This works, in theory. But brides, please be aware that many of your guests will opt to send you lovely gifts that are not on your registry at all. Others will send checks only, so as to give you the greatest versatility and flexibility in choosing what you need to make your house a home. Do not fall into the consumer's trap of "needing" every single thing off of your registry. Space is hard to come by in an apartment or home, and you will find in the future that you would rather use your space to store winter coats than an extra kitchen appliance that you will use maybe three times a year.
I recommend that you know ahead of time what items you really need. Do you really need that panini press or that waffle maker? Is it necessary to have both a blender and a food processor? Do some appliances come with several functions and save you space?
"Can you live without it?" is a question I've been asking myself this past month. My dear husband has a lot of experience living on his own, and he understands the monthly expenses and reality of living paycheck to paycheck. Every time I yearn for an item off of my registry that I did not receive, I have to take a step back and figure out a creative way to live without it.
Some of you might not receive the gifts you were expecting and aren't starting out with much. In that case, I would suggest hitting up your local yard sales, estate sales, and sites like Craigslist. People are willing to sell their decent furniture for 1/16 of the price you could find at a furniture store. My husband's mother found him a whole set of dishes at a yard sale for hardly any money when he started college, and it has served us well in our marriage. Ask your relatives if they have any extra cookware or duplicate server ware. You'd be surprised what they're willing to give up! Thankfully, many are more than happy to donate unused or unneeded items to the Poor Young Married Couples Donation Fund.
If you are blessed with an overabundance of gifts, then do your best to find a place for them. Don't be afraid to return the ones you know you will not have space for or use and get credit toward that store. A lot of stores are very versatile in their functions. You can return a duplicate wine glass set at Target and use that credit toward a Swiffer wetjet or a present for a family member in the future. People don't like to buy unromantic, un-glamorous presents for a bride and groom. Some of them want their present to hold sentimental value or last you a lifetime. Those kinds of presents should always be cherished. Your parents might be able to store some of them for you for your first year of marriage. Don't feel obligated to return everything you don't have space for initially, but do exercise caution and good judgement. Sometimes a cheese slicer is just a cheese slicer.
