Combing through a bride and groom’s wedding registry is like peeking into their bedroom: It feels a little voyeuristic, but the information you gather can tell you a lot about them as a couple.
That said, some of the choices that future brides and grooms choose run the gamut from a wee bit offbeat to record-screech-worthy. Nancy Lee, president of universal gift-registry site MyRegistry.com, shared some of the craziest items she’s seen brides-to-be choose — and then we asked real women to spill about the crazy stuff they’ve seen on their friends’ (or their own!) registries.
One of the biggest gifts Lee has seen a couple register for? A private island. (Yes, really.) But even couples who aren’t trying to pull a Johnny Depp have tastes that verge on eccentric. Normal-seeming couple Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo registered for a lovely but ostentatious $200 silver-plated wine funnel. Here are the zaniest gifts Lee has seen on regular brides’ registries:
- Garden Charging Station
- IRobot Scooba Vacuum
- ThinkGeek Pop Art Toaster
- Star Trek Electronic Door Chime
- Unzipped Glass Candy Dish
- Kegorator: Beer Keg Cooler
- Pop-Up Hot Dog Toaster
- Come In, Go Away Doormat
- LED Faucet Lights
- Kohler Toilet
So what’s a quirky bride to do? Don’t worry if you want to put something unconventional on your registry, even if it’s expensive, Lee says. Or you can “register” for cold, hard cash and buy what you covet yourself.
“Some big-ticket items are fine, as long as they are not the only things on your registry,” Lee says. “MyRegistry.com offers members a customized Cash Gift Fund feature where guests can contribute any amount using a credit card towards those higher priced items. Couples use it not only to get products, but for things like a down payment on a new home, a renovation fund, a honeymoon fund and more. ”
And, hey, it’s your wedding, so don’t hold back on the number of items you pick. Giving guests a wide variety of options is the key to registry etiquette.
“Register for everything you want and need!” says Lee. “Be sure to include items in every price point. You never know what a guest will feel is the appropriate amount to spend.”
Fingers crossed for that $5,000 espresso machine!
Real women spill: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen on a wedding registry?
Cheetos! My friend was hungry while registering.
– Amy, Omro, Wisconsin
We currently have friends who are getting married and have registered for ridiculous items, among them a $500 set of pots and pans in addition to individual pans that are at least $150 each. Other items? About 10 knives valued at $100-plus apiece. Neither of them cooks!
– Sarah, Chicago
My sister registered for a canoe.
– Claire, Los Angeles
We thought a Bosu Ball was a fantastic idea for our registry, but no one else agreed with us…
– Stephanie, Kansas City, Missouri
We are odd ducks. We already had everything twice when we got together, so we asked for practical stuff like copy paper and laundry detergent. Things we knew we could use.
– Cathleen, Republic, Missouri
My husband registered for a huge flat-screen television as he wandered the aisles without me. I made sure to remove it in case people thought we were super-greedy.
– Nicki, Springfield, Missouri
We’re having a ‘no gifts’ wedding because we really don’t need anything, because we are both in our 30s and merging two fully stocked households, and we both make a pretty good living. I think the older people are upset because it’s tradition, because they enjoy picking out a gift for a wedding, they know it costs a lot to throw a party like a wedding, and it’s their way of giving back. In times of great sadness and times of great happiness, Southerners want to do something extra — something beyond just showing up.”
– Lisa, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
One of my acquaintances registered for a $190 gravy boat and $120 gravy boat stand. How often will they be eating gravy?!
– Elizabeth, New York City
More on weddings
Tips for simplifying the wedding registry process
Planning a beautiful wedding on a shoestring budget
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