Recession-Appropriate Registries
How to keep your gift list from looking out of control
In these uncertain times, is it necessary to register for $80 gravy stands, $235 crystal water pitchers or $35 organic bath towels?
When tackling their registry, it’s a question that may confound couples-to-be who may be grappling with an unfamiliar feeling – guilt. For weddings past, registries represented a win/win gift solution for couples-to-be and their guests, giving the betrothed an opportunity to pick what gifts they needed and wanted and taking the guesswork out of the equation for their friends and family.
Now, as the job market crumbles and housing prices tumble, leaving folks financially stretched, the question is how greedy should a couple be when selecting paraphernalia for the new household they build?
“We’re recommending that couples register for a range of items touching on every price point,” says Charlie Penn, managing editor for WeddingChannel.com. “And, they should manage their registry, updating it and adding a few things with lower price points.”
Penn says a new trend among guests is giving the couple a group gift. Maybe four or five guests will pool their resources and select a higher-priced gift, but end up saving money in the long run.
Another alternative for those couples feeling squeamish about a $200 place settings is setting up a charity registry.
“This is one of the nicest things couples can do, picking their favorite charity, maybe in honor of a close relative who died of cancer,” says Julie Pryor, owner of Pryor Events in West Los Angeles, Calif. “Couples won’t know how much money is spent and it’s great, especially for those couples that have everything they need.”
Retailers are definitely not shying away from promoting the gift-buying bonanza. Macy’s is offering couples a $100 gift card just for registering with the department store. Bloomingdale’s, which posts its online registry with the WeddingChannel.com, also rolls out the perks, including free enclosure cards, free gifts and bonuses when registering with “select vendors” and invites to exclusive events where couples can mingle “with the similarly minded set.”
If it’s any consolation to couples, friends and family are still spending sizable sums on presents. According to The Knot Wedding Network 2008 Gift Giver Survey, family members spend an average of $211 on gifts and friends shell out $116. And, the majority look to the registry with 69 percent of wedding gifts hailing from the nifty gift docket.
The key to keeping guests’ wallets flush is giving them options, Penn says.
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