HOW DO BRIDAL GIFT REGISTRIES WORK?

Here's an understatement: weddings are very expensive. It's no surprise that following a wedding, a young couple might not have that much money to put towards the really important things in marriage-like furniture, kitchenware, bedding and other appliances.

A bridal registry is a program devised by a department store that allows engaged couples to manage the buying of gifts for their wedding. What good would it do for a couple to receive a dozen toasters and nothing else? A bridal registry brings organization to the gift giving process.

How A Bridal Registry Works
How it works is that the engaged couple creates a list of items that they would like to receive from the department store. The bridal registry list is then given to the wedding guests. When a gift is purchased the item is removed from the wish list and the records are updated. This prevents the possibility of the same gift being bought several times by different guests.





The First Bridal Registry System
This concept was first devised in 1924 by the Marshall Fields department store, and has since been offered by many stores, including specialty stores like The Home Depot. Target was the first store to use an electronically based gift registry in the early 90s partnering with The Gift Certificate Center out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.





Pros And Cons Of Using Bridal Registries
Bridal registries are very popular, particularly in some well-known department stores, but they also have many detractors. Many people believe that this kind of arrangement is effective in providing for the married couple practical gifts, as well as convenient for guests who aren't sure what they should buy.

On the other hand, many people, particularly older guests or more traditional minded buyers, feel that a bridal registry is a tacky idea. They believe gifts should be given in kindness, not solicited. It can also be argued that bridal registries remove the element of surprise and encourage competition between guests.

Nevertheless, bridal registries are commonly used for their practicality, and still seen as a classier alternative than a wedding couple merely asking guests for money.