You may find that you are extremely uncomfortable with the idea of a wedding registry because you are essentially asking people to give you things. What you must remember is that wedding gifts are a tradition, and people will truly enjoy presenting you with a gift that will help you and your spouse begin a new life together. If you skip the wedding registry, you will leave your family and friends floating in the wind, with no ideas at all for what to get. It really is easier to create a registry; if nothing else, it presents a guide for those that are determined to give you presents.

When you’re planning the gift registry, you should remember where your guests live before adding a store to your list. If you really love a local shop, it’s a good idea to see if their wares are available online. Otherwise, your out of town family and guests will have no way to choose gifts from that particular store. If you have selected several national stores, then you might add your favorite into the mix for those that do live locally, but don’t offer it as the only choice.

There is no right or wrong number of stores with which to register. In fact, a larger number of stores will give your guests more to choose from. By selecting a few national, or even international, chains like Macy’s, Crate and Barrel, or Williams-Sonoma, your loved ones will have a much wider selection of gifts from which to choose. Your friends will want to present you with a gift that shows their thoughtfulness, too, and you can make that possible by widening the search grid for them.

When you are selecting the items for each registry, keep in mind that everyone has a different budget. You may seriously desire those gourmet kitchen items, but you should tag a few hand towels and utensils, as well. By adding the smaller items to your registry, like pillows or picture frames, you will open up more possibilities for those that cannot afford to spend hundreds.

Keep in mind that, though you are expected to register for gifts, you are not really expected to talk about it. Your best bet for letting people know about your gift registry is by word of mouth- never on your wedding invitations. If you have a wedding website, then announcing your registry there is perfectly acceptable. Announcing your registry information on bridal shower invitations is also just fine.

Just remember, even as you are setting up your gift registries, that not everyone will shop from your chosen stores. Some guests will prefer to present you with cash or gift cards, while others may want to seek out gifts with a more personal touch. Older family members may have different ideas about what a traditional wedding gift should be, and your registered choices might not fit their selections. Your thank you note should reflect the very same love and care that your guest used when choosing your gift, even if the gift is not something that you registered.