What to Register for When You've Lived Separately

Practically gone are the days when you registered for line and china, monogrammed glassware and Tiffany crystal. Back when getting married also meant moving out of your parents house and into your new, 1100 sq ft palace.

Nowadays couples are more inclined want cash or charitable donations.

Nowadays marriage comes at a later time in our lives, most couples are closer to their 30s when they say 'i do' and have been living on their own with their own sets of stuffs.

It's exciting, the prospect of getting new, shiny matching everything, but before you go crazy with your scanner gun at Crate and Barrel, take a second and take inventory. Then separate the stuffs into the following groupings:

WHAT YOU HAVE THAT WORKS WELL

You might be thinking,

I should get another one, just in case the one I have breaks

Unless you are inviting 6,000 people to your wedding I think we can both agree that there will be other things that you are in want of more, than this thing it is that you already have and that works well. Start with what you don't have first.

WHAT YOU HAVE THAT NEEDS REPLACING

Does your blender fail to blend? Are your knives dull as (INSERT SOMETHING DULL HERE) and no matter how many trips to Lunds Byerly's to sharpen them up, they just aren't worth salvaging? Replace or upgrade those things that need it, because you need them.

WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE BUT WOULD OR COULD USE IF YOU DID

Oh man, slippery slope my friend. How do you know that you'll use it? Before adding it to the list answer me this: can you borrow it first, test it out and ensure that you really would use it?

WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE BUT JUST WANT

Again, perhaps let's start with more important items, like new towels that don't smell like wet dog... because you use them on your dog.

Keep in mind that a small registry forces people to either purchase what's on it or give you cash. If you leave the option for gift cards or a honeymoon fund you might find people contributing to that as well. Booyah. 

My husband and I have a go to gift, it's tried, true and tested. We purchase the frame off of their registry and add a Benjamin. Say cheese Franklin.

If you are serious about a honeymoon fund check out Zola, you can create a honeyfund for just that.

When it comes down to it you want to ask for gifts that are going to enhance your marriage, that are going to bring you closer together to be more comfortable, cleaner, healthier, or have more fun as a couple together.

Register for items that neither of you have but need, things that either of you have but they are broken or barely functional.

Then wait to see what gaps your lives living together reveal, perhaps you think you'll host a lot of parties but turns out you turn into non-hosters once your married. Less is best, but I'm just an aspiring minimalist, what do I know.

So… what's on your registry?

Wishing you prosperity, love & happiness,
Josey

Here are more articles about your wedding registry from Aisle Planner:

The Charitable Registry
Wedding Gifts for the Modern Couple (Even thought I’m a minimalist I still give this one a THUMBS UP)
How to Ask for Cash Instead of Gifts