Wedding Planning Blog by I Do! Wedding Favors

I will be honest. Registering for gifts was the best part of wedding planning! My future husband and I were able to go to some of our favorite stores and choose some necessary items and some frivolous items and some items that we could never afford ourselves! Taking that little scanner gun and running around the store like a little kid at Christmas is one of the most fun things I have ever done. The only problem is deciding who gets to hold the gun!

There is a definite set of etiquette rules when it comes to registering for gifts. They are quite easy to follow, but first you need to know them!

First, it is acceptable to register at more than one store. It is preferable actually. Different guests will prefer shopping in different stores. Plus, some stores are specialty stores that will be your go-to for all kitchen necessities or all of your china/silver/crystal needs and wants. Giving guests a choice allows them to go somewhere convenient. Additionally, it is good to choose stores that have online shopping available. This is good for those people that cannot attend the wedding but want to send a gift or a guest that wants to give a gift but does not want to carry it to the wedding. Proper registry etiquette dictates that two to three stores is best. More than that offers too much choice and can make you seem greedy.

Register for gifts in a wide range of prices. You cannot expect that every guest will be able to afford a place setting of your china pattern. Definitely register for your china, but don’t forget about including smaller items such as everyday glassware and silverware. These gifts are much less expensive but you still need them!

Updating your registry is a must! You will need to check your registry to see what people have bought. This is to ensure that there are still options available to guests. If everyone purchases the less expensive gifts, then you will need to choose some more gifts in that lower price range. If you do not initially register for enough gifts and your registry ends up empty, then it will be necessary to register for more gifts. This is a courtesy to all of your wedding guests.

Register early! There are many occasions that an engaged couple will receive guests. The engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette party, and wedding are all occasions when gifts will be given. It is best to give guests an idea of what to give rather than make them guess.

Have you registered yet? How did you choose which stores to register at? Have you been following these registry etiquette guidelines? Tell us all about your registering experience!

It has long been considered that a man should spend at least two to three months of his salary on an engagement ring for his beloved. Obviously, the job that the man has will have a significant impact on the size and quality of the engagement ring. But is this guideline still viable? Do we expect more?

If your man is a stock broker than you will likely get a very nice engagement ring. If your man works as a cashier at a fast food restaurant, you may have to set your sights lower. But as women, we all want that engagement ring of our dreams. That dream is different for each one of us. Some women want large diamonds while others want small diamonds. Some women don’t want a diamond at all and prefer a ruby or an amethyst. Some women want gold while others want platinum. All of these preferences affect the cost of the engagement ring.

So, is it unreasonable for a woman to expect her blue collar man to buy her a large diamond in a platinum setting? Should he have to go into debt in order to give the ring of her dreams? Can he afford to give up two to three months of his salary? How far are we allowed to ask our men to go for us in order to get the engagement ring of our dreams?

How do you feel about the monetary guidelines set forth for engagement rings? Do you think that men should go all out in order to buy the biggest and best engagement ring possible? Or do you think that men should be more practical about their spending? How have you and your fiancée handled this? Do you have any advice for other future brides? We want to hear all about your ideas and opinions!