So wedding shows, and movies make registering for gifts look glamorous but Chris and I found it quite the opposite. At first entering the store you feel so excited looking at things that will possibly end up in your new establishment together but it is a very draining process. I have included some tips for couples on how to get through this without wanting to scan each other to death with that dreaded scanner gun. :)
1. My first tip is that you should both be going into this with a positive attitude. Don't decide to swing by the store of your choosing after a long day at work try to do this on a day off and make a date out of it by going out to eat after.
2. Women, please realize that your men are not going to be really into this process of scanning things for future use. They don't really understand the importance of this like we do. And those three different colors of towels that you can't decide between will drive him a little nuts. So do yourself a favor, have a talk with him beforehand about how important this is to you and to your future life together. Also talk things over together while looking around and make sure to add things he has picked as well even though you might return it later if it shows up in a big wrapped box at the wedding :). Also know that after a while of being in the store they will start to think of this as a game an example of this is seen above which is actually kinda cute.
3. Go into this knowing it will take you a while, and even maybe a couple of trips. Our first trip to register took us about 4 hours and by the time we were done I was ready to call it a day and go to sleep. The second trip we packed two stores into one and I am still adding things onto our registry using the stores website little by little.
4. Don't be so concerned with what item you are scanning but how much these items cost. A great employee who helped us at one of the stores we chose pointed out that you can always return things for credit or gift cards and can use these to purchase new items. I was not too thrilled with this idea at first but after 3 or 4 hours in a store this concept starts to make more sense.
5. Follow your own guidelines, do not add things just because people tell you that you might need them. If you are moving into a town home or apartment together you may not need all the essentials people who are moving into a house would need. There would be no where to store all of that stuff and plus when you do move into a house that's what housewarming parties are for. The opposite also applies, you can add things to the registry that people may not tell you to add because you like it. Which brings me to my next point...
6. Even if you think people will not buy you an item that you want to add...add it anyway. There is no harm in this and stores offer incentives for registering with them which include coupons to finish buying products you added to your registry after the big day. So adding that lamp you can't live without is a must!
7. Use the packet the store gives you as a guide. If you are anything like Chris and I we had no idea where to start and were a little overwhelmed. Take the store one section at a time without jumping over to a different idea to avoid confusion and use the guide you were given. Make sure you are checking items off the list and this will help with organization and help you follow the store layout.
Now...based on my experience I would recommend Target for it's convenience to your guests especially if you have a lot of out of town folks, Bed Bath and Beyond because of their brands that include Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Waterford, and Lenox. I would also recommend using PotteryBarn's registry if you tend to gravitate towards personalized items that include monogramming. A lot of their bedding and glassware can be monogrammed and not to mention the style and quality of their products cannot be beat.
I know a lot of people use Kohl's registry but they were awful for us. It took us an hour just to start scanning items due to a printer malfunction that not even the manager could fix. Also we have noticed a little secret i'm sure Kohl's would love to keep private but i'll let you in on it. NOTHING IN THE STORE IS ONSALE! They put those lovely red signs everywhere claiming to mark items down 40%, 50% etc which makes customers feel like they are getting a great deal but honestly compared to other stores they are normal priced after the sale which means they mark them up just to be able to set sale signs out which seems shady to us. Kohl's lovers will argue with me on this but it is the truth hands down. Also the brands they have like food network Top Chef products are not as good quality as other products for cheaper at other stores like Target. I would rather take my money to a store who is upfront with me.
Hope this helps you all! Happy Hunting!
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