Registering: In Store vs Online

I’m a self-proclaimed online shopping junkie. My fiancé is also a pretty big fan and he will buy just about anything off Amazon to save a trip to the store or mall. If we’re going to actually go to a store to shop, we’ve gotta be in the mood. For the few times a year he does some shopping, this isn’t as big of a deal. For someone who shops as much as me, it can be. I typically like to sneak into the mall around 8PM on a Tuesday in workout clothes sprinting from place to place to find what I need. I’m one of those people who would rather order something in two sizes and then return the one that didn’t work than spending hours in store. Jeans used to be the only real exception to this rule, but even these days I’ve been buying them online and hoping for the best.

When I am in the mood to shop, I find it fun and a little alone time. I almost always shop alone and then reach out with a photo and a “yes or no” or “option 1 or 2” text to a trusted friend. Taking these shopping preferences into account, when it came time to register, we began debating: do we register in store or online? We weighed our options together. Today for #WeddingWednesday I’ll be sharing a few things to consider when deciding about registering: in store vs online.

• Think about your shopping styles

  Do one of you become overwhelmed in stores?  or can you not purchase something without picking it up or seeing it in real life? How you like to shop for everything else should influence your decision on where to start. Don’t feel you have to do it one way or another.

• Consider your schedules & Timing

  If you don’t have a lot of time to spare or need to get your registry done quickly due to time constraints before a shower, online may provide you more flexibility. If you become too overwhelmed online and need help making decisions, then a sales person in store may be helpful.

• Consider what you need

  If you’re like us and have a pretty decent foundation in your kitchen, you may have a good idea of what you need. If not, it might be nice to have an expert guide you. There are also a TON of resources online (like this one) that help you have a great idea of what you is typically on a registry. Most websites also have suggestions in each category for you to easily reference.

• Think about what experience you want

  If you’ve always dreamed of a day where you both go and pick out china patterns together in store and have this “omg thats the one I love too” then.. go for the in store thing for sure. I never really had expectations for registering or imagined us running around with those little registry guns so we made it a fun little at home date night to start and were oh so happy. I also am so not into having a china collection that sits around and I use once a year when I could put that money towards something else.. sooo there’s that. I think choosing whatever experience will make you both involved in and have fun with the process!

Ultimately, we decided on a combo of online and in store registering. We first looked online at what we wanted and weighed options between stores based on appearance, prices, and reviews. We had our general registry together and were able to really sit down and look through it without influence from someone. There are few things I dislike more than a pushy sales person who doesn’t actually know your preferences, so online allowed us to talk it out together. We made a fun little date night out of it with sweats, take out, and a bottle of wine. From there, we were able to go in store and look at our registry to ensure that a few items were really what we wanted. If we needed to make alterations, it was simply done in store or online again once we got back home.

In the end, I recommend finding what works best for both of you and your shopping styles. If it’s a stressor for you to find several hours to go into a store, try picking an hour or two a night for a week or two to pick out some items in each category. Then, go in to the store to make a few final decisions- such as towel colors or how linens may feel. Find a good balance of the two and have fun with it! You’re ultimately picking out things that you’re going to use daily together as a couple whether it be for a date night in, or for opening a bottle of wine to celebrate something special, or for hosting your family when they come in town– all fun things that shape your every day life!

We registered online at West Elm and at Crate and Barrel, two of my favorite home stores. We chose lots of copper and marble accents for our kitchen items, which I’m so excited about! You can easily track your registries with both online on the go and one has an awesome thank you card guide. Can’t wait for that! In terms of etiquette, there ARE some guidelines to follow. Stay tuned for those! In the mean time, I’ll leave you with the biggest etiquette tip for all you ladies: include your groom! This is for the start of your lives TOGETHER. Yes, even if you already live together (guilty). He may not like shopping, or care about plates, but narrow down alll the options to your two favs and have him choose. Yo No matter how you go about it, you need his input and to include him in this. Don’t just take it all over on your own. It’s a fun thing to do together when planning and imaging the life you’ll create together. Once you’ve got your registries completed, celebrate! You’ve crossed off another ‘to do’ on the list before you say ‘I do!’ I’ve said all along in this Wedding Wednesday series, but don’t lose sight of the real reason you are doing all these things. Its for the marriage, not the wedding or the gifts. At the end of the big day, being husband and wife is all that really matters. 

Happppy registering my friends! I would love to know some of the favorite things you all added on your registries or anything you wish you would have included. Be sure to keep up with all of my Wedding Wednesday posts here. XO

Images via: Lauren Conrad, RBTL, Bridal Musings, Honeybrides, Crate & Barrel