Registry question

Smooch711

This may be a really dumb question, BUT, I'm beginning to freak out about this.

How long did it take you to fully register? We have yet to really do anything for it. We're thinking Macy's as one and either Target or Kohl's for the other, BUT other than that, that's all we have thought about it. I'm getting worried because my shower is June 30th.

Any advice would be appreciated to ease my mind. TIA!

NO2012

I started by creating them online several months ago.  Last week FI and I made ourselves go to a "Sip and Scan" event at Macy's to at least put a dent in that registry (it was totally lame, but it served its purpose).  Since last week, I have been adding more things to each of my 3 registeries a little each night.  We still need to go into BBB and knock out the rest of that one.  My first shower is June 9 so I feel the pressure too!  Overall, it has been very time consuming and not nearly as exciting as I once imagined.  haha.  I am looking forward to hopefully finishing it once and for all next week.  There is a good checklist of stuff in the sticky note at the top of the Registry board that helped me get started.  Starting online was very helpful for me too, because it didn't seem so overwhelming and I could do things at my own pace (read: procrastinate).  But at some point, you've got to just go in the store and get it done!

Trins

We have 3, 2 stores (Crate and Barrel and Home Outfitters) and the 3rd is an e-honeymoon registry. We started them a couple months ago I guess, went into the store and got it done. We aren't registering for a whole lot, we already live together and neither of us feel the need for some of the ridiculous (IMO) items that they tell you to register for. But the good thing with the registeries is that you can continue to update it! I go online probably every few weeks or so either to see what's new, to add things or delete things that we have already bought ourselves.

smartlypretty

Oh jeez, um, I don't want to scare you but registering was the most pain in the butt thing that I've had to do so far lol. I registered at Macys and BBandB. If your shower is June 30th then that means invitations should be going out soon. I would recommend you have your registry mostly complete by the time guests get the invitations. Here's what I did. I went around the house and made a list of stuff that I either didn't own or needed replacing. Then I went on their websites and wrote down a bunch of stuff that I wanted. Then I went into the stores to register and pick stuff out. Then I went home and fixed it on the website. Then I repeated this process about 3 times until I got it right lol. 

Smooch711

Thanks for the imput. I've sortof been dreading this because I've read so many posts about it being so overwhelming. We moved in together a few months ago, so we have stuff, but mismatched/old hand me down stuff. We're behind on a few other things, so I kept putting this on the back burner. And I procrastine everything too! That, and I know I'll meltdown if fiance doesn't help me with it, and he hasn't been as helpful as I'd imagined. So ready for this "engagement" phase to be done with.

Sarah&Eric2012

I started mine online in January right before STDs went out.  I wanted to have some information on the website that was listed on the STD.  It's still a work in progress but FI and I have done most of it online.  We went into the store for our Macy's registry because we wanted to see the towels and linens in person.  The consultant for Macy's was really great, she explained everything and handed over the gun and said have at it.  I haven't really gone into the BB&B store for a registry thing because it's mostly kitchen ware and whatnot.  I highly reccommend starting online and heading into the store once you have an idea of what you're looking for.  It takes a bit of the edge off.

harpsdesire

I 'mostly finished' last week.

My FI and I are still looking for a place to live once we're married, so we haven't put anything for the house on the registry, since we don't know what we'll need, what the colors will be, etc.

Once we put an offer on a house we'll go back and get the hosue things on there.

I HOPE we are done with kitchen, linens and bathroom stuff now though.  (it took us 2 trips to BB&B and one to Macy's to do it, partly because FI lost patience with looking at stuff)

It was sort of overwhelming but not that bad if you focus on one room at a time and then go online afterwards to add things you forgot and take off things you changed your mmind about.

Kello4221

I actually really enjoyed the in-store registry part.  We went to an event at Crate and Barrel that was super fun.  They feed you well for breakfast too!  We probably spent an hour there.  And then we went to Bed Bath and Beyond twice, maybe an hour and half the first trip and an hour the second trip.  Plan to do a couple quick trips, otherwise its overwhelming.

After that I did the fine tuning online and compared with reviews on amazon and switched some items between the two stores to save on price.  That part felt really tedious to me. 

When choosing your stores pick places that have great return policies.  That way after the wedding when you realize you want a blue bathroom instead of purple you'll have no problem making the switch.  Pretty much everything you are registering for can be returned for cash or exchanged, so don't put too much pressure on yourself!

jessa1228

It took us the better part of a day to register at 2 stores, not to mention all the research we did the night before. And we're still not done, we still need to decide on bedding and linens.

Smooch711

Thanks all!

I have been checking things out online and jotting down what I like. I did use the sticky at the top of the Registry forum as a reference, and fiance and I talked last night about what we need to accomplish in the next couple of weeks. I feel better. I plan on doing most of what I can online and break it up into a few trips to stores.

doublenn

It's not a huge deal, as it's so easy to update your registry online, and most people don't buy gifts until very close to the wedding, so you can update often.

I'd discourage the Target registry, lots of people on the boards have had issues with registries disappearing, wrong items displaying, and lists not updating when people buy something.