wedding registry

While getting engaged can be the happiest moment of your life, it's can also be incredibly overwhelming. In the upcoming months, when you're planning your wedding and making arrangements to marry the man you love, there are a lot of decisions to mull over. One thing you won't have to worry about is your registry: we've created the ultimate wedding registry checklist! All you have to do is download it, print it, fold it up, and place it in your purse, then use it as a guide when you go shopping for your registry. What are you waiting for? Get it now.

Technology may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your wedding registry, but the gifting possibilities go beyond traditional fine china, fancy flatware, and bedding. If you depend on geeky gadgets on a day-to-day basis, feel free to add a few to your list. This isn't to say that you should go nuts at Best Buy scanning each and every dream gift, but it's important to include items that you genuinely want and need.

A good place to start: learn the proper registry protocol. Etiquette experts at Emily Post offer smart wedding registry rules to help you navigate the formalities. Anna Post confirms that it's perfectly OK to create a more unconventional registry with camping or tech items, but you should also provide guests with a more traditional list, too. Hoping to include some technology, but not sure where to start? Here are a few basic items to consider:

• DSLR camera, like the Nikon D800
• Laptop
• iPad
• Flatscreen TV
• Record player, like this affordable Wood Turntable
• iPod speakers
• Blu-Ray player
• Gaming system
• Stereo system with surround sound
• The Nest Thermostat
• High-tech washer/dryer

Current and former brides-to-be: Did you include any technology on your registry? If so, which items? Share your suggestions in the comments below!

Silver, while a gorgeous addition to the table, has a reputation for being finicky to maintain. Luckily there's an easy solution to tackling tarnish — no trip to the store to procure supplies needed. All you'll need is a large pot, tinfoil, baking soda, water, a pair of silicone-tipped tongs and a soft dishcloth — really, that's it.

The Low-Fuss Procedure

1. Line the pot with tinfoil. Add a quart of water and 2 tablespoons baking soda to the pot, and bring the solution to a boil.
2. Working with a few pieces at a time (to minimize scratching) gently lower the tarnished silver into the baking soda solution, let sit for 10-30 seconds, or until the tarnish dissolves. Remove the silver with the tongs; set aside.
3. Once all of the silver is tarnish-free, rinse each piece with soapy water, and dry with a soft dishcloth.

Keep reading for a few tips and tricks.

The very idea of a wedding registry can feel uncomfortable — as if you're doing the shopping for your guests — and then there's the issue of where to register. Do you pick one store? Five stores? And, for that matter, which stores do you pick?

You may choose to go with an online registry site that allows you to choose any and all retailers, but if you're sticking with a more traditional route, then it's best to narrow down your picks. Not sure where to begin? Check out these quick etiquette tips to guide you through the process:

• Be helpful, not greedy. Your registry is a great way to offer guests a wide range of gift options, but it's also important that you don't go overboard. In the Emily Post registry etiquette guidelines, Anna Post writes, "While it's OK to have more than one registry, draw the line at three. You want to be helpful by offering your guests variety, not self-indulgent by listing your every wish in the world." Don't be afraid to scan plenty of items at each store so that the registry isn't exhausted by the first 50 guests.
• When in doubt, go big. One way to keep things simple? Choose larger stores with a broader assortment of items to cover your every need. For instance, if you'd like some new camping products, then try finding them at a big retailer like Target rather than a more specific, boutique sort of shop. Not only will it make the entire process easier for you, but it will also result in a shorter, less overwhelming list of stores for your friends and family to choose from. Even better? The larger chains have several locations, so your out-of-town guests will have plenty of options in their own city.
• Consider pricing. Your guests are sure to have different budgets, and some will hope to spend more than others. Go ahead and register at that luxury outlet, but be sure to scan items at a more affordable store, too. Then, at each place, do what you can to include any and all price points — everything from that high-end knife set to those inexpensive dish towels.

The bottom line: No matter where or how you register, be sure to keep your guests in mind. The point of your wedding registry isn't to create your ultimate wish list; it's to offer options for your friends and family who hope to honor your big day with a thoughtful gift.

With the passage of time comes a change in traditions. We know what traditional wedding gift-giving etiquette dictates, but what rules should we go with now? I polled a few hundred SavvySugar readers who chimed in with their preferences for gift-giving etiquette. Here are the results:

You can choose to skip or keep to the registry: Half of the readers say that it's OK to skip the registry, while half say it's not. You know your situation and the couple best, so it's your decision if you wish to skip or stick to the gift registry.

Spend what you can: The majority — 53 percent — think that you should spend what your budget allows for. It's not rude to underspend if your finances can't cover a pricey gift.

You can bring your gifts to the wedding: It's fine to bring your gifts to the wedding, according to readers. Some people feel it's rude to bring gifts to the wedding and saddle the newlyweds with the hassle of transporting their gifts home, but the majority think it's totally fine to do so.

Buying a gift when you're not attending is up to your discretion: It's a tie between people who think you should buy a gift and those who think you don't need to bother with one if you're not attending the wedding. It's up to you and how you feel about the issue and how close you are to the couple.

Gifts should be given on time: Some say that gifts can be sent one year after the wedding, and there are some that say it is bad manners to do so. Readers feel that gifts should be given on time and that guests should avoid the one-year waiting period.

You should always give a gift if you're attending the wedding: If you're going to be at the wedding, 80 percent of readers unanimously agree that you should always, always give a gift.

Do you agree with any of these rules?

We've plated up some tips on selecting dinnerware for your wedding registry, but what about cocktail hour? Whether you prefer cocktails, wine, beer, or juicing, glassware is an important category to fill in your registry. Sure, you can go with the selection that your registry consultant recommends, but each couple has individual libation habits that don't always fit the standard mold. Thankfully, it's easy to concoct your ideal blend of glasses so long as you keep a few tips and considerations in mind. Ready to drink up? Just read on.

The scanner gun is unholstered and a store full of kitchen delights spreads out in front of you. But before you pull that trigger, have you done your research? While wedding registries may seem like a green light to sign up for every dish, appliance, and throw pillow of your dreams, making smart list choices will help ensure that your generous guests buy the items you can really use . . . and eliminate the need to rent a storage locker to stockpile your new stuff.

First up, we're serving up some tips on how to select the best dinnerware for your needs and lifestyle. Those plates, bowls, and coffee cups may seem awfully plain next to that shiny chrome espresso machine, but you'll end up using them more frequently than virtually any other item in your kitchen cabinets, so you'd better love them for the long haul. Ready to dish on dinnerware? Just read on.

Though we may be loathe to admit it, one of the most exciting — and frenzied — moments of wedding planning is setting up a registry. While deep down I knew that marrying the man of my dreams was the best present of all, other visions, like that of a perfectly appointed home, turned me into Dirty Harry with the scanner gun. A fondue set? I'll take two. The enormous countertop convection oven? We'll make room. Salt and pepper shakers shaped like mated doves? You get the picture.

It's easy to go crazy when registering for wedding gifts, but ending up with a pile of things you'll never use results in annoying trips back to the store for returns or very full storage closets. Eight years after my perfect wedding, I can't help but think that I should have provided my generous guests with better direction as I watch the dust collect on the paella pan I've never used. Every bride's needs are different, but I've come up with a list of five items from my registry that are highly underutilized and five items for which that money would have been better spent. Tell us: what are your must-have registry items, and what do you wish you left off your list?

Five Things I Could Have Done Without

• Preassembled cookware sets. Those 10- or 12-piece cookware sets may seem like a great deal with many stores advertising "deep" discounts vs. buying individual pieces, but I found that I ended up with pots and pans in sizes I've never used. Take the time to register for individual pieces (you may even find that you like pieces from a few different cookware lines) in standard sizes that make sense for your frying, sautéing, and simmering needs.
• Cooking utensils. Basic utensils like rubber spatulas and wooden spoons are a wedding-registry must have. But I've found that many of the specialized tools I thought I would need have gone untouched. There are so many variations of potato mashers, strainers, ladles, and whisks that you ought to take your time finding the perfect one for you.
• High-ticket single-use tools. Cookware companies would love to sell you pasta cookers, egg poachers, asparagus pots, and butter warmers, often at a few hundred dollars a pop. My pasta pot rarely sees the light of day, because I opt instead for a standard stockpot and colander (which drains much better, IMO). By investing in the right standard pots and pans, you still can cook any of these items and save room in your kitchen cabinets while you're at it.

For the rest of the list as well as a list of items I'd register for instead, just keep reading.