Surprising issue -- our registry is almost bought out! Now what?

AllyM10 · February 2010

Both my FI and I are older professionals who have had two full homes, so there's a lot we didn't register for, like everyday china and silverware (we sent 3 sets to goodwill!)

But we registered at BBB and a local china/silver place. At BBB, we registered for towels, some kitchenware, etc. I made sure there was a selection and a range of prices.

Anyway, I just checked our registry, and almost everything at BBB is sold. I assume this is in preparation for the two showers I have in the next couple of weeks.

My wedding is in about a month, and almost nobody's bought a wedding gift. (We're expecting about 150 people.)

I'm not trying to be selfish, but my question is: what do we do?

Do we register for stuff at BBB we don't really need/want so that people have a selection? (Honestly, it's not like I need a lot of store credit...my little condo will be overwhelmed soon!)

Do we assume that when BBB is done, people will move over to our china/silver, which almost nobody has bought? (I'm assuming that's because BBB is more convenient for most people, although the local store has a website. Some of the BBB stuff is in the same price range as the china.)

Or do we not worry about it and assume people will give cash? (Which would be most welcome as we're saving for a house.)

I'm not eager to start a whole new registry at a department store, but I also don't need 100 random crystal photo albums. (That's what one of the registry people told me would happen if I didn't put more on my registry.)

Any thoughts?

duckie1905 · February 2010

I would just start adding things to BBB. I probably wouldn't be able to afford to buy china on my own but might go in with a group-so maybe that's a possibility for you?

The problem is that you are having two showers with, presumably, a fair amount of guests. There need to be gifts in every price point for all of these guests. If you really didn't want or need that many gifts there shouldn't be showers. At this point I wouldn't create a new registry but I'd start adding more to the existing one right away. I would continue to add as much as you can through the wedding for those guests that would prefer to buy a present instead of give money for the wedding.

Truthfully, if I went to buy a shower gift for someone and there was nothing I could afford left, I would probably go off-registry and try to find something the couple would like myself.

That can lead to gifts you don't want and possibly can't return.

MyNameIsNot · February 2010

I would probably add on a couple more sets of towels and sheets (that you may not need right now, but will eventually wear out) to BB&B, just so it doesn't seem so picked over, and then let it go. Is there anything else there you want? Digital picture frame? Small furniture? Decorative pieces or specialty glassware? I'm madly in love with our ice cream machine.

Once the showers are over, I'd just ignore it. I mean, it's good for people to have options, but eventually you just run out of stuff you need.

ribbicks · February 2010

I know you don't really want to set up a new registry, but if your planning on getting a house why don't u set one up at lowes or something? THat way you can register for home improvement things you'll need then!

quotequeen · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_surprising-issue-registry-almost-bought-out-now?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:078df463-fad7-4e2b-ba12-5324969ac686Post:c4598126-1748-4972-b6a5-b4b11aeafe99">Surprising issue -- our registry is almost bought out! Now what?</a>:
[QUOTE]Do we register for stuff at BBB we don't really need/want so that people have a selection? (Honestly, it's not like I need a lot of store credit...my little condo will be overwhelmed soon!)
Posted by AllyM10[/QUOTE]

I have been told by a couple of people that BBB lets you return registry items for cash - is that not true? (Not that I think you should register for stuff you have no intention of keeping, just curious.)

Have you considered less traditional registries for other stuff you might want? Like on Amazon (you can get anything there)?

AllyM10 · February 2010

Thanks, good ideas from everyone!

The showers were sort of a surprise. My mom's friend decided to give one because my mom had given one to her daughter. And then two weeks ago (after being told FI's side wouldn't hold one), one of his father's close friends announced she was doing it.

I had never heard BBB gifts could be returned for cash. That's a great option!

Talked it over with FI and we may register at a department store for luggage and some other stuff we couldn't get at BBB. If we decide to return things, at least we'll have some additional options. We'll add a few more things to BBB too. There were a few gadgets FI thought would be fun but he didn't want to seem greedy. (Like the fancy meat thermometer that stays in the oven.)

I like the home improvement idea, but that's probably a couple years away. Given the current economic climate, I'm not sure I'd want to hold on to giftcards that long. My dad recently got burned when a restaurant he had bought gift cards to went out of business. You wouldn't think Lowes/Home Depot would do that, but I don't really want to bet on it either.

AllyM10 · February 2010

Update... reading the BBB website, it appears that you can return items to their return center (presumably not the stores) and they will send you a check if you like.

So... yes, you can get cash in exchange for BBB stuff. But be sure to hold onto all the shipping info if the product is shipped.

brilibby4 · February 2010

I know you think you don't need anything else for your apartment but I have seen many brides on here registering for more "out of the box items recently, so consider that! Art work? Items to support any hobbies you and FI might have like hiking, traveling, or camping?

Brie2010 · February 2010

Check out the sticky thread at the top of the forum called "Don't know what to register for?" to get some good ideas of things you might not have thought of.

I think it's a little bit rude to register for gifts at BBB with the sole intention of returning them for cash. I put a lot of thought into wedding gifts, even when there's a registry--like, for example, I got a friend of mine a margarita pitcher and glasses she wanted because we loved going out for margaritas together in college. I'd be sad if I knew she'd returned it. I'd rather see a registry that's been bought out so I can just give you a check than take the time and effort to pick out and buy a gift so you can return it.

jburkie1 · February 2010

Other things to consider for a small condo may be organizational items (shoe racks, closet organizers, etc.). I'm considering a new vacuum and luggage is a great idea!

kat112 · February 2010

When you say "almost everything" do you mean a lot at about 75% or literally everything? I'm not sure what your area is like, but we only received a few actual gifts at our wedding. About 90% of our registry was bought up for my bridal shower, but our family and friends mostly all give cash/checks as wedding gifts. I didn't feel the need to add to the registry, since pretty much everyone was done shopping from it after the shower.

AllyM10 · February 2010

Since you're curious....

About 90% of our BBB was bought. Still plenty of china and silver at the local store that doesn't seem to be moving.

First shower gave me a lot of BBB items. I'm not sure if the rest will show up at the second shower or at the wedding. (I suspect the wedding -- it's not a big shower.)

I'm hoping we are down to cash and gift cards, but I wanted people to have a choice.

Surprising issue -- our registry is almost bought out! Now what?

Re: Surprising issue -- our registry is almost bought out! Now what?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards