The wedding thread had me thinking about bridal registries. And where I registered 37 years ago when we were engaged. I remember we registered at a local shop and then must have been a department store but I honestly can’t remember which one!
Let’s pretend you are engaged again!! (Congratulations!!!)
You can register for 2 or 3 stores. Amazon is not a choice (I’m taking Amazon out just because I think while I would probably consider it, it’s so giant and easy I want it out of the equation!).
Where would you register?
I myself am not really a big fan of BBB. Their kitchen ware is fine but I’m not a fan of their linens. Or home decor stuff.
I think I would do:
Target - for sure! (kitchen ware, casual home decor, outdoor needs)
Pottery Barn or West Elm (home decor, nicer accessories)
Congratulations YOU’RE engaged too! Where would you register today if you were starting over?
We have a fantastic local indie kitchenware store, that would be my first one! It was our sons’ rite-of-passage place when they graduated from college and got their first apartments.
I’d also register at a hardware store. Not sure which one, don’t like the idea of a major chain, something smaller and quirkier if I could find it.
Third would be music related, either inventory or hardware. I don’t know enough to point to my preferred source, but end goal would be a sound system and its contents.
Today, I would register at Blueprint or Zola. Both are all inclusive registries so one can register for gifts from all the normal places (Macy’s, Bloomies, C&B, WS, PB, etc.) and smaller, local stores. And one can register for experiences or charities as well. These all inclusive sites also allow group gifting, offer free shipping and give discounts after the wedding for items still available…
This way I could get kitchen stuff from sur la table; crystal stuff from bloomies, house stuff from Home Depot, outdoor stuff from REI and my guests would only have to go to one registry site to select.
We got engaged just over 30 years ago. I remember going to a couple’s wedding shower, and they only had two registries: One at a department type store, and the other a tool shop or Home Depot place. We thought that was a great idea and bought something from each place.
If I didn’t already have stuff to start my household, I’d probably go Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn or BB and Beyond. And I wouldn’t register for much pricey stuff. It’s annoying when couples do that.
The one issue I had in looking at Zola for a wedding shower gift was the fine print that indicated that if she returned the gift, she only got Zola credit, not plain old Crate and Barrel credit. The price was the same and there is one nearby so I just went and bought the gift. The other issue is that you can’t update Zola with a requested item you bought elsewhere, even though the items are from other stores.
I had been living in my apartment for 4 years when we were married so I didn’t really need much stuff. I duly registered at Macy’s. They were awful of keeping track of what people bought me so I ended up with something like 18 place settings instead of the smaller amount I had capped it at.
If I were to do it again now, I’m not sure. I think H would love all the local hardware stores. Maybe I’d choose a charity or a small handful of excellent charities. We really don’t need more stuff and really didn’t when we were married 30+ years ago either.
