was tedious and time consuming. Couples generally gave up before they had picked half of the items they wanted.

Then someone very smart thought of scanners. Much like the scanner grocery store clerks use to checkout your groceries, the portable scanner allows you to click, click, and click until every item you could possible want is added to the computer. Making the process as easy as possible certainly added to sales.

After tactfully letting everyone know where the couple has registered, let the buying begin. Depending on whether or not you are the friend of the bride or groom, you should choose the store where you want to buy the gift. For example, if you are best buds with the groom, you might head to the hardware store where the groom made his list. You can purchase anything from tools to lawn equipment. It’s nice to remember the groom. Generally, the bride gets everything, but with a hardware registry, the groom is no longer left out.

The department store is most often the bride’s domain. She and her groom can walk endlessly through the aisles choosing china, flatware, cookware, linens, and other can’t do without accessories. Most women choose the department store as their first choice for gifts. If the bride chose everyday or fine china, this is a perfect place to start. Everyone needs plates and bowls. These should last the couple forever.

You can buy china by the piece or set. This decision is entirely up to you and your budget. Often the store will not carry a bride’s full pattern but you can purchase the item you want and the bride will receive a little gift card. When the china piece arrives in the store, the bride will be called so that she can pick it up. Many people don’t like to do this but brides love it because their china pattern is precious to them and a symbol of starting their marriage.

The wedding gift registry is such a great shopping tool. Gift giving is made simple and the bride and groom are happy. Everyone wins. Score one for us all.