Wanna talk registries

[jenrose66]

It's celebration season and it's killing me. I have had about 4 showers (baby or bridal) and 3 weddings. Anyway I was looking at the registry for my cousin and it doesn't seem like a proper registry to me.

I mean, I know they can register for whatever they want but to me, a registry is for things to start your new home with your husband. Their registry had a wii on it and a playstation 3 along with a few appliances, none of which were under $150. On their second registry they were registered for only china that was $47 for 1 plate! Oh and they also had a $300 bedding set and gift cards

I can't buy off that registry it's too expensive...I live in Buffalo...we're a depressed area to begin with and now with this recession...

So for those who don't buy off the registry, do you have any standard, useful gifts you buy for the bride. I was thinking laundry baskets, kitchen and bath towels, etc...however, if she is particular about what goes in her house...she might not like what i buy.

Thanks for listening.

 

[sbsteel]

That stinks you don't have much to choose from. If I were in your situation, I'd just give a gift card in an amount I could afford to one of the stores where their registry is located.

I really don't care what people register for as long as there are enough items to cover all budgets/price points. If your cousin gets both gaming consoles but doesn't have a pot to cook in or a towel to dry off with, she has no one to blame but herself.

 

[pyrxtc]

maybe she already has all the small stuff and the registry is for stuff you want, presents don't all have to be practical.

If I couldn't afford something on the registry, I would not do a gift card. I don't do gift cards. I would get somehting that I use a lot and give them the same thing thinking that they might use it a lot. I ahve some really good spatula's or a great mixer or toaster that works well. Look at the features of the appliances they registered for and try to find a similiar one on a cheaper model at a different store.

 

[mkymouse1928]

My brother is getting married in October so I have been scouring his and his fiance's registries trying to decide on shower gifts (2 needed so far) and a wedding gift. I have to admit she did a pretty good job of covering all the price ranges, but dang that girl does have some high end tastes. I mean, really, a bath towel that is $25. It's in the price range that I am looking for, but I don't want to just give 1 towel! And it is clearly obvious my brother had control of the scanning gun at Sears. They registered for a tailgate game set!

I think I am going to do a combination of things off the registry and other stuff, but I haven't decided yet. Fortunately, I have tons of coupons for Bed, Bath and Beyond.

 

[jenrose66]

I know I shouldn't care what people register for and that it is their choice. I don't know why the gaming consoles turned me off. I mean, I know video games are fun...I just didn't feel they have a place on a bridal registry...but then I guess that's my problem and I really shouldn't feel that way.

 

[clh2]

I agree with a different poster who suggested giving something that you really use a lot. We have given things like a really nice kitchen shears - in addition to something off their registry. And another thing from my "bag of tricks" is the measuring spoons and measuring cups from William Sonoma.

I've been married almost 20 years. My favorite wedding gifts were - Kitchenaid Mixer, a Bunn coffee maker, a set of pyrex colorful nesting bowls, a nice paring knife and kitchen shears and a light for the living room. None of these items were on my registry

Within the past 2 years - I upgraded the KA mixer when Lowes had a phenomonal sale, the light pretty much just about fell apart, we are on our third Bunn coffee maker now. I use the paring knife, shears and nesting bowls ALL the time. I loved these gifts...they obviously are in very different price ranges. The light...used every single day in our family room was a gift from one of DH's friends, because when DH and I were dating, DH "rigged up a light" in his apartment because it was too dark for me when I doing my hobby stuff (counted cross stitch.) It was a VERY thoughtful gift, and not one I would have ever in a million years thought of putting on my registry.

 

[C.Ann]

I strongly prefer not to do registries - and especially ridiculous ones..

Many times you can find things that are on the registries (same quality, same name brand) much, much cheaper in a different store.. That's one option..

The other is to think of something that everyone "needs" - or needs more than one of - and go with that.. (My aunt gave me a garbage can - and a frying pan.. She said the frying pan was for cooking - and the garbage can was for all the stuff I was going to burn.. God, I miss her.. She was a hoot!)

Last but not least, a gift card - in an amount you can afford - and not one penny more!

Good luck!

 

[Lisa_M]

I don't mind registries, but some make me like a 50" flatscreen tv on a baby registry....come on!

If there is nothing on the registry I want to/can afford to buy, I usually give something that I know I like, like the pp's said. A crock pot with the Fix it and Forget it cookbook, or pampered chef stuff like the vegetable peeler and hand can opener, stuff like that.

When I got married, we made a registry, but I think I enjoyed the gifts more that didn't come off the registry. My great-aunt gave us a beautiful colored glass serving plate. It looks like a work of art.

Just give what you want you think they would like and leave it at that!

As a former WNY'er, I just have to say, "Let's Go Buffalo!"

 

[Sparx]

go to TjMaxx for bedding! its really cheap, but high end brands. you might find what she wants there.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I got maried 22 yrs ago and didn't do a registry. I didn't do one either w/ baby shower for my dd. There is just something about them that yells GIMME lol. (Just my opinion ) I would give them cash. Let them put it towards their china plate and see how quick THEY are to part w/ all that money for a plate or a gamestation. (something tells me gamestation before plate)

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I have been married for 25 years. Some of our fondest memories are of the quirky gifts we still have no idea what they were.

We never held it against our guests when they did not buy off the registry (I only registered for a china pattern). In fact, it made our wedding fun and unique to get gifts we had never thought of or to this day don't know what they are for. One gift in particular comes to mind. It has prompted some of the best conversations over the years as we bring them out and have friends try to guess what they are. And while I don't remember 25 years ago what most people gave me, I certainly remember, with great fondness, the couple that gave us this strange but wonderful gift. And no, we still have not figured out what it is to be used for.

This obsession to give the perfect gift baffles me. Give something that you would use, that you find important and that you think the couple might like.

Hopefully most brides are still of the mindset that weddings are not about the gifts but about sharing their happiness with their friends and loved ones.

 

[Mandychelle79]

I know I shouldn't care what people register for and that it is their choice. I don't know why the gaming consoles turned me off. I mean, I know video games are fun...I just didn't feel they have a place on a bridal registry...but then I guess that's my problem and I really shouldn't feel that way.

Some places offer a discount if you dont get what you register for. A girl I know put a huge tv on it, knowing she most likely wouldnt get it and they bought it after ward with a 15 % discount I think.

 

[rie'smom]

99% of the time I don't buy from registries. I try to find unique gifts based on what I use at home and I try to tailor the gifts to what they like.

For instance, one of my nieces was married last month and I bought her a beautiful set of casserole bakeware that would look great on a dinner table. I always hated having to transfer food from a plain baking dish to pretty serving dishes, so I thought she'd like this.

Another niece and her fiancee bought a house and she loves Target furniture, so I bought her some tables and lamps from that store.

Registries, IMO, are great for people who do not know the couple all that well.

 

[merryweather20]

Please dear Pete! Ignore all the posters that say to ignore the registries! When my best friend got married she put a particulr grill on it that she knew had the features she wanted. It was out by the time I went shopping for he bridal shower, but I knew how much she wanted it so I made a two hour drive to another Sears to pick it up. Her Aunt was sure she knew better, and bought a giant grill that wouldn't fit in her kitchen and best of all, had a breakable glass top . They had to return the one my friend wanted because they knew where I bought it, and I was the one that thouhtfully provided the return receipt. Another relative thoughtfully bought them a large collander instead of the one they had on their registry. The collanders holes are so large they can't strain macaroni or blueberries so its basically useless to them.

No doubt her aunt and relative were well meaning and sure they would like the items, and perhaps had the very same items themselves. But, they didn't really stop to think that Lara like making macaroni and cheese and had a bluebery bush in her back-yard.

My parents received some thoughtful gifts not on their registry too. One of them was an unbeleivable ugly brass lava lamp with a brass tray around it that contained equally ugly fake flowers. My mothers comment was that they were the nicest people, and she had no idea why they would go in a store that sold something like that, nevermind purchase it for a gift.

Most people get married later in life nowadays. SO there lists may not be terribly traditional, why should they register for inexpensive kitchen appliances and cheap linens if they have those? I have plenty of cheap kitchen stuff and dollar store towels, so yes if I was registering, there wouldn't be a $20 toaster on there or $1.95 towels, but there would be a Mixmaster and some nice linen.

 

[browneyes106]

I agree with sbsteel maybe buy a gift card for them. I have heard of people putting stuff like camping equipment, tailgate set and other similar things on registries but I have ever video game consoles on registries.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'd just use the registry as a guide, if she didn't include all price ranges. You should be able to tell the colors of their home and go from there.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I'm getting married in October and we just did our registry a few weeks ago. My DF and I still live at home so we pretty much have nothing for the kitchen on our own. Sure I have collected a few things over the years, but overall, we are starting from scratch.

I have looked forward to doing a registry for years, not because I expect gifts, but because I love the little zapper gun. I will be happy with any gifts we get, I don't care. The best gift for me is that I found my Prince Charming and we are starting our lives together.

That being said, my DF did put on a Playstation 3 on the registry. Do I think we'll get it, no way. Does he think we'll get it, no. However, he wanted to put it on there and I figured why not.

We do have items of all price points on our registry. Most of our friends don't make that much money, so we wanted to make sure that we had items of all price points. If somebody can only afford to give me a hand-drawn card, that doesn't matter to me. It is the thought that truly counts.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I'm getting married in October and we just did our registry a few weeks ago. My DF and I still live at home so we pretty much have nothing for the kitchen on our own. Sure I have collected a few things over the years, but overall, we are starting from scratch.

I have looked forward to doing a registry for years, not because I expect gifts, but because I love the little zapper gun. I will be happy with any gifts we get, I don't care. The best gift for me is that I found my Prince Charming and we are starting our lives together.

That being said, my DF did put on a Playstation 3 on the registry. Do I think we'll get it, no way. Does he think we'll get it, no. However, he wanted to put it on there and I figured why not.

We do have items of all price points on our registry. Most of our friends don't make that much money, so we wanted to make sure that we had items of all price points. If somebody can only afford to give me a hand-drawn card, that doesn't matter to me. It is the thought that truly counts.

You sound like a wonderful and thoughtful bride. Congrats on your upcoming nuptials

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

I don't mind registries, but some make me like a 50" flatscreen tv on a baby registry....come on!

"

Wish I thought of that!
Just kidding, but I agree, stick with the registry. It is what they picked out that fits thier needs.

 

[Becky2005]

Hmmm...I guess I would just try to come up with something if nothing was on the gift registry that you could afford.

I know one thing that wasn't on my list but I exchanged duplicates for was a fold-out step stool. I don't know why I never owned one before as I lived in my own apartment beforehand but apparently never needed one. I'm short. We STILL use that step-stool to this day & it's been 18 years.

My first thought with the gaming system is that the husband to be put that on there.

You could always give cash. I tend to run on the practical side though, so my ideas for gifts is not necessarily the norm. I'm thinking "hmm..first starting out, a gift card to the grocery store sounds great or a favorite restaraunt" -- I know DH & I used to eat out a LOT when we were first married before kids but I'm also the person who had to convince DH that *yes, I really DO want a new vaccum cleaner for Christmas*

I do like the idea of measuring spoons. It seems to me you can always use more than one set -- at least in my house. I only have one Pryex measuring cup for liquids and it would be nice to have a few more of various sizes. I have never seen a need to go out & buy some for myself but if someone got me them as a gift, those would come in handy.