It sounds so easy: go to the store, sign up, get the “gun,” and start picking things out.  Often, however, more thought has to go into the process of registering for your wedding before you even get to firing away at what you want.  Here are a few tips to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible: 

1.  Scope out the stores and/or websites you are interested in registering with in advance.  It’s not a bad idea to even try shopping for a few items there to get a good idea of what the customer service will be like.  It’s also a good idea to get a feel for which stores or websites have which types of things you’d like to get (for example, who has the towels you really want, or the china, or flatware or cookware?). 

2.  Try to register for similar types of items in the same store.  For instance, it’s nice for your guests if you register for china, silverware, and crystal at the same location, so if someone wants to get a full place setting, they can purchase it all in one place.  Of course, this doesn’t always work out, but it’s a good policy–power and hand tools from XXX, linens from YYY, kitchen tools from ZZZ. 

3.  Consider online registries.  Especially if you are doing a destination wedding or you have family or friends who live out of town, online registries are tremendously easy to use and convenient for out-of-town guests.  They also offer you 24-hour access to check and update your list.  In addition, many people have become accustomed to doing much of their gift shopping online as they are able to do so on a lunch break or late at night or whenever else they may have spare time.  Plus, many online registries cater to specific needs, such as kitchen tools, cookware, and bakeware at The Wedding Registry from The Pampered Chef. 

4.  Give yourself plenty of time.  Don’t try to register several places in the same day.  Give yourself an entire evening to register in each location.  This way, if you find yourself needing more time than you thought, you won’t feel rushed to get to an appointment at the next location.  Keep in mind, too, that if you can register during the day on a weekday, there will be far fewer other shoppers and/or registrants to work around, and you will probably feel less rushed and stressed. 

By taking just a small amount of time to plan in the beginning, you can make registering a truly fun and enjoyable process!