Modern wedding registries go beyond mere towels and
toasters. Today's brides and grooms can use registries to help fund
their honeymoons, improve their homes and even purchase his-and-her
sporting gear.
Wedding registries can include just about anything,
from jewelry to wine to home-office supplies. If you love
to go camping, register for camping gear, says Joyce Scardina Becker, certified
wedding consultant, president of Events
of Distinction and author of "Countdown
to Your Perfect Wedding." "The most unique registries come from
your personality." With brides and grooms marrying later
in life -- the average bride is 27 and her groom, 29, according to
a 2006 survey conducted for The Conde Nast Bridal Group -- couples
may already own all the home essentials. Luckily, there are many useful registry
options to guide friends and family who wish to give gifts in honor of the marriage.
To help jump-start your registry wish list, we compiled the
registry trends and emerging registry categories noted by wedding industry professionals.
Some of the gift picks extend far beyond the conventional selections.
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Wedding registry ideas and trends | |
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| • | Backyard
entertainment -- The "backyard oasis" is a new category that's
growing in popularity, says Sharon Naylor, author of "The
Ultimate Wedding Registry Workbook" and 26 other wedding-planning books.
Items in this category include new grills, hammocks, patio sets and chimeneas.
| Find outdoor entertaining supplies at general
retailers such as Wal-Mart
and home improvement stores such as The
Home Depot.
| • | Bathroom
spas -- Though the bathroom is a traditional category in a traditional
registry, couples are making the bathroom more of a spa experience, says Naylor,
and are equipping it with luxury pieces, such as heated towel racks and fountain
shower heads. | If you want to upgrade your bathroom,
consider registering with home-decor retailers such as Bed
Bath & Beyond and Linens
'N Things.
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Household-blending
decor and organizers -- "Couples
are registering for organizers and home decor
that blends the styles of different collections
and households," says Naylor. This could
be a new leather ottoman that ties in the
couch and loveseat or it could even be telescopes.
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