The wedding is a big day - especially for the bride. And a gift registry is the key to making life easier for her. The registry is in many ways the opportunity for the bride to list out items that would help her make her dream household a reality. The bride and groom should register at least a month before the wedding or before the bridal shower. The bridal shower is usually held two weeks before the wedding and is usually organized by the female relatives or close friends of the bride.

A bridal gift registry would usually be comprised of china, cookware, crystal and linen. Most department stores, like JC Penney and Macys, and stores like Home Depot and Pottery Barn, now extend their registry services online as well. The sites also provide online guides to the different kinds of china, cookware as well as silverware available in the market so that the bride can make informed choices regarding these items. Some sites even offer to list the honeymoon trip on the registry so that guests can contribute and gift the honeymoon to the newly-weds. More generous and social-minded couples prefer that their guests give contributions to their favorite charities as wedding gifts.

There are a number of advantages of an online registry over an in-store one. If the couple doesnt have access to one of these department stores in their hometown, they can save on time by compiling their registry online and the gifts will be delivered to their doorstep. In this way items not available locally can be obtained as well.

For guests who live far away and cant make a trip to the store and choose from the registry there, the online version is a blessing. This allows them to just choose the item that fits their budget, type in their address and wishes, make the online payment and the service does the rest.

After the couple has registered on the site or in-store, one can pass on this information verbally to the guests so that it is more convenient for them to choose a gift for the couple. It is also correct etiquette-wise, to let the guests know about the registry only if they inquire about it. Do not push the information on them as it can be considered rather vulgar and opportunistic.

It is important to remember that the act of giving is something that has to come from the heart of the giver and cannot be forced on them. Gifts and presents are of varied kinds and should not be judged by their value but by the sentiment that they come with.