Registering?

[lightview]

I am trying to figure out if I should register for gifts. I am an older bride (I will be almost 45 when we get married next year). This is my first marriage and my FH's second marriage and we both have households with plenty of stuff. I wasn't planning to register but my FH's mom has asked us where we are registered. I am not sure what to do (if people want to give gifts).

If you recommending registering, could you give some recommendations of good stores to register with (preferably those that are national stores since we have relatives in the Northeast, Florida and the Mid-West).

Thanks in advance for your help! :)

[Atlanta_eBride]

I'm kind of in the same boat. We've decided to register for a few things, more over to pacify some relatives. We are placing a card in our invitations that says something like 'your presence is all the presents we need, please no gifts'. It won't stop them from getting stuff (even though I REALLY don't need anything) and I'm taking the stand that if I register then I'll get something close to what I might need and not another picture frame. Some fresh sheets and towels would be nice - that kind of thing.

It's truly not that I'm not grateful for someone giving me a wedding gift, but I've been there done that and I'm at a point in my life that I am trying to purge the things I currently have. ;)

As far as places, I *think* Crate & Barrel and Bed, Bath & Beyond are pretty much everywhere. Not sure where you live but I know that Macy's just took over a bunch of Federated Department Stores (Burdines in Florida) so you could go that route and cover a lot of area. I'm not sure about the Midwest though.

[jbgosh]

The only problem with not registering is that people aren't going to know what to get you and you're going to end up with tons of stuff you can't use or don't want. Or you're going to end up with like 5 blenders!! At least if you register, you'll know you'll be getting stuff you WANT!

And please don't take your fiance when you go register, especially if this is his second marriage and he's already been through that. He's going to be BORED to death!!

[bunny nose]

I was in your shoes 4 years ago. We are both in our 30's, my first marriage, his second. I moved in with him about 2 years before we married, 6 months before being engaged. I moved from my parents house, so basically had nothing. He had everything from his first marriage.

I did register for gifts. It was just nice to have our own. Our own silverware, dishes, glasses, pots and pans and so forth. While his first wife had very nice (and expensive) taste, I wanted my own, our own. I too grappled with the thought of registering, but in the end did it and am happy about it. The two of you will be living together, I think it would be nice to have new fresh stuff to use that shows, this is our place, our stuff. Not that's yours and this is mine. New linens like someone else said, new utensils, new lots of stuff. Some stuff you have just may be old and an updated version would be great.

You can of course use old stuff if you like- I actually kept two things she had here because they were really nice. Many things are in the basement waiting for a yard sale. ;) But just take a look around in both places and decide what you want to start over with. Its perfectly OK to register- no matter your age.

Good luck!!!!!
Karen