A wedding registry seems like one of the easiest tasks in preparation for a wedding. You go to a store, pick the items you think you need (or want) and have the store create a list with your name on it. It may, however, not be as simple as you think.
There are a few common mistakes that couples make when it comes to the registry. These slip-ups could have your guests criticising and will have you cringing! Ensure that you steer clear of any awkward situations by avoiding these common registry mistakes.
– Waiting too long to register
Once you get engaged, putting together a wedding registry should be on the top of your list of things to do! Ensure that you have this done within a month of your engagement. You’ll be receiving engagement gifts soon, and the registry will help people to get you a gift for the engagement too. Don’t worry about looking greedy, the registry is simply to help your guests, not to demand things from them.
– Including the registry on the wedding invitation
This could make it seem as though you’re demanding a gift. After all, it isn’t compulsory for guests to give gifts.
When you put the registry on the invitation it feels like you’re asking for a gift in exchange for entrance into the wedding. Many people will find it rude that you’ve added it.
Instead, you could direct people to the registry via your wedding website or the save the date.
– Only registering in one place
While registering at only one store is probably the easiest option for you, it probably will be inconvenient for your guests. Some guests will want to buy gifts at real stores instead of online and some may be too far away from the one physical store you’ve chosen.
Be sure to have one or two online stores and one or two physical stores with your registry. Limit the amount of stores to three or four. Too many stores could also be a bad idea, as this may make you look greedy or self-indulgent.
– Asking directly for cash
Here, it’s more about tact than anything else. These days it’s okay to ask for money if you do it in the right way. You shouldn’t directly say that you want money. However, you can indicate that you will be happy to receive contributions to a down payment on your new home or to your dream honeymoon.
The trick is to choose your words wisely and ensure that you’re showing people that their money will go to good use.
– Not varying the prices of gifts
Putting only expensive, dream items on your list may be a bit presumptuous. Remember that some people may not be within the means to buy you an expensive gift, and some simply may not want to. A colleague, for example, wouldn’t want to splurge on a wedding gift for you.
Similarly, don’t assume that nobody will buy you one of those dream items on your list. Add a few! Maybe a few people will come together and get one big gift, or maybe your siblings are so happy for you that they decide to go all out.
Add a good variety of gifts to the registry, with prices from very low to quite high.
– Not writing thank you notes
While this is not registry related, it is gift related and failing to send out thank you notes is a big no-no!
Keep track of who gives you what, to make the thank you note process easier. After the wedding, you have no more than three months to get your thank you notes sent out. Don’t put it off!
Also read: Wedding gifts for every budget
Feature image: Pexels
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Your first dance as a married couple is a memorable and meaningful moment, and the song you choose for it is crucial. Whether its slowed-down or upbeat, your first dance song speaks highly of your relationship.
If you’re struggling to pinpoint a song to get down to, why not take inspiration from Hollywood’s finest? These are the songs your favourite celebrities chose for their first dance.
– Jay-Z and Beyonce – “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé
– Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West – a mashup of “At Last” by Etta James and Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine” and “Try a Little Tenderness”.
– President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama – “You and I” by Stevie Wonder
– David Beckham and Victoria Beckham – “It Had To Be You” by The Starlight Orchestra
– Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi – “Ribbon in the Sky” by Stevie Wonder
– George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin – “Why Shouldn’t ?” by Cole Porter
– Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan – “Last Night On Earth” by Green Day
– Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka – “A Moment Like This” by Kelly Clarkson
– Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban – “At Last” by Etta James
– Prince William and Kate Middleton – “Your Song” by Ellie Goulding
– Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
– Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz (performed by Florence and the Machine’s Florence Welch)
– Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian – “Tale As Old as Time” from Beauty and the Beast
– Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello – “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
– Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. – “Someone to Watch Over Me” by Gertrude Lawrence
Feature image: Instagram / Barack Obama
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One of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines is on the brink of erupting and authorities have urged a “total evacuation” after volcanic ash spewed from Taal volcano on Sunday, January 12. One couple, however, went ahead with their wedding plans close by the volcano despite concerns.
Chino Vaflor and Kat Bautista Palomar had planned their wedding at a venue only 10km from Taal volcano long before threats were a reality. However, the day of their wedding, the volcano began spewing steam and ash into the air. The couple were unaware of the volcanic threat prior to the wedding.
“We noticed white smoke coming out of Taal during preparations around 2pm and from then on we knew something unusual was already going on with the volcano,” wedding photographer Randolf Evan told the BBC.
Later on Sunday, people within a 14km radius were told to evacuate the area as an explosive eruption was expected within a few hours. However, this couple chose not to evacuate their wedding, saying they were “definitely safe as the venue was on higher ground and not directly around the volcano’s vicinity”.
“Surprisingly everyone was calm and relaxed. It was an intimate wedding so guests were mostly the couple’s family and close friends, and thus nobody really left.”
“We could feel the ash raining on our clothes,” said Evan. “But it didn’t feel alarming until night time came when it became a bit heavier and mud-like.”
The wedding went ahead, and guests shared dramatic images of the wedding venue with a crowd of smoke hanging in the air behind them.
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Despite this safety concern, Evans feels incredibly lucky to have experienced this moment.
“It’s a mixture of thrill and sheer amazement on how it has unfolded for us. In the end, I’m just grateful to have experienced such a unique moment in my career.”
Couples planning their wedding close to safety hazards such as active volcanoes are urged to exercise caution as ingesting volcanic ash is hazardous and can cause respiratory problems. Make sure to centre the health of your guests, your wedding vendors and yourself before going ahead with a wedding.
Feature image: Facebook / Randolf Evans
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“Here’s me, dancing on my own with a wee bottle of Moët, on the Sunday after my wedding #ThrowbackThursday,” the icon captioned her Instagram picture of her in a darling dress.
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The white, long-sleeved dress drips with old-time charm, elegance and looks like the perfect post-wedding dress to keep the feels going. In fact, she does look like she’s still on cloud nine!
The pair got hitched in August of 2019 with some rather A-list guests including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, and Sienna Miller.
Take a look at the dazzling event here and take a look at all her show-stopping outfits here.
Image: Instagram