We have received shower invitations both ways. The only caveat I would give is…be sensitive to those who might not use email…and mail them an invite!
The fiancée asked me to look thru Minted and Zola last nite formideas. Fun!! There wedding is in October, the dark green is the color. I also looked at the site Oldfort mentioned, then added Zazzle. Zazzle was easy to use, as you could narrow to a color, a season, rustic vs formal, vintage, etc. my favorite was on that site. Is there a reason no one here has used Zazzle?
They also began a registry at Crate &Barrel. Besides a mixer, nearly all their items are <30. I may hint that a nice set of flatware, not silver but stainless, could be added.
@bookworm our DD and SIL registry had mostly lower priced items. Many could be mixed and matched to make a more expensive gift if the give so chose. We did suggest they put a few higher priced items on the registry for folks who prefer to buy gifts rather than give money. So…in their case…added things like All Clad saucepans, really good knife set, nice sheet sets…all in excess of $200. But much of their registry was $50 or less items.
Their registry was at BBB. We looked at the costs of some items, and in every case, using the 20% off coupon…and their free shipping…the costs at BBB were less than at Crate and Barrel or other places. A mixer, for example…
And BB&B now lets you use the 20% off coupons with on line purchases. In the past one had to do an in-store purchase to use the coupons.
Congrats, @bookworm!
I have not heard of anyone using Zazzle, but I am sure it is fine. You can get free samples from some of the sites - my D did that.
We used Zazzle for a party we threw for niece on the Friday night following the rehearsal dinner. They turned out very nice and it was easy to customize yourself.
I think I overwhelmed the kids. I stopped by C & B today, and sent them pictures of things I think they overlooked, like flatware. Then onto Pottery Barn and W &S and Bloomies. Picture frames and special serving pieces were my additions. My disappointment was that I stopped at Papyrus, which has become my fav for invitations, but they didn’t have a wedding book sampler in store. I think it is a great idea to encourage them to add BB&B to the list, for towels and such. I doubt my son has updated his towels in 20 years, and I didn’t send him to college at 17 with new, good towels.
@bookworm let them deal with the registry…unless they specifically ask for your help. No pictures…nothing. That is overwhelming…and also might be adding things YOU think they should have…but they have NO desire to own. I know…it’s hard to step back. But a lot has changed in one generation.
BBB has all of the things you listed. Flatware, serving pieces, etc.
They should pick what they want…if anything.
As a reference…my DD was very short on time and actually asked me to do her registry for her. Together, we made a list of the things SHE and SIL thought they could use. I asked about a couple of things (like the knives and All Clad) and DD hadn’t even thought of those so they got added.
But I was very careful to ASK…not suggest or tell.
If they say NO to the additional places for registering or the additional items…just smile and nod.
My D has asked me to research and suggest best cookware to register for. Any ideas?
Ya, I only did what was asked, with the exceptions of adding some items (picture frames, salad servers, ice cream cups, flat ware). I’ve bought them All Clad pieces from W & S in the past, but did not make any suggestions. They requested that I think of items they didn’t include. I know, I’m trying to be careful. Suggest,
But never dictate. I didn’t even mention knives, but they have an electric knife sharpener on their list. I don’t trust those, I use a manual sharpener. But I kept my fingers quiet.
Powercropper, for real?
If i were buying a whole new set of cookware, I’d go for the Scanpan line.
My kid already had All Clad frying pans, so she was registered for All Clad saucepans. Just the saucepans.
Also, very useful is a Le Crueset Dutch oven of some size. They make a good wedding gift item because they are costly and useful (IMO).
@bookworm ice cream cups? Do you mean those glass ones like at an ice cream parlor?
I guess my D is the odd one out. She is loving putting together a registry. She is using My Registry, not sure how it works but she has items from Target, Etsy, William Sonoma, Sur la table and even REI. She has a lot of cookware, baking sheets, food processor, luggage, camping items. No towels, china or flatware, sheets or blankets. My D loves to cook. She has items from under 20 dollars to items that are several hundred. My feeling is that it’s nice to get things that will last. Good knives are expensive and if you take care of them they will last. Same with nice cookware. I’m not a fan of Bed Bath and Beyond or at least not the one in my city. They don’t have much inventory and I only go if I want something that I can use a coupon on.
We just went to a wedding and the couple registered for dishes from a nice ceramic company in the SF Bay Area.
Is it possible there is such a thing as helicopter wedding parenting?? 
Sort of kidding. Sort of not.
I would have to say I would really encourage these adults who are about to enter another stage of life - with another person - to have their own say in what home or otherwise items they want. From the style to the color, etc. It doesn’t have to take a ton of time - but I think the details of what you are going to live with in your home is WAY more important than finding the time to pick out invitations or flowers. Your flowers are for one night - your dishes or flatware or whatever may be for decades!
I think it’s cute Mom got involved.
The ring is now hidden in my house. He made me promise not to look at it and I won’t. He wants D to be first. He’s a bundle of nerves and so’s she because she knows it’s coming. He keeps asking if I told anyone what I know- and I said…“Only my online wedding thread.”
@powercropper seconding Le Creuset Dutch oven. Good knives, a good sharpener. My sons do different types of cooking and each has and loves a Thermapen MK4.
Thumper, ya. Ice cream glass holders, whether with stems or not. There hasn’t been a boy/man in my house that hasn’t used them often, so I’m on my third or fourth set. The first was colored ceramic, but ex requested I leave those,
I also sent the fiancée several all clad pieces, and use scan saucepans myself. Le Creuset oval ditch oven has been one of my typical gifts. I don’t own any all clad, as my farberware and revere ware still holds up, but I love buying young ones the good stuff.
I like cookware. I own an electric mini chopper, but for,chopping tuna fish and such, I like my pull cord German appliance. I bought and returned until,I found one that did the job. (w &S).
Anyway, their registry has only the mixer on it. No,pots, pans, baking pans, dutchovens, glassware on it. They had a lovely cheeseboard but not the utensils. My suggestions have been minimal.
D1 did her registry with her Dad because she knew it wasn’t my thing. It did help her Dad feel like he was involved.
They did pick out a beautiful china set.
D and SIL did their registry together. She didn’t want to show me until she looked it over several times because she thought I might think they had chosen too many useless or too expensive items. (I laughed—both ends of the spectrum.) They did a very good job!! My only suggestions were to add individual place settings for dishes and silverware because few people could afford dishes for 8 or service for 12, but might purchase 1 or 2 place settings. They did BBB, but might add Amazon.
@mom60 many people go to the registry, and purchase online. There is no need to go to a BBB or any other store to buy gifts off a registry and have them shipped.