Registering for Wedding Gifts

I was listening to the radio the other day and heard a joke on there regarding wedding gifts and the gift registry.  Although the joke was quite funny, I realized that there was some truth to it and many brides today, still have questions regarding their gift registry.   I'm often asked, "Is it ok that I'd rather ask for money?", "How can I go about asking for monetary gifts?", or "Is it ok to include my registry information with my invitation?"  So, I've decided to put together this little post to help answer some of those questions.

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• A wedding invitation is a silent request for a gift.  Whether the guest can attend your wedding or not, they are expected to send a gift.  There is no reason to include another request for a gift, on the RSVP card, on a separate card, or anything of the sort.
• If a cash gift is what you'd like, the message should be sent by word of mouth through your bridal party.  It should not be sent via your invitation!  Period.  End of story.  I know people like the words "monetary gifts only" or "no gifts please" but both of these are inappropriate.
• When it comes to cash, it's still a good idea to have another online registry for your guests to choose from, as they may not want to give cash or feel comfortable giving cash.  Also, keep in mind that the ultimately, the decision comes from the gifter.
• When registering online or in stores, give your guests a variety of gifts to choose from in a variety of price ranges.  If registering for gifts, a good rule of thumb is to keep your gift between $30-$50 per person, for a bridal shower, and $75-$150 per couple for wedding gifts.  
• It's also suggested that you have a few items on your gift registry that are less than $25 and a few big ticket items, in the event a few guests want to put their money together to get something big.
• Your gift registry isn't the time to get greedy and happy with the shopping gun.  You don't want to overwhelm your guests with too many options by registering and ten different stores.  Try to limit your registries to a maximum of three stores so that your selections aren't duplicated and your guests have a clear idea of what you'd like.
• Lastly, don't forget to send a thank you note!