Being newly engaged brings excitement in the air, as you tell the story of the proposal (thank you, Amore Austin), obsess over your engagement pictures, or continually catch the shimmer of your new bling. You probably fall asleep at night thinking of your dream wedding day .  Your wedding registry is probably the last thing on your mind – but it’s never too early to start planning!

Soon you’ll be tackling wedding decisions, vendor calls, food budgets and wedding to-do lists. We want to help by giving you some insightful tips on gift registry etiquette and how to create and share your gift registry.

You’re not alone. Thousands of newly engaged couples have the same questions you do, and The Dowry, an online wedding gift registry curated of unique, handcrafted, quality home goods, is here to give you some answers.

1. When should you start registering for wedding gifts?

According to WeddingWire, the average engagement is around 14-15 months, and during those months most couples have four different events {think engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner} where guests typically bring gifts.

80% of couples start building their registries seven to eight months before their wedding. This allows guests, as well as general well-wishers, to shop for the things you really need and want long before the big day.

2. How many wedding registries should we have?

There are a lot of different types of registries that specialize in different items and experiences, so it makes sense to have two or three wedding gift registries to cover your needs.

“The average couple creates more than three different registries. As the majority of couples are now living together before marriage, couples are using a mix of registry types to curate items and experiences that are most relevant to their current life stage.” – The Knot wedding report

Tips to cover your registry retailer bases:

1. Create a store registry that includes appliances and home basics ( Target).

2. Craft one with more unique or handcrafted household items (The Dowry).

3. Create an experience or cash registry (Honeyfund or VEBO).

3. What items should be on your wedding registry?

Make a list of what you and your fiance already have. Checkmark what you plan to keep, box what you want to replace, and add what is missing by cross-referencing our Wedding Registry Checklist (complimentary download).

Here is a glimpse at the most popular categories other couples are shopping for:

• 86% Cookware / Bakeware

• 82% Kitchen Tools / Appliances

• 80% Bath items

• 79% Bedding

• 74% Cutlery

Registries are unique to each couple. Consider your lifestyle, how you entertain and celebrate together. If you buy flowers, select a vase or two. If you do a lot of entertaining, add a complete set of serveware with essential barware and accessories.

4. How many items should be on our registry?

Real Simple suggests registering for two to three items per wedding guest invited. More specifically, a place setting is considered one item, and if something is sold as a set, like four wine glasses or salad plates, a set of four is considered one item. For example, a guest list of 200 = registering for 400-600 items.

Give your guests a variety of items in different price ranges. To make sure you are covering price ranges, group your registry items into those under $50, between $50 and $100, and over $100, and count how many items fall into each category.

Consider these guest purchase averages, as you create your registry:

• Close friend or close relative: $125 +

• Friend or relative: $100 – $125

• Co-worker, distant family friend or distant relative: $50 – $100

5. How do we make sure to get the items we most need?

Add your products in stages. Make sure you register for those must-haves – first, versus your nice-to-haves or secondary items. Questions to ask:

• Eating off hodgepodge dishes?

  • Add place settings that include plates, bowls and drinkware.

• Are you a coffee lover?

  • Include an espresso machine and sets of ceramic mugs.

• Already have the household basics?

  • Add design details to your home by picking an assortment of throw pillows, baskets, and vases.

• Love to entertain?

  • Make sure you add serveware, including platters, bowls, serving boards, barware and accessories.

If  you are ready to start creating your wedding registry, The Dowry is the place to start. Browse our ever-growing curated community of artist housewares to find the things that make you smile, inspire you to cook and entertain at home, and take your design aesthetic to the next level.

We have stunning ceramic place settings hand-thrown by master ceramicists; gorgeous cutting boards and charcuterie boards made by woodworking experts; jaw dropping glasses and stemware hand blown in glass studios; exquisite throw blankets and pillows handwoven by textile artists; and eye popping copper cookware and silver cutlery by American metalsmiths. Have more registry questions, shoot us an email hello@thedowry.com