Today is my three year wedding anniversary.  Looking back on the past few years, I am so thankful for a strong, peaceful, and enjoyable marriage.  Many couples plan extensively for their wedding day, but fail to plan for their marriage.  So today on Well Registered we're proposing a "Marriage Registry" to complement your wedding registry.  You won't regret investing the time and money into preparing for your marriage.


1 - Premarital Counseling

Number 1 on the list of things you can do to prepare for marriage is to go through premarital counseling.   You can find different programs through local clinics, community organizations, or your church or place of worship.  Make sure whatever course you choose includes discussing role expectations, money, religion, sex, in-laws, and children.


2 - Financial Planning 

One of the top causes of divorce in America is financial problems.  Money problems cause tension in marriages and tension can cause all sorts of other strains on your relationship.  While financial planning will most likely be covered shortly in any premarital counseling you go through, we recommend getting your financial situation - and goals - sorted out either before your wedding day or quickly after. 

There are many different options for financial planning available, but we highly recommend Dave Ramsey's program.  As an engaged couple you could attend Financial Peace University together or go through Dave Ramsey's book, Total Money Makeover. 


3 - Read!

One of the best things you can do to prepare for marriage is to read books on the subject.  The books you will enjoy will vary depending on your beliefs and values, but just for an idea here are the books we've found useful.

"Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs - Available at Amazon


"Before You Say I Do" by H. Norman Wright & Wes Roberts - Available at Amazon


 "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman - Available at Amazon



How are you planning on preparing for marriage?

We want Well Registered to make it easy for you to create your wedding registry.  For that reason, we make sure all the products featured on our inspiration boards are in stock and available for your guests to purchase.  This means our inspiration boards are constantly changing and evolving as products come and go.  Today we're featuring some of our new boards that have replaced some of our old ones. 






We love the placemats seen in this inspiration board from Crate and Barrel.  They are graphic and neutral.










The bedding in this inspiration board from Kohl's is gorgeous.  We love the neutral colors, and also the fact that it comes in a 20-piece set that includes two sets of sheets.










We like this new shower curtain from Kohl's in this inspiration board.  It is modern and will please both ladies and men.










Williams-Sonoma has some great table linens, and we especially love this table runner featuring a soft pattern. 




Make sure to check out the rest of our up-to-date inspiration boards for your wedding registry at Well Registered!  Which is your favorite? 

We believe that sending thank you cards for each wedding gift you receive is THE most important part of your wedding registry.  So each week we feature some of our favorite thank you cards and stationary ideas from across the internet to help you find some thank you cards you will be happy to send.



Photo thank you postcards are a great option.  We especially love this collage photo card from Wedding Paper Divas.  They allow you to use multiple pictures from your wedding day and are laid out in a classic format.  Also, the postcards would save you some money on postage!





These thank you notes from Delphine are great because they are very customizable.  You can choose the font and two different colors of ink used to fit your wedding color palette.  (And if you're not sure what wedding colors to use, you may just find a combo you like by playing around with their color options!)






We also love a graphic and bold thank you card.  These cards from Mint.com are modern and come in four different color options. 





If you want to make your thank you cards yourself, we like this tutorial from Oh So Beautiful Paper.  Check it out to learn how to make your own water-colored stationary.


How do you plan to say "thank you"?

Well Registered focuses on wedding registries, but each week we like to feature some of our favorite wedding day inspirations and tutorials from around the internet.  We like ribbon because there are so many different color options and also many options for how to use them. 



You typically see hanging pom poms made from tissue paper, but we like these hanging rosettes made from ribbon too.  For a tutorial on how to make these, check out Martha Stewart Weddings.





If you like the hanging rosettes, you will also like these napkin rings from Martha Stewart Weddings.  We love DIY projects that can be made far in advance, and these napkin rings could be made as soon as you decide your wedding colors.





If you are using a ribbon theme for your wedding, we love this invitation suite from David's Bridal.  There are many color options for both the invitation and the ribbon.





 We love this wedding featured on Ruffled Blog and the ribbon details it featured... especially this gorgeous ribbon photo booth backdrop.





Martha Stewart Weddings has a great tutorial and templates for making this ribbon escort card.  Click here to access the tutorial.  


How would you use ribbons in your wedding day decor?

We are excited to announce that Well Registered is now social.  While browsing the inspiration boards and articles, make sure to Like, Tweet, Stumble, Email, Print, or Share whatever you want to save or share with friends.

Just look for the share toolbar on any of our pages.  Here's what it looks like on the inspiration boards



If you have a website you're wanting to socialize, we highly recommend AddThis.com.

Is one wedding registry store enough?  Recently we were asked on Twitter, "Is it bad to register at just one store if it has everything you need?"  Generally we recommend using two or three stores for your wedding registry.  However, if one store has everything you want and need it may be just fine to only register at that store.  Just make sure that your one wedding registry store...

1 - Is convenient for your guests

If you're only registering at one store, make sure that it has plenty of locations and would be convenient for the majority of your guests.  You don't need to ensure each guest has a store location just up the street, but you do need to be considerate of their locations.  Also, make sure the store you choose lets guests purchase items from your registry online.


2 - Has a wide range of price points

We highly recommend each couple to keep a wide range of prices on their wedding registries throughout their engagement.  If you are only going to register at one store, this store must have a wide range of price points.  Make sure that the store you are considering has plenty of both inexpensive and expensive items to choose from.


If the store has both of these qualities, we think it's fine for you to just register at one store.

Out of the seven stores we currently feature, we would only recommend Target or Bed Bath and Beyond as a potential sole wedding registry store.  And remember, this is only if the store is convenient to your guests and you add a wide selection of prices to your registry.

Would you consider only having one store for your wedding registry?

Today it is Thank You Thursday again on the Well Registered Blog and we are showcasing some of our favorite thank you cards and do-it-yourself ideas. 

While Well Registered focuses on wedding registries, each week we feature some of our favorite wedding day inspirations and tutorials from around the internet.  Typically we prefer ideas and projects that are versatile - such as decor using paper, yarn, streamers, and balloons.  But lately we've been obsessing over Billy Balls (also called Billy Buttons or Craspedia).  Billy Balls make unique, simple, and gorgeous wedding decor.

Our biggest advice to couples creating a wedding registry is to decide the purpose behind the registry.  For many couples, the goal of your wedding registry will be to get all the basics needed to start your home together.  Getting the basics is a great goal to have for your registry if you are just starting out and don't already own a lot of household items. 

Here are our tips for deciding what to register for if you need the basics:

1 – Know what you don't want to register for.

Before deciding what items to register for your wedding, we suggest that you discuss what you don't need or want on your registry.  Tradition (and maybe some family members) may suggest that you register for china, crystal, or expensive picture frames.  No matter how traditional an item may be, if you don't love it or know it will be useful you do not need to add it to your wedding registry.  Knowing what you don't want to register for will free up some space on your wedding registry for what you really need.

2 – Create an imaginary wedding registry budget.

Many couples go crazy with the registry scanner gun in hand.  They register for anything pretty or shiny that they see without noticing the cost – after all, someone else is buying.  The truth is that a limited number of guests will attend your wedding and guests will spend a limited amount of money on your gift.  If the goal of your registry is to get the basics needed for your home, you should be wise about your choices.  Treat your wedding registry as if it has a budget.  Splurge on some items, but be picky about what items you register for. 

3 – Register for sets when possible.

When you are registering with the goal of receiving the basics for your home, we suggest that you register for reasonably-priced sets when possible.  Items that are in sets are typically less expensive than items in open stock.  Also, when you register for a set, you are more likely to receive the items you need from your registry and less likely to have to spend your own money on household items after your wedding.  Just make sure that you truly want all the items in the set – for example, don't register for a 15-piece cookware set if you are only going to use seven of those pieces.

4 – Register for basics first.

We urge every couple to register for what they really want and need first, and then add more items to their registry as things get purchased.  This advice is especially useful for couples wanting to receive the basics.  For more information on how many items to register for, read our article “How Many Items Should I Add to My Wedding Registry.” 

5 – Register at stores with a wide selection of products and a great return policy.

Many couples choose to register for the basics so that they won't have to spend much money on purchases for their home after the wedding.  If you need to use your cash to add to savings or pay off debt, you should try to register at stores with a wide selection of products and a great return policy.  No matter how attentive you are to your registry, you will receive duplicate items.  Consider registering at stores that will allow you to make smart purchases with any store credit you receive from returns.


We know compiling a list of what to register for your wedding if you want “the basics” is relative.  What you consider to be a basic may be a luxury to someone else and vice versa.  However, if you want a general guideline we've provided a checklist of basic items for your wedding registry. 





Determining what to register for if you need the basics may take some time, but it will be time well spent registering wisely for your goal.

What basic items are on your must-have list?

At Well Registered, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to create your perfect wedding registry.  For that reason, we make sure all the products featured on our inspiration boards are in stock and available for your guests to purchase.  Our inspiration boards are constantly changing and evolving as products come and go.  Today we're featuring some of our new boards that have replaced some of our old ones.  We hope you like them!