5 Ways to Create a Smart Wedding Registry

Gift cards are the biggest rip-off. Do not register for gift cards. You either forget about them or you don't end up using them fully - so the store keeps that $$ you didn't use. And they have to be the least loving gift. They mean nothing to either the gift giver or recipient.

As someone who just went through a wedding and who DID use one of those cash/honeymoon sites, I would have to say I disagree with the sentiment that asking for cash is so horrible. First of all, it's not really asking for cash, its asking for something that will be of use to you (if the person so desires to get you a gift at all) and if you communicate it right, can make the gift giver really feel like they're getting you something important.

For instance for my wedding I registered at www.depositagift.com and 'registered' for a year of newlywed activities, which included both honeymoon stuff - like airfare, hotel, dinners etc and things that we wanted to do in our first year of marriage - like dancing lessons, road trip to visit family and champagne to celebrate our year anniversary. Everyone thought it was the easiest registry to use - and a lot of people went the extra mile and said that while they were skeptical of this 'alternative' registry, at the end of the day really liked the experience. As a couple in our early 30s with a lot of stuff, and planning on moving in the next year - people understood that we didn't need anymore dishes.

Julia of NY 2:48PM November 15, 2010