Registry- when & why?

This isn't just one topic- I have some questions I'm gonna throw out at once- Do you have to register, and what exactly is it? When is a good time to register? And when is a good time to start looking for a dress? I'm not getting married until 2005, but I want to get as much done now as I can. I wanted to strt looking for dresses this summer. Any suggestions or words of advice?

we got engaged last july and arent getting married until 2005 also. we have registered and have recieved gifts already and are having our engagement party in may so we will recieve more. i would say register and you can always add or take away items later. we are waiting to register linens and things like that for closer to the wedding date.
register if you want

Wait till next year for the dress, new styles come out all the time.
As for registering, do it about 6-8 months before your wedding

Do you have to register, and what exactly is it?

you don't HAVE to register...but people want to buy you gifts...it would be better for you if you got something that you wanted...at least if people don't see something that's in their price range and don't want to give cash they can give you a gift cert...

also you don't have to register for traditional stuff...if you just bought a house register at home depot...register for tools at sears...register for furniture or electonics...


When is a good time to register?

I registered 14 months before our wedding...which was 2 months before our e-party...my mother forced us to...b/c people were asking her where we were registering...

if you are not having an eparty...try to register a few months before you think your shower will be...

remember most places have great websites and you can add more later...when you have a better idea what you need...


And when is a good time to start looking for a dress? I'm not getting married until 2005

this you want to be careful with...you may want to start looking at styles to see what you like...try the magazines first...but so many girls buy a dress and then find something they like better...even if its just second guessing...its stressful (I know - I went through it)...but I would say at least 8 months before your date...you don't want to stress about it not coming in time for fittings...

Thank you guys so much! So I'll wait on the dress, but start looking for the styles instead. And the registry I guess I'll wait until next year, see how things go and what exactly do I need.
So when I register, I don't have to do it only at one place? I can do it in multiple places for multiple things? Thanks, you all have been very helpful.

I would wait off on registering. Maybe put a few items on that you really, really like. People may want to buy you engagement gifts.

I think whoever invented registries is a genius. I have a lot of older cousins and I always remembered them getting 20 toasters, 30 irons and towels that didn't match.

Registries help you get what you need and what you want. It also helps those who want to buy you a gift. At least they know you are going to like the gift.


I started shopping for my dress like 8-9 months before my wedding.

So what are good places to register at? And what about bridal stores? For gowns? What ones would be good for pricing- low budget?

good places to register:

these places seem to be popular on the boards

Macys
Bed bath and beyond
fortunorfs
crate and barrel

we just began the registering process and i should tell you they told us (even though we will be getting married in NOV!!) that we shouldn't pick any towels, linens or comforters, etc b/c they are seasonal and would not be around by our wedding/my shower...

so be careful not to register for things like this yet or you will wind up like my cousin whose registry all said 'not in stock' 'discontinued' and 'n/a'...

in the mean time scope out potentail places....

maybe fortunoff, macys, linens and things, kohls, crate and barrel, resotoration hardware, etc...
(even target has a wedding registry!)

I registered at BBB, Fortunoff and Macy's. I closed out my Fortunoff registery because I didn't like that the customer has to go to the warehouse to pick up any of the china items. We also have a lot of out of town guests and Fortunoff was not a good choice for them.

Since my shower was this past weekend, I did find out that a lot of people had some problems with my Macy's registry and that they don't have my everyday china in the store. I had 2 patterns for everyday china and I got none in one of the sets because people didn't want to wait for the order to come in. Also my mom had bought us our stemware and they had to ship that in, which is a pain in the a$$. The best part about it was they tried to charge her a shipping charge!

Bottom line, I would not recommend either of them at this point. There were no problems at all with the BBB registry. As a matter of fact a lot of people thanked me for choosing a place that was located everywhere and with a wide price range.