FI and I have decided to elope, just the 2 of us. We're both very private people and don't want to "be put on display like an animal at the zoo" (as FI so elegantly put it.) We don't really want any of the usual festivities - showers, b-parties, etc. Initially, we didn't even want to host anything when we got back, but my family pretty much insisted on it so we're doing an informal come-and-go brunch. My family is now telling us we need to register, since people will want to bring gifts. We don't want people to feel the need to buy us anything, since we didn't invite them to the wedding and don't really have the room in our apartment for a few dozen kitchen gadgets. (My family buys gifts for EVERYTHING so at Christmas time we pretty much update our towels, sheets, toaster oven, etc.) I think it's ridiculous to register for all this stuff AGAIN when we already have brand new stuff here.... some of it still in the boxes. I have spent 4 months trying to figure out if there's anything we can upgrade and can't think of a single thing. Not one. I'll be 34 when we get married, FI will be 40. I would be happiest if we just spread the word - no gifts, please... just come enjoy brunch with us. But my family never listens when people say no gifts. They'll buy something anyway. How can I get through to them that we REALLY don't want gifts? I know we COULD do a registry, but I'd really rather have people respect our wishes and not buy us anything.