|
Gear up for the outdoors by shopping sporting good retailers such
as Rei.com.
| • | Wine
-- More popular with older couples, some people register for a wine collection
and even the wine cellar, says Naylor. | Don't
blush about registering with wine retailers such as Wineenthusiast.com. Getting
the registry information to guests
Once you have a registry wish list
together, consider spreading the news to your guests. It's never too early to
let guests know where you're registered, say the experts, since there may be guests
who are so excited about your engagement they're itching to get you a gift. Please
note, however, that there is one decidedly tacky way to spread the word. Most
retailers will print business-sized cards with your registry information on them
that you can slip in with the wedding invitations. Don't indulge this temptation,
however, say the experts -- it's seen as a plea for gifts. "Never, never,
never put it in an invitation," says Becker. "No one is obligated to
get you a wedding gift." Instead, Ingram suggests directing
guests to a personal wedding Web site. Since the Web site usually contains travel
information and directions to the wedding and reception, it's expected, she says,
to find registry information there. Not only is it not offensive, it's helpful
to put your registry information on the site. If you do it
tastefully, that is. Becker says registry information should not go on the home
page or be displayed in neon or large print. She also frowns on linking your registry
to phrases such as "Buy us a gift here." It's important not to pressure
your guests into gift buying. Some traditional wedding registry
sites will let you create your own wedding site, but these will be geared more
toward the registry, says Naylor. Free wedding sites might restrict your registry
options, so read the rules before you sign up. Wedding sites that charge you,
such as Wedstudio.com,
may give you more of a free reign. $60 will buy you a wedding Web site for nine
months on Wedstudio.com. You can direct guests to your Web
site on your save-the-date cards. Simply include a URL and mention a phrase such
as "To learn more about how we met, go to our Web site at ..." Don't
mention that you're directing them to your registry information. Not
sending save-the-date cards? You can include those registry cards retailers give
you with the shower invitations or include the URL with the invitation, says Ingram.
Word-of-mouth, of course, still trumps other information-delivery
methods. Ready to register? See "10
tips for creating a wedding registry" for more information. | 
