Exactly How (And Where) to Register for Your Bridal Shower
You both said yes to forever, celebrated with an engagement party, and now you're ready to take the next step on your planning journey: creating a bridal shower registry. Whether you haven't quite set a date for the wedding shower yet or it's just days away, it's never too early (or too late!) to set up your registry. That said, if you can do it early, you should. That way, you can include the details in your bridal shower invitation wording and save yourselves the headache of explaining your wedding wish list to every guest.
Creating a wedding shower registry is simple, especially when you have our tips and tricks to guide you. Keep reading for etiquette tips about how to register for your wedding shower and—most importantly—the best place to create your bridal shower registry.
In this article:
Bridal Shower Registry Etiquette
Need a little help getting your head around all this registry stuff? Don't sweat it. These etiquette FAQs come up time and again. Keep reading to find out what a bridal shower registry actually is, why it's a great idea to create one, and the best time to do it.
Do you have to register for a bridal shower?
Technically, you don't have to register for your wedding shower, but we're pretty big fans of creating a bridal shower registry in the interest of both you and your guests. You and your fiancé will get the gifts you really need and want (think: that slick new espresso machine you've been eyeing instead of another set of bed linens). Your guests, on the other hand, get to feel great about picking out a wedding shower gift they know you're both going to love. It's a win-win.
Is a bridal shower registry different from a wedding registry?
If you find yourself wondering, "Do you have a separate registry for the wedding shower?" we're not surprised. It's one of the biggest etiquette questions of all. Thankfully, understanding the difference between a bridal shower registry vs. a wedding registry is simple. For most couples, they're one and the same. It's common to create a single registry to be used for both the shower and the wedding (and any other prewedding events your guests might bring a gift to).
Not only is it common to have a single registry across the board, it also just makes sense. Having separate wish lists can cause confusion for guests, and since sharing registry information on your wedding invitations is an etiquette faux pas, some of your loved ones will rely on the details you provide on your shower invites to buy a gift for the wedding too. Just make sure you're keeping tabs on how many items are left on your registry after the shower, as you may need to add some additional options for guests ahead of the nuptials.
Of course, there's no hard-and-fast rule about using the same registry for your bridal shower and wedding. Some couples do choose to keep them separate, especially if the shower has a specific gifting theme like lingerie or stock the bar. Ultimately, it's about whatever is easiest for you and your guests.
When should you register for your bridal shower?
Knowing that most couples use the same registry (or registries, if they're creating wish lists at multiple stores) throughout their engagement and wedding, figuring out the right timing is pretty straightforward. So, when should you create your registry? Ideally, it's a good idea to set up your wish list soon after getting engaged. Guests may want to use it for prewedding events other than your shower (like an engagement party), or they might just want to start planning ahead.
Where to Register for Your Bridal Shower
You've decided to create a wish list, but where do couples register for their wedding showers anyway? We might be a tad biased, but we just happen to have one of the best wedding and bridal shower registries on the web. The Knot has helped over 25 million couples plan their nuptials, so it's no surprise that our site is the most trusted and highest rated wedding planning platform there is.
Creating your online wedding shower registry on The Knot comes with a lot of perks. You can add gifts right from our expert-curated store, featuring favorite brands like KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Le Creuset, Dyson and more. And because we know browsing through lots of ideas can be overwhelming, we've also created specific collections tailored to different styles and themes, like "Gotta Have Gadgets," "Ready, Set, Jet" and the winners of our Registry Awards.
But that's not all: You can also add experiences, gift cards, cash funds and tickets for sporting events directly to your wedding shower registry—how cool is that? And if there's something that's not in our store that you really, really want, you can have that too. By using our handy browser button, it's possible to add items from any website to your all-in-one wish list on The Knot. Our registry also syncs with other retailers, so wish lists at Amazon, Bloomingdale's, Traveler's Joy and more will automatically show up in one convenient place—it's easy for you and your guests.
Another reason The Knot is a good place to register for your wedding shower? We'll give you personalized suggestions tailored to you and your budget to help you complete your wish list. Our bridal shower registry website also allows you to mark the gifts you're most excited about receiving as a "Top Choice." That means guests can see your most-wanted items and pick out a gift accordingly. Finally, enable gift tracking so you're not left scratching your head about who gave what as you're writing wedding shower thank-you notes.