How About Registries?

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

Is anyone registered?  Are you stalking your registry?

We didn't care for a registry.  We have been living together for 6 years and didn't 'need' anything, but people kept asking about it so we set one up.  We did NOT set up a Honeyfund.  I was going by The Knot's timeline suggestions and set up a registry in about April or May.  i realized later that this was for the purpose of any showers thrown, and we aren't having any showers so I guess we set it up pretty early, considering.

In any case, I get home from work and see a box at my apartment door.  Someone bought something from our registry.  It's a plate setting we loved, which turns out we need to register for 4 plate settings, and we accidentally registered for ONE place setting....oops!!  I got the email that someone got us something but I didn't think it would be sent to our door!  I am furiously on the hunt for the best deal on thank you cards right now.

So now what?  FI wants to know if using it before the wedding is allowed.  I told him I honestly don't know.  I need thank you cards....  Do I send it out to the guest NOW?  Do I wait?  I need to creep the registry board more...

Share your registry stories and wishlist here.  I would love to hear about them!  ^_^

April192002

I started one, but haven't finished it. No one is asking so I'm kind of thinking about taking it down, but the people who are more likely to get us something might not really know they're invited yet. Since FI basically had everything we needed, I've filled in here and there (like baking items and towels for the boys, that they never use) but everything on the list is more just upgrading. I needed a bigger skille, to make more than 3 pieces of bacon at a time on weekends, so that was a Christmas present from FI. I got a blender from him for my birthday and an ironing board. My mom got me a sewing machine for my birthday...so I'm all set. I'd rather get money, and I've read the best way is to just not have a registry, so we'll see how that goes with a minimal item registry.

@goldchocobo‌, I would send out a thank you now, and honestly wouldn't worry about if it matched anything since it's so early. Just pick up a cheap pack somewhere. As far as using it, everyone says don't unless you absolutely HAVE to. There's even some superstition about using things before the wedding. You two have been together SO long and there WILL be a wedding, so it really wouldn't be that big of a deal if you used it. The big thing behind not using it is if the wedding gets called off then you're supposed to give it back to the sender.

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

I didn't want to use it before the wedding.  They are wedding gifts after all.  I set it aside and I'm going to tell FI that wedding gifts are to be used november 3rd.

That's my problem, I can't find a 'cheap pack' of thank yous!  I don't want something custom, but everything is so expensive.  

April192002

You don't have a local Walmart/Target/similar that carries those generic 8 or 16 packs of Thank yous? I may end up going with those, assuming I have people to send them to.

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

I havent been able to find them.  They all have storks and balloons and babies on them!  I'll look in my hometown when I make the trek down on the weekend,

drewisesup

We registered at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohls and Crate & Barrel. Trying not to stalk the registry so that things can be more of a surprise.

I'm of the opinion that you can definitely use your wedding gifts before the wedding, provided that you send a thank you note first (especially if it's a check -- don't deposit it before sending a thank you). It will also be easier on you in the long-run if you send thank yous as you receive gifts rather than letting them pile up.

The great part about registering a little bit early is that you can always go back into your registry (either in store or online) and add more. Like with your place setting -- no problem with adding three more sets. Since Crate & Barrel is more seasonal, we registered for summer stuff and just went back in and added some of their new fall things. And if you keep your registry relatively small since you don't technically need things, perhaps people will just give you cash/checks and you can spend as you please!

hikebikebemerry

Amazon has pretty cheap thank you cards!

88beautymarked

Target has generic "Thank you" wedding cards 50 pack for 10.99.

We only registered at 2 stores, BB&B and Target. Since we registered so early, I've had to go back and edit things that are no longer available. Only a couple gifts have been bought and majority of them were us buying them ourselves like when we wanted new sheets after our cat scratched a hole in them, we just bought the ones we had registered for. Also the cake knife and server I'm just going to buy from my registry and not buy a fancy set just for the wedding day.

CTYankeeBride

You'll want to get a thank-you card and send it now.  Definitely do not use the gift before the wedding or if you do, be prepared to replace it if the wedding doesn't occur.  Not that anyone plans for the wedding to not go off as scheduled but things do happen.

Check places pps suggested and also check craft stores.  For my shower I got very pretty note cards at Joann Fabrics and they were $2.00 for a 50 pack on clearance.  They are just blank note cards with a pretty front.  Even a letter/ note on pretty stationary would suffice.

We registered at BBB and at Macy's after my sister offered to host a shower.  We weren't expecting to have a shower so we registered in mid-July.  I am really trying not to stalk but as the shower gets closer (it's Sept. 27th) I'm trying to make sure things are available in stores because buying online gets more difficult for guests as it gets closer. Of course, when I log in to check store availability it shows what has been purchased and what hasn't so now I'm going to give the list one final refresh this weekend and then wait it out until the shower/ wedding.

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

I ordered some from Wedding Star and will be here shortly

CTYankeeBride

Lol, I was going to add that you could just use the stork ones and let your guests wonder

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

CTYankeeBride said:

Lol, I was going to add that you could just use the stork ones and let your guests wonder

LMAO Oh crap, that'd be awesome  Unfortuately, I chose autumn leaves instead :P

jaime232

I creeped my registry today and THREE gifts have been purchased... we haven't sent out shower invites yet, whaaat!  This is like a crazy mystery.. I'm so curious about who bought the stuff.  I won't stalk it like every DAY or anything.. but I do want to make sure there's a good mix of cheaper vs. expensive stuff and blah blah.

Okay really I'm just curious what we're getting, but that's what I'll tell people.

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

The cards arrived today and I filled out a thank you card the second I could!  Putting the card in the mail the moment FI signs it and the ink dries!  ^_^

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

I stalked my registry again (I am so guilty of this!!) and people bought other things, which I am very surprised about.  

I look at other people's registries, strangers or friends, to see what other people like to register for.  I found that a lot of times the registries are under-utilized or not even touched at all.  I suppose I told myself that my registry would be the same way.

jaime232

I am kind of surprised by that.. some people just gave us random wall decorations, a lot of people are giving us gift cards for the stores we registered at.  Some are just giving cash.  All welcome gifts, but I have always been pretty loyal to the registry, even if the stuff wasn't particularly exciting.

April192002

I had someone finally ask about my registry so I told them (and immediately went on there and added more items...more than the 5 I had). I'm still playing around with it but am having so much trouble! Most of the items FI and I could really use are $80+ so I've put 2 or 3 of them on there and have struggled to add $10-$35 items.

FI has had years to rebuild after his divorce so I walked in having almost everything we needed. I needed a bigger pan to cook breakfast for 5 - my Christmas present from FI. I needed more bowls (I'm a baker) - got 2 sets for Christmas...FI's had lids and FMIL's were larger without lids. We needed more dishes - my birthday present from FMIL. I guess we could use a crockpot, matching towels, and more storage containers (to help keep our food safe from the ants).

I decided to keep the registry at just 1 store but I'm hoping that my list of 30 items, mostly the same things - storage, will result in gift cards or money. Since most of the guests are from my mom's side of the family, I told her where we're registered and that there are a few items (like a floor lamp that's now broken and more silverware that matches what we already have) from a different store, so if she or my sisters would like to get us something different I'll send her a pic.

With this being my 2nd and his 3rd wedding I'm not expecting much, but this is the first wedding of either of ours where family will be invited, and it's nice to know someone's interested in where we're registered.