CHRISTINA TAYLOR / scroll
Rachel Carlisle, a junior from Klamath Falls, Ore., and Jon Revo, a freshman from Lees Summit, Mo., register for wedding gifts at Wal-Mart in Rexburg.

Gift registries bring ease

Amber Meyers MEY04001@BYUI.EDU Special Sections Asst. Editor

A table covered in boxes wrapped in fancy paper can be an exciting sight for anyone. However, when it comes to moving all those boxes, some soon-to-be married couples may think twice.

Since some BYU-Idaho students have receptions in a different city than the one they will be living in, portable gifts are a must.

“We found that it was a lot easier to get gift cards and money because we moved across the country and couldn’t transport that much stuff,” said Katherine Miller, a junior from Lakewood, Wash. “It made it a lot easier to go get the stuff we really needed when we got here.”

Many companies with gift registries have tips on when and what to register for, along with policies on shipping and returns.

Two major tips from Target include not waiting until the last moment and registering for items in a wide range of gifts. They also advise updating the registry often.

“I can say we hated the five waffle makers we got from Target,” said Anna Jones, a junior from Rexburg.

Updating the registry and adding unique but special gifts along with practical ones can help couples not receive more than one of the same thing, according to Target.

“There were a couple gifts that we loved: a large framed and matted picture of Christ, a car first aid kit, and Parley [my husband] got a tool kit,” Jones said. “We liked the original but practical gifts and then the money because we were able to buy what we needed but didn’t get.”

While many couples may originally want the trendy, impractical things, it is important to think about if the design on the china and other trends are things that will be timeless, according to bedbathandbeyond.com.

Thinking about the things the couple will need within the first few years of marriage and for their lifestyle is better than only getting the extras that aren’t necessary, according to Target.

Experts also advise registering for two or three more times the gifts than guests because guests will look to the registry for holidays and showers, according to www.bedbathandbeyond.com.