DW home improvement registry?

[kimberyly]

I have been wondering how to handle the whole registry situation for a DW. Or how to handle the registry at all. I'm having an at home reception 2 months after the wedding, and I was thinking about doing something for that. The problem is that I don't want a traditional registry. My FI and I have been living together for 2 years and combined 2 houses when we moved in together, so there isn't really anything we need. It would be nice to have money for home improvements, but not necessarily Home Depot cards or anything. I want to replace my back door, the old paneling on the bottom floor of the house, and replace the big window in the living room. How do I go about that? Is it tacky to just ask for $$?

[deannamarie85]

I think a lot of people will have different opinions on this, but I don't ever think asking for money is tasteful. The guests that want to give you money will whether you register or not. For those who prefer to give gifts, surely you can think of a few things that would be nice. And if you register for somewhere like Target then you can always return what you don't need and use it towards households supplies. Just my thought

[KCB2011]

I have to agree - I definitely think it is better to steer clear of asking for money.  Since wedding gifts are a gesture not a requirement, I think that you kind of just have to be grateful that people are getting you anything.  Nowadays, most people give gift receipts with their gifts anyways, so you can return the item if you get something you don't necessarily need.  And even if you do have a "cash registry" of some sort, you will still end up with some gifts because there are people that like to give gifts not money.

 

I'm a little biased on this though because I'm not a big fan of registries of any kind (gift, cash, honeymoon etc.) as I feel like it gives the impression that gifts are expected.  Our parents have asked us for some ideas as people have been asking them what we may need/want so I gave some suggestions but really I want to get whatever people want to give me, whether that is a gift, cash or nothing at all.  This is just my opinion though - you should do whatever you feel comfortable with!

[kimberyly]

That's exactly what I was afraid of! I wasn't sure if we should expect anything at all since it's a DW. I just want to have a big party and get everyone together I did find a website that you can set up as any type of registry you want: http://www.ourwishingwell.com/

I could make it a home improvement registry and list items we want and people just donate money towards items if they want on the site. Check it out and let me know people! I don't want to look like a jerk.

[DramaticAnnie]

I would say nobody knows your guests better then you do... when you get invited to a wedding, is a registry expected? I know where I'm from people do like to give and often do give money, but I also know people who have never heard of a registry and wouldn't know how to go about it. Are your guets the type that would expect to see a registry? If not I would say just hope for the best I guess, I think the idea that some of my guests/friends/family would have is "if you have enough money to have a DW and youre expecting everyone to pay for their trip to attend your DW... why would you ask for money?" something like that :/

[JayKay]

That's a great site!
 

Originally Posted by kimberyly 

That's exactly what I was afraid of! I wasn't sure if we should expect anything at all since it's a DW. I just want to have a big party and get everyone together I did find a website that you can set up as any type of registry you want: http://www.ourwishingwell.com/

I could make it a home improvement registry and list items we want and people just donate money towards items if they want on the site. Check it out and let me know people! I don't want to look like a jerk.

 

[kimberyly]

I've already had some of my friends ask what I'm planning on doing for a registry! Also, I'm probably only going to have 20 people at the wedding and the AHR is going to have probably 150. I certainly hope that the people that are going to the wedding don't put any more money out!

 

Originally Posted by DramaticAnnie 

I would say nobody knows your guests better then you do... when you get invited to a wedding, is a registry expected? I know where I'm from people do like to give and often do give money, but I also know people who have never heard of a registry and wouldn't know how to go about it. Are your guets the type that would expect to see a registry? If not I would say just hope for the best I guess, I think the idea that some of my guests/friends/family would have is "if you have enough money to have a DW and youre expecting everyone to pay for their trip to attend your DW... why would you ask for money?" something like that :/

 

 

[kimberyly]

Thanks JayKay! I think I phrased this wrong by saying cash registry which sounds horrible, but that site might work.
 

Originally Posted by JayKay 

That's a great site!
 

 

 

[muzikgrrl]

Thank you so much for the link to ourwishingwell.com.  I had never heard of this site.  It totally solves my registry problems!  We don't really need much and for the people that are going to our wedding I don't really expect them to get us anything but we have had a few people ask if we have a registry.  It seems that people whether they are going to the wedding or not would like to give us something.  However that being said, everyone I know that's getting married has a registry, even if they've been living together and own their own house.  So for us, our guests are expecting it.  I don't think you'll look like a jerk if you set one up.

[kimberyly]

That's what I was thinking! I don't need anything specific, so it seems the way to go. I was so surprised when people started asking me about the registry and my wedding is still so far away! Thanks for the response muzikgrrl.