From picking an event venue to organizing catering, wedding planning involves so many steps that it’s easy to lose track of every detail—such as the creation of a gift registry. Since this official wishlist will play a role in helping you and your partner start your new life together, you should never rush through the process. Otherwise, you may end up with gifts you neither need nor want. To help you avoid mistakes, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do when creating a wedding registry.

Do:

Vary your selection.

To ensure a good mix of gifts, add a wide range of items to the registry that will serve both spouses—such as cooking appliances and home goods. You might also include items that reflect your interests as a couple. To accommodate the budgets of your guests, make sure to also select items that hit various price points.

Consider group contributions.

Asking for a high-priced item or experience—such as a honeymoon—can be off-putting to guests. To make such a request more palatable, ask for group contributions to fund the purchase. Many registry sites will fulfill the order once the total requested amount is met.

Write thank-you notes.

While you’ll be thanking guests at the event, you should still follow up with handwritten thank-you notes for received gifts. Personalize each note to meaningfully express your appreciation for the gift.

Don’t:

Register at one location.

Not all people like to shop the same. Some people prefer to order online while others would rather wrap up a gift and bring it to the wedding venue. To make the shopping experience easier on your guests, add items from at least two or three different retailers.

Select too much.

As you add items to the registry, make sure not to select too many items. An overly lengthy list can be overwhelming for guests and may cause you to end up with mismatched items.

Make it public right away.

After you’ve finished shopping, wait a few days to make the registry public. This extra time will allow you to review your selections and make adjustments as necessary. When you’re ready to direct guests to your registry, include the details on a general information card or wedding planning website.

When you want to simplify your wedding planning, consider hosting your special day at the Makoy Center in Hilliard, OH. Serving the Franklin County community for three decades, this spacious event venue offers all the resources you need to host parties of up to 400 guests, arrange catering, and style the celebration as you please. They also have planning professionals on staff to help make sure every detail of your event is properly prepared. To learn more about these resources, visit this local wedding venue online or call a friendly team member at (614) 777-1211.