Bridal registry options

THE bridal registry services available in Trinidad and Tobago are free. They can be found in most large department/furniture stores, home decor stores, garden supply stores and even some banks.  Couples do not have to be limited to one registry or even to the traditional types of stores. As long as a retailer offers the registry service, a couple’s choice is virtually unlimited. 

Registries also gift wrap and tag off  gifts for couples, free of charge. Some registries even provide couples with a “wedding gift.”  This may be in the form of a credit note valued at a certain percentage of the total dollar amount purchased by guests, or a discount or free item. What should you do before deciding on a registry? Start thinking of the types of items you would like in your new home. You can go through magazines or watch cable, to get a few ideas. You can also clip pictures out of magazines and start a “style  file” for the types of items that you both like.

Remember — when choosing your registry items, let your personality show! Keep in mind the colour scheme you would like to have for your home.  If you cannot decide on this, don’t worry, just select neutral colours (white, cream, grey, black) for your basic appliances, linens and towels. Remember your space limitations in your new home, (eg perhaps a 19 cubic foot refrigerator may fit better into your kitchen than a 23 cubic foot). Always take measurements in your home before you purchase bulky items. Remember that your lifestyle will determine the types of items you select (eg if you both prefer outdoor, casual meals, you may want to register for a barbecue grill and casual dinner ware). Try to group items you will need, into categories such as barware, bakeware, everyday use etc.

Don’t be afraid of selecting many items. It is better to do this and give guests a wide range of choices in different price ranges. Also, do not be ashamed to select a few large/expensive items, since most registries will allow you to “break up” the cost of the item into  smaller increments, for guests to contribute towards (eg a $1,200 microwave can be broken up into six increments of $200). Visit a few stores that fit in with your draft registry list in order to gauge the level of customer service and the range of items. When you have selected your registry store(s), call beforehand to find out if you need an appointment to start selecting your items.