Post # 1

Member
463 posts
Helper bee
Hi Hive,
I’m very curious to find out, do you actually buy gifts off of the brides/grooms registry?
I am about one week from my wedding and up until now, i have noticed a major trend in my fiancee’s side, that no one buys off the registry. They all buy items for us that they pick on their own. The only reason I made a registry was FOR his family, since they only give gifts, while my family only gives monetary gifts.
I guess I am just wondering if i am alone. its a little frustrating taking the time to make a registry only to then have people buy you multiple toasters, kettles, etc.
Post # 3

Member
13561 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Oh gosh. That is frustrating. I ALWAYS buy off the registry. If I am very close with someone, I may buy off the registry and buy something I know they will like, but I always stick with the registry.
Post # 4

Member
646 posts
Busy bee
I buy from the registry for the shower, and give money at the wedding.
Post # 5

Member
61 posts
Worker bee
I think the point of the registry is so your getting the things that you want and that match your households theme. I would only pick something personal if I had already bought something from the registry. This was a kind of annoying thing that happened to me also.
Post # 6

Member
837 posts
Busy bee
I think it’s a regional and cultural thing. I buy off the registry because I don’t want to give someone something they don’t want. Unless they are obnoxious about shoving where they are registered in my face; then I get them a crappy useless gift 😉 lol
Post # 7

Member
1426 posts
Bumble bee
If I give a gift that isn’t money it’s from the registry. I probably give money/registry gifts about 50/50, depending on the couple. I don’t get the anti-registry thing at all. Maybe it’s generational? But seriously, if someone told you what they would like, why would you assume you know better?
Post # 8

Member
639 posts
Busy bee
i usually give from the registry
Post # 9

Member
1408 posts
Bumble bee
Mostly, I just give money because i feel that then the couple can choose to get whatever they want with it and everyone could use with some more money. 🙂 Sometimes, when I’m especially broke, i’ll buy off the registry if they have a few less expensive things. That way they are getting what they want instead of $20 bucks from me. Generally, I try to give money gifts of $50 or more, so when I’m broke i feel bad and want to make sure that whatever I get them they want and/or need.
Post # 10

Member
3997 posts
Honey bee
I’d be a little frustrated too. We put a lot of thought into our registries! I only only ONLY buy gifts off of registries. And I strike early to ensure I’ll be able to do so. Before all the good stuff is gone. I always wonder why people feel they’re better at determining what WE need.
Funny story- I was at a friends shower, we were all gathered around as she opened gifts. She got to mine and she said, “THANK YOU Jen, for actually getting me gifts off of my registry”. Everyone looked at me, I was actually kinda embarrassed! Apparently most others hadn’t followed the rules!
Post # 11

Member
2015 posts
Buzzing bee
I love buying gifts from registries, and for the shower and wedding, that’s what I do. I do it because I try to pick something the couple really wants, but wouldn’t normall buy themselves, like china or the fancy towels. I really loved getting our china as shower and wedding gifts, and when our wedding was over, we only needed to buy a few pieces to complete our collection, and we had no problem using the rest of our money to buy stuff we WOULD buy ourselves, like serving dishes and new drinking glasses.
I really hate giving cash because it just seems so impersonal. I mean, I totally did NOT mind receiving it at our wedding, but yeah, not a fan of giving it.
Post # 12

Member
372 posts
Helper bee
I either buy of the registry or give money – with a few exceptions for some very close friends. (E.g., I bought my Maid/Matron of Honor a lamp from a local potter that I knew she’d been wanting and she already had a bunch of his pottery so I knew it would match their decor – but that is a RARE exception).
Post # 13

Member
647 posts
Busy bee
It depends on how well I know the couple. If not that well, I buy off the registry. If I know them well, AND have an idea for something else I am sure they will really like, I don’t use the registry. I’ve also not used the registry before because there was nothing on it I could afford!
Post # 14

Member
1927 posts
Buzzing bee
I always give off the registry for the shower and give cash at the wedding. I think that’s a regional thing though. I’m from the northeast and my registry was basically completely wiped out after my shower. We ended up adding some things for the few people who did want to give phycial gifts at the wedding. I never buy gifts not on the registry.. but my Mom is a big fan of that.
Post # 15

Member
114 posts
Blushing bee
For the shower, I go off the registry and usually give money for the wedding.