Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Wedding Planning & Advice
  4. Wedding Gifts & Registry
  5. Expert Advice from a Registry Insider
Martha Stewart Weddings

Expert Advice from a Registry Insider

Skip gallery slides
Pin

1 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

When Should a Couple Register?

bd104479_0208_calendar1.jpg

Think about registering no later than four to six months before your wedding day to allow enough time for guests to browse and get ideas. Within that period, there also tend to be an engagement party and a shower, which are typically covered in the same registry.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Any Tips for Choosing a Store?

mwd104717_sum09_icecream2d.jpg

Brides usually register at two or three retailers: low, medium, and high end. You want to make sure you represent different price points to give your guests something to work from.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How Many Gifts Should You Register For?

mwd103654_spr08_illusion.jpg

We suggest you register for three gifts per person, but consider that if you want 12 plate settings with 12 pieces of flatware to go along with it, that's 24 gifts right there. You also have to remember that people will be buying you shower and engagement gifts as well, so you may want to come back and add a few things.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What Benefits are There to Registering with a Store That Has a Nationwide Presence?

ft_wedregistry01.jpg

Besides having an informed staff to field questions and help you get started, having stores across the country makes it easier for guests to shop and for couples to return items. Plus, we host engagement parties, where experts do demonstrations with new products and give brides-to-be ideas for creating their registries.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How Can You Tell Guests About the Registry?

msw_spring03_pink_invites.jpg

Sometimes it will show up in a separate note within the shower invitation. A lot of young brides and grooms put it on their Facebook profiles, their websites, or in text messages. Of course, there's always word of mouth as well.

5 of 12

6 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Where Do You Begin Compiling a Registry?

ft_holidaycoo28.jpg

It's much more fun to start out with the things you've always wanted. Sometimes couples don't want to appear greedy, but this is wish-list time -- the one time in your life when it's okay to ask for splurge items. People want to celebrate with you; buying a gift is a material expression of their commitment to the couple, and an opportunity to share a lasting part in your home.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What's One Knockout Item That Should Be On Every Couple's List?

msw_fal09_oyyo_white_large_plate.jpg

You need a durable white porcelain dinner set, because it's the little black dress of dinnerware. It's great -- you can dress it up for a special occasion or dress it down for everyday.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What Are Some Trends You're Seeing?

mwd104546_spr09_clever2a.jpg

The groom loves to cook now, so gourmet items are big. People are also asking new questions about eco-friendly items, like water filtration systems, bamboo towels, and juicers.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What Do You Say to People Who Claim That Registries are Impersonal?

mws1274_fa06_gift.jpg
Credit: HEIDE BENSER/MASTERFILE

Registries are inherently personal. A couple chooses things that have meaning in their daily lives, and years on, they'll remember who gave them that gift each time they use it.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Is Anything Off-Limits for Registries?

mws1999_travel09_istock_000002537971medium.jpg

Not in this day and age. This is a generation of active, well-traveled, cultured people -- their whole world is open. That's the real difference in registries today. There used to be a prescribed list of crystal and china for every couple, across the board. Now people register for camping equipment, honeymoons -- the boundaries are all down, so almost anything goes.

10 of 12

11 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What is Your Top Tip for Couples Registering?

0506_msl_champagne.jpg

"Don't think just about your lifestyle as it is today. You'll be entertaining more in the years to come, so create a wish list of items: a platter for your first Thanksgiving dinner or champagne glasses for a New Year's toast. Keep those special occasions in mind; it's a wonderful way to include loved ones in those important milestones."

11 of 12

12 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Meet the Expert

mwd104799_fall09_gearon_051.jpg

Mary Rose Gearon, a registry insider in Chicago, Illinois is known for curating a well-edited selection of quality furnishings and home goods for Crate & Barrel stores nationwide.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • What to Bring to Your First Wedding-Dress Shopping Appointment
    • 3 Eco-Friendly Wedding Flower Ideas That Are Simple and Impactful
    • Following Their Unofficial Las Vegas Elopement, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Are Now Legally Married
    • This Couple Hosted a Flower-Filled Rooftop Wedding Celebration in Downtown Washington D.C.
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12 When Should a Couple Register?
    2 of 12 Any Tips for Choosing a Store?
    3 of 12 How Many Gifts Should You Register For?
    4 of 12 What Benefits are There to Registering with a Store That Has a Nationwide Presence?
    5 of 12 How Can You Tell Guests About the Registry?
    6 of 12 Where Do You Begin Compiling a Registry?
    7 of 12 What's One Knockout Item That Should Be On Every Couple's List?
    8 of 12 What Are Some Trends You're Seeing?
    9 of 12 What Do You Say to People Who Claim That Registries are Impersonal?
    10 of 12 Is Anything Off-Limits for Registries?
    11 of 12 What is Your Top Tip for Couples Registering?
    12 of 12 Meet the Expert

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Expert Advice from a Registry Insider
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.