Overall, I have seen that most of The Knot's advice on having a registry for a renewal is "don't do it." In some cases, I can understand why, in others I can't. Either way, here is my husband and I's approach to Registry for a Renewal, including some background on our nuptials!
My husband and I were just married this past March, 2012! We had a beautiful and small wedding at Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas. With that said, we are having a renewal of vows ceremony in Vegas in 2014.
Since we did not have a registry nor did we receive any gifts, we decided that we would like to have the experience of creating one! So, we are having a registry for our renewal and then we can have the fun of getting new things!
HOWEVER. Rather than expect people to "get us stuff," WE are the ones buying things off of the registry for ourselves. Since I am in school, we have a tight budget and paid for our original wedding and our renewal, our plan is to purchase the things off of our registry a bit at a time over the next year. We are going to have the things gift wrapped and sent to us, but will not open them until March of 2014!
Should anyone that we invite to our renewal inquire about a registry, we will let them know about it, but no one will be obligated to get us anything, and we can still have the fun swag that newlyweds get to enjoy!
For couples that may have missed out on a registry but feel bad making one after the fact, this is one way to go about it when you have only you and your hubby to rely upon for such things!
Cheers!