Wedding Bee's Wedding Registry Wiki

As a follow up to my earlier post, I wanted to share the Wedding Bee Wedding Registry Wiki with you! This is user generated content, but there is lots of great tips and ideas! Be sure to check it out!

Registering!

Registering has probably been one of the most fun parts of wedding planning so far. It's all the fantasy (remember the days of just imagining your imaginary, budgetless wedding?), without the cold reality (uh, negotiating those 17 distant cousins spots on the guest with your mom). Seriously, what girl doesn't love to hardcore window shop? And if your husband to be is anything like mine, he loves gadgety kitchen toys.

Our first registry experience was with Sur La Table. We LOVE this store. This is our toy store. They have all kinds of amazing things and the value for the quality of the products is great. My favorite Christmas present ever from Mr. Fairfax is from there--it was a tomato knife. Yes, I am a woman who gets excited about a really nice tomato knife and the man who would think to give me one. This is just the kind of people we are. I think it says a lot.

Here's the run down on Sur La Table:

PROS

• High quality kitchen goods, everything from knives to pots and pans to automatic soap dispensers.
• We registered at the Pentagon City store. The staff there is AWESOME. Very friendly, very helpful. They treated us like gold even though they were very busy and in the middle of inventory. It made the day very special to such great customer service.

CONS

• We broke the scanner. Whoops. We dropped it and the laser broke (SORRY!!!). So if you plan to register, make sure the scanner works, and don't drop it. Typing all those SKUs in by hand is a...
• The website is pretty terrible. The registry website link is on the bottom of the main Sur La Table page and open in a separate window when you click on it. The website does NOT like Firefox, open it in Explorer for the best results. Even then, many of the items don't have pictures, and the item descriptions are more like stock room jargon than English. We ended up transferring any items available at other stores to another registry and deleting some items from the SLT registry. Bummer. I will be writing a letter to company about this.
  

All in all we loved picking out items and really like the variety and quality of items available. One word of caution: try to go to the Pentagon City store if you can. After we accidentally broke the scanner we went to the Tyson's Galleria locating to finish up (we got tired of typing in the SKUs), and they were not very friendly. They didn't seem busy, but the staff was quite curt and short with us. Pentagon City though, they're AWESOME.

Bed Bath & Beyond

We ended up doing BBB for a few reasons. Some of the items at Sur La Table were also available at BBB and we opted to transfer them there and not force out guests to decipher the SLT website. Also, we wanted to register for our pots and pans there, a vacuum cleaner, and a few other general home items not available at SLT.

PROS

• This is easy for you and the guests. BBB has everything and most people are familiar with the store.
• The return policy is crazy awesome.
• The website is very simple and straightforward for you and your guests.
  

CONS

• Nothing really, though it's a slightly more generic experience compared to SLT because it's such a big store.
  

Crate & Barrel
We attended the final Crate & Barrel "Wedding Party" of the season this past Sunday. It was FUN! I'm sorry I didn't get to blog about it earlier and recommend it, but hopefully a number of you have been or will go when they offer the next round. Basically, C&B invites couples into the store on Sunday morning from 9-11am to register while the staff can A) give you their full attention (they even had coat check!) and B) offer product demonstrations (waffles and pancakes! yum!). We had a ton of fun.

Word to the wise--be sure to RSVP. They aren't kidding about that. We showed up without RSVP-ing (because this bride was being a bad citizen) and they let us play anyway. We kind of had to be quick though in order to not deprive another couple who had RSVP'd of their scanner. We took a scanner for 30 minutes, returned it for about an hour while we browsed, ponder glassware (direct quote from Mr. Fairfax: "I didn't think picking out wine glasses would be this hard") and had some pancakes. We got a scanner again at 11am and make quick business of scanning all the other things we liked. It worked out very well, actually.

PROS

• Who doesn't like C&B? The Big Sister said most of their guest gave gifts from C&B, people just really seemed to enjoy picking out the items. And the gift wrapping there is pretty sweet.
• Again, the the website is super easy to use.
• Registry completion bonus! Get a 10% discount on items still on your registry after the wedding. Other stores offer this as well.
  

CONS

• I don't think you can say CON and Crate & Barrel in the same sentence...except I just did.

MyRegistry.com

There were a few "fun" items we knew we wanted to select from stores that don't offer registries like sleeping bags from L.L. Bean, a diploma frame, some coffee mugs from a little pottery in the town where we got engaged, a paper shredder (this is fun, what?) and Mr. Fairfax's favorite: a grill!

There are a number of websites these days that will allow you to list items from multiple stores, so why did I go with MyRegistry? No reason, it was just the first site I went to.

PROS

• You can download a button for your browser from MyRegistry that allows you to add items instantly. For example, if I'm browsing L.L. Bean and see a LED camping lantern I must have, I hit the "add to my registry" button, a window pops up where I log in, enter the relevant information and the item is added. Pretty cool.
  
• It's neat.

CONS

• Although I can see the guest view, I'm not 100% sure how intuitive the purchasing process is.
  
• The return policy will depend on the individual store, not MyRegistry (as far as I can tell) so keep that in mind.
  

Macy's

No, we didn't actually register at 5 stores. I originally wanted to do Macy's for china only, but we had a less than stellar experience so when we figured out the pattern we liked was also available at BBB, we opted to close our Macy's registry. We made a special trip to the Tyson's Galleria location because we thought they would have the best selection and samples of all the china. Hmm, well I know the economy is bad, but really? Macy's was a sad sight. The Registry Associate was perhaps a little overeager, and we were very disappointed to find that they did not have the china we wanted to see. Since there wasn't anything else we wanted, we ended up wandering the store for a respectable amount of time, returning the scanner and heading home. I don't think my experience is representative of all Macy's, everywhere, but I wanted to share.

PROS

• If you want nice sheets, or love the Martha Stewart stuff they carry, definitely go to Macy's.
• They have lots of registry rewards, as well as a completion discount and I understand there is also a very liberal return policy.
  

CONS

• We were personally disappointed that some of the china patterns we wanted to see where not in available.
• While I love good customer service, the Macy's associates had a hint of desperation about them. It was a bit awkward to say the least.
  

So that was our experience for better or for worse. Just to sum things up here are a few thoughts from Mr. Fairfax and I on the whole process.

• Don't try to do it all in one weekend. If you do multiple stores in one day, really make a day of it and build in a relaxing lunch and coffee breaks.
  
• Make a plan. Pick a day together and plan to go out and register. I was ready to go ANYTIME, but I think Mr. Fairfax was much happier knowing what days we were going, and where we were going so he could be prepared.
• Set up the registries online first. You won't have to sit around in the store while you tell them your address, and your fiance's address, and your mom's address three times each.
  
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• If there are big ticket items you would like (say, furniture at C&B), but you are hesitant about having that $500 head board on the registry, add them the week of the wedding. That way you can utilize the completion discount after the wedding to add these pieces to your home.
• Register for pots and pans separately. If you can register for the individual items versus registering for the set, do it. A $400 set of Calphalon pans is pretty big gift. A single saute pan or sauce pan might be a little easier.
• Go wild and crazy in the store, add EVERYTHING! You can edit online.
• We probably over-registered, I am in the process of giving everything a nice trim. But I also want to provide options. I've purchased wedding gifts at the last minute when the couple didn't register for much at all and what was left was not a fun, exciting gift I wanted to give (uh, Brita Pitcher or Vacuum Cleaner bags anyone?).
• Hit all the price points. The Sur La Table sales associates said that gift-givers frequently purchase a "big" gift and then want something little to go with it, like a set of wooden spoons or some dish towels.
• Finally think about the things that you really will have for a long time, that you'll use to build your home add these types of items to your registry. Obviously dishes, china, and silverware are the prime examples. I know these are the types of gifts I know I like to give when I am a wedding guest.
  

These are just my experiences and my honest thoughts on them. Anyone else have some good tips or experiences to share?

Registries

Making a registry reminds me a lot of people asking me what I want for Christmas. When people aren't asking me, I have a laundry list of things I want. When I am actually put on the spot, I am a sputtering fool left shrugging saying I have no idea.

Mr. JeffMemorial and I have dilly-dallied around in the arena of wedding registries. We've made quite a few actually, with only one or two actually surviving our picky tastes. To be honest, though, I never really focused on it. The registries were a stressful topic. I couldn't find anything I liked, and for some things, what I did like was just too expensive to put on a registry.

Needless to say, I sometimes ignore things that cause me stress, which is exactly what I did... until I started receiving e-nudges from friends, asking when I was going to be making our actual registries public.

With a sigh, I went back to the drawing board.

I think the thing that stressed me out the most was our wedding china. The reality is we don't have space for it and our lifestyle is not conducive to the safety of fine china. We made the decision to get a nice set of dishes (that will always be our wedding dishes), and then on our 5 year wedding anniversary (or perhaps the purchase of a new house) we will get ourselves a set of nice china to celebrate.

Thus a new search began, and I began knocking on the e-door of Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I was pleased with the selection and found two items that restored my faith in registry creation:


Classic Dots 67-Piece Dinnerware Set

While this is by no means $150/place setting china, it's stunning. I love the stark simplicity and classic look. I love that it's a large set of dishes that will allow us to throw dinner parties with a more pulled together look.


Tuscan Countryside 5-Piece Pasta Set by Mikasa

I am thrilled about this find. I love buying kitchen pieces that have such a social gathering aspect to them. I could just see setting up a pasta girl's night, watching movies, etc... or just having some friends over for a collective dinner.

I think what's really helped us get better at putting our registry together has been, quite honestly, living together. While we've known each other for years, we got engaged pretty quickly after we started dating, which was only a month or so after we started living together.

As time has gone on, we've been able to determine what kind of family unit we are, how social we are, etc. That's really helped put into perspective what we want in our kitchen, on our beds, in our bathrooms, and just for fun.

What are some of the best pieces of advice you've heard about when creating registries, or are you a den of wisdom when it comes to the subject?

Sip and Scan a Review

Tonight Mr. GP and I got to indulge in a bit of Registry Fun. I've previously posted about this event - the Knottie Sip and Scan Event at Macy's in Pentagon City.

My thoughts?

Well, it was a great event. Aside from the catering being near non-existent, it wasn't bad. Except...that's how I conned Mr. GP into going by promising free food and drink...what? Sip? Sip what? Sparkling water that we got five minutes before we left? Sure! The people however, were incredibly helpful, and answered all of our questions and were around when we needed them. I gave Mr. GP command over the super scanner (it was huge!) so at least he got to have fun with that.

I digress.

It was very helpful being able to talk to vendors, having my list that they suggest, swooning over the Martha Stewart Collection, we registered for Ralph Lauren bath towels, Vera Wang china, everything Kitchen Aid, and new pots and pans that look incredible.

Some of my favorites?

Kitchen Aid Slow Cooker
Vera Wang Blue Duchess Fine China
Martha Stewart Spice Rack
(all photos from Macys.com)

We're also registering at Crate and Barrel which...has not yet been started if only because we haven't had a free weekend to get out to Clarendon to do so. Now that Macy's is almost done, I'm excited to go register for the rest of our goodies, and check another box off the list.

What are your favorite registry items? Favorite store to register at?? Anyone else go to the Macy's event? What did you think?

Registry Fun

A few weeks ago, Fiance and I have started our registries. So far, since I haven't planned much - aside from one or two days dress shopping (unsuccessfully), a couple wedding shows, an unfinished wedding website (two months later), and a few unsuccessful attempts at researching photographers (usually leading to much frustration and anger at the outrageous prices!), I feel like I haven't done much.

But one Sunday, about a month ago or so, fiance and I decided to trek down to Macy's in Metro Center to get this party started.

The ah-hem, party, lasted about an hour before we headed back to the Hill for 5pm Mass, thus our registry was left unfinished, and hardly worthy of being shown to anyone. Anyone except our parents of course, both of whom responded "YOU REGISTERED FOR A HEINEKEN BEER TAP BUT NOT POTS AND PANS OR DISHES?!?!"

Well, really we just wanted to have fun with the scanner and get things started, why not right? We did register for other things...you know, some utensils...a Kitchen Aid mixer....with attachments...you know, the fun stuff. Fiance insisted to them that we weren't done yet, and that we still had research to do which, is no lie. We've just kind of been lacking on having the time to do so.

So a couple weekends ago, we went to a lovely Bridal Show up in Woodley Park (which I got him to go to promising tastings as there were some at the last one I went to in Alexandria, there were none at this one. Whoops?) and saw the Macy's table. Macy's, oh how I love thee, especially with the Martha Stewart line. You've never done wrong by me Macy's.

So a lovely woman was talking to us about our registry, the china we plan on registering for, and told us about a fabulous event which today, happened to end up in my Inbox thanks to The Knot yesterday.

Sip and Scan - "an event featuring fun beverages, hors d'oeurves, music, and fabulous registry experts to help you create your dream registry. Bring your fiancé and he can play 007 with the scan gun while you sip your drink and approve his choices." NICE!!!!

Now, not only can we finish our registry (well, one of them) but also, have a fun little date night out at the same time and please both of our mothers by completing the registry at the same time!

Any other DC brides planning on going to Sip and Scan on October 2nd?

Is it a Problem that I am Obsessed with My Registry?

I think I might have a borderline addiction with checking on all four of my registries (Enchanted Owl, Bloomie's, Amazon, Target). Is this a problem? Do other people check theirs obsessively (2-4 times a day??) Don't these things notify you when someone makes a purchase from your registry? You would think that would suffice and I wouldn't need to check it religiously. But, I do. No pun intended! But, seriously, we haven't even had an engagement party yet! I haven't even notified my bridal party that I'm registered, yet for some reason I think that people are magically going to discover it and a flood of presents are going to arrive at my door like Christmas Morn for a 4 year old. I have a problem. And, I'm kind of ok with it. ;)