One of the great things about planning your bridal registry is that it's like shopping without spending any money. Bridal registries are lists of gifts from specific stores that you and your future spouse would like as wedding presents. Stores will keep a copy of your wish list and as your guests buy gifts, the store will check off which items have been bought. This goes a long way toward reducing the number of duplicate gifts you'll get.

Registries also help ensure the gifts you receive will match your home's color schemes. On your registry, you'll indicate what kind of gift you want, how many you want, which brand you prefer and what colors you'd like (if there are options). For example, you might register for two navy blue hand towels from a specific linen company for your bathroom.

When to register

Register before you send out invitations but not too far in advance. The store might stop carrying a color or style you like between when you register and your wedding date. Keep in mind potential wedding showers and engagement parties and be sure to register before those celebrations begin.

Before you start your registry

When you're planning your wedding registry there are a number of things you should take into consideration, like:

The number of pre-wedding celebrations you'll have (i.e., engagement party, bridal showers, stag and doe parties) and the price range of gifts you should register for.

The number of guests you're expecting for the wedding, to decide how many gifts to register for.

The size of your family, how many people you would have over for a family dinner and how many guests you would expect for a fancy dinner. Think about how many place settings you'll need.

How big of a home will you be living in? Will you be starting out in a house, condo or apartment?

How many bedrooms and bathrooms will your home have?

What to register for

Registries don't just stop with flatware and dishes. Most major department stores have registries that let you choose from anything in the store including luggage, cookware, home furnishings, power tools and camping gear. In most cases, if it's there, you can register for it. Our Gift Registry Checklist can help you keep track of everything you'll need.

There are a few things that should make it on to every couple's wedding registry. Be sure that somewhere in your list you include:

Casual dishes

Casual glasses

20-piece flatware set (four place settings)

Mixing bowls

Cookware

Bed linens

Towels

Wine glasses

Knives

Etiquette

As tempting as it may be, modern etiquette says that you shouldn't include information about where you're registered in your wedding invitations. Depend on your family and other members of your wedding party to spread the word - and don't worry, your guests will be asking. If you include information about where you're registered in your invitation, you can look like you expect guests to bring gifts.

Even if your entire home is furnished top to bottom, never tell your guests that they can just give you cash instead of gifts. Be polite and tell them that your house is well stocked. Most of them will figure out for themselves that a gift of money would be the safest bet.

In planning your bridal registry, remember that the majority of guests who come to your wedding will be couples who give you one gift, so you won't need to register for as many gifts as you have guests. Try to add some variety to your registry to allow for a broad selection of gifts and price ranges.

A good rule for registering is as follows:

The number of gifts should be approximately 80% of the number of guests.

20% of the gifts should cost less than $50

20% should cost around $75

25% can cost between $75 and $150

30% can cost between $150 and $250

5% can cost more than $250

You will find a lot of little things you need that cost much less than $50 - like kitchen utensils - but add them to your registry anyway. Many of your younger guests will be looking to give you a number of things that cost less they will appreciate the lower priced options.

Couples who live together before the wedding

Many couples choose to live together before they get married. These couples tend to already have a lot of things for their home by the time their wedding rolls around. If you're one of these couples, now's a great time to upgrade from your hand-me-down microwave to newer items that will last and match the style of your home. When you inherit things for your new home from your family, you don't often have a choice about what those donations looks like.

Many couples who live together before they're married purchase new items for their home whenever they can, so at the wedding there isn't much they need. If you and your groom fall into this category, why not register with a travel agency to help fund your honeymoon, ask for charitable donations or register with other less conventional places like outdoor equipment and hardware stores? When you start looking, you'll be surprised how many places offer a registry service.