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Ever since Chicago’s historic Marshall Field’s department store invented the wedding registry back in 1924, the rules and trends dictating how couples use this helpful gift-finding tool have fluctuated greatly. The latest trend on the Wedding Registry front is registering for cash gifts. The appropriateness of giving a cash gift has long remained in the wedding etiquette gray area of ‘is it’ or ‘isn’t it’ until recent years. In these tough economic times, many couples have a strong preference for cash, and the challenge is simply finding a way to express this politely.

Thanks to the all-encompassing power of the Internet, couples have finally been given a tasteful way in which to register for cash. MyRegistry.com, the leader in online gift registry technology, provides couples with an etiquette-friendly way to request cash gifts right on their online registry. When activating a Cash Gift Fund, registrants can label the fund anything they wish, whether it be a Home Renovations Fund, Honeymoon Fund, Wedding Fund, or even several different funds designated for various purposes. The Cash Gift Fund appears on the couple’s registry alongside more traditional items such as an espresso machine or flatware, so it becomes the guest’s choice whether to give a cash gift, a more traditional gift from the registry, or even a gift not listed on the registry at all.

Couples can share their online gift registry with wedding or shower guests by utilizing a number of etiquette approved methods. Registry Announcement Cards, a long-time favorite of department stores, can be included with the engagement party or bridal shower invitations. Online gift registry sites such as MyRegistry.com often offer printable versions of these cards available for download as well. Couples who would rather not include registry information with invitations can notify guests by email, or with the free customizable eCards available to MyRegistry.com members. A great way to share registry information politely is to have the host of the bridal shower be the one to spread the news. And thanks to advancements in gift registry technology, like MyRegistry.com’s facebook app, sharing registry information in an Internet-centric world is easier than ever.

The cash gift trend has helped newlyweds afford the sometimes costly expense of getting hitched these days, while providing wedding guests with an easy alternative to finding gifts from the registry that fall within their budgets. While some wedding registry trends may come and go (picking out a china pattern is no longer the registry must it once was), it’s unlikely that there will ever come a time when newlyweds couldn’t use a little cold, hard cash!

• silver
• glassware
• flatware
• small appliances
• china and other dishes
• cutlery
• barware
• linens

While these items are traditional wedding gifts, many of today’s couples don’t need them to begin their married life.

Outside-the-Box Wedding Registries

Thanks to the advance of technology, gifts from around the world are now available via the Internet, creating an effective way for engaged couples to expand their registry reach.

No longer must a couple visit a bricks and mortar store to register for wedding gifts. Just opening an online search engine and supplying keywords that reflect a heart’s desire will bring a cornucopia of choices.

If basic household items are not needed or wanted, a couple could register for:

• a health club or spa membership
• a remodel from a home improvement store
• DVDs, CDs or books
• a honeymoon or other destination trip
• tuition
• flying lessons
• scuba classes
• concert tickets
• a massage
• an online auction account
• charity donations
• eco-friendly upgrades
• health products
• a new home down payment
• restaurant gift cards
• computer or Wii applications
• coins for a coin collection
• stocks and bonds
• art

Whatever a couple loves about life can be reflected in their wedding registry listings. From the inexpensive to the pricey, gifts can be customized to the delight of the bride and groom. While there is nothing wrong with registering a china or silver pattern selection at a traditional registry, there is also nothing wrong with not doing so. Other options are available. Instead of a guest spending $20 on a toaster, that same $20 can be applied toward big-ticket items like the honeymoon trip or a stock purchase, or to smaller cherished items the bride and groom long for, like a special book or tickets to a once-in-a-lifetime event.

How to Register for Unique Choices

In addition to the bridal registries offered by most retailers, there are online registry websites where a couple can encompass gifts from virtually anywhere in the world. Items can be added even if the company that offers the desired product or service doesn’t have its own bridal registry.

Utilizing a wedding registry that spans the globe offers unique opportunities such as:

• an unlimited choice of gift selections
• an easy ability for guests to contribute to what a couple truly wants
• gift tracking options for the wedding couple
• notification services
• personalized online communications

The key to receiving gifts that make the bride and groom’s hearts sing is to make the wish list long and varied. Choosing many options, in many price ranges, works best.

Wedding Gifts that Please Everyone

Choosing a wedding gift can be stressful for guests, and no one likes to learn that his or her gift has been returned. A bridal registry not only ensures that the wedding couple will receive gifts they truly want, it is a comfortable guide for those doing the shopping.

Being specific is beneficial. Guests may never know of the bride and groom’s passion for saving the rainforest, reading classic mystery novels, metal detecting, or any other interest, if they aren’t told. A universal wedding registry does the telling in a way that makes life easier and more pleasant for all.

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