Creating your gift registry may be the most fun you have as a couple during the planning process leading up to your wedding. In fact, it may be the only part of the planning the husband wants to participate in at all. But there’s more involved than just pointing and scanning or clicking a few buttons on your favorite home decor retail site. There are a lot of factors at play that you’ll need to consider to get the most of your registry and avoid common mistakes – mistakes that could leave you feeling regret that you weren't more careful about selecting the right gifts. To help you ensure that your wedding registry (and the whole experience) is nothing but perfection, we’ve compiled a list of tips for you to peruse and divided them in the following categories:

• General Wedding Registry Tips
• Wedding Registry Etiquette
• Getting More From Your Registry
• Don’t Box Yourself In

General Wedding Registry Tips

1. Take Inventory. “To decide on what you need, take inventory of the things you already have and talk about the style of home you'd like to share. Now is a great time to upgrade mismatched wine glasses or ask for a nice set of knives.” – Lauren Kay, 10 Big Registry Etiquette Mistakes You Might Be Making, The Knot; Twitter: @theknot

2. Don’t go overboard. “When registering, stick to two or three stores you love. Choose a national department store or chain that has lots of household basics; and you may also want a local specialty store to add to your registry.” - The Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Registries, Martha Stewart Weddings; Twitter: @MarthaWeddings

3. Know your price breakdowns. “The dynamics of each group will vary, and you will know your guests better than anyone else. However, a basic breakdown of how much guests will spend on a wedding gift is: 25% of guests will spend under $75; 50% of guests will spend between $75 and $200; 25% of guests will spend over $200.” - 10 Wedding Registry Dos and Don'ts, Bridal Guide; Twitter: @bridalguidemag

4. Don’t forget the old-standbys. “Tried and true products [...] will make your married home even happier.” - Rachel Wilkerson Miller, 21 Wedding Registry Items That Are Totally Worth It, BuzzFeed; Twitter: @BuzzFeed

5. Use your registry to upgrade. “It seems that your house is fully furnished? Well, you might still need household items that are typically associated with a wedding registry. Wedding registry can help you upgrade your home style, or get that expensive porcelain set you’ve been secretly craving for.” – Wedding Forward, 20 Best Wedding Registry Ideas Everyone Can Enjoy; Twitter: @wedding_forward

6. Take a look around. Start looking at family and friends’ homes for idea on what you want.“[W]e started from scratch. We looked at what our parents had in the kitchen, we pulled must-have lists out of magazines” - Cambria Bold, The Wedding Registry Gifts We Still Use 10 Years Later (and the Ones We Don't), Kitchn; Twitter: @thekitchn

7. Reign it in. “Make two lists before you start — what you want & what you need. When you sit down to start your registry it is easy to get 'click' happy and begin adding everything and anything you see. In order to make sure you get what you need – and some of things you really want – you should first map out two seperate [sic] registry lists to ensure there is a good mix of both.” - Maggie Lord, Asking For Everything Is Simple: How To Create The Perfect Wedding Registry, Rustic Wedding Chic; Twitter: @rusticwedchic

8. Destination weddings still need a registry. “No matter the type of wedding you’re having, people will want to give gifts. But if you’re asking guests to shell out a little extra cash to attend, keep that in mind when putting your registry together. Opt for a larger quantity of more affordable items, allowing guests to mix-and-match gifts to meet a price point they’re comfortable with. Ideally, guests should mail their gifts directly to you, so make sure your registry is set up to do so.” - Terri Pous, Wedding Registry Etiquette 101: Your Biggest Wedding Gift Questions, Answered!, Brides; Twitter: @tepous

9. Keep checking back on your registry. “Keep in mind some things may be out of stock if you immediately register but your wedding isn't for more than six months, says Amy Spears, owner of Socials in the South event planning. Be sure to visit and update your registry regularly to avoid out-of-season items, particularly if you have a long engagement.” – 4 Tips For a Well Thought Out Wedding Registry, Style Me Pretty; Twitter: @stylemepretty

10. Make the registry note a personal one. “Most wedding website services provide a registry tab, where you can list all your registries and post a message to your guests …When addressing your guests, say it from the heart. Remember, your registry wording will be read by your closest family and friends, the ones who want to celebrate you with a gift you will enjoy!” - Sara Margulis, Wedding Registry Wording, Honeyfund; Twitter: @Honeyfund

11. You have to compromise with parents, too. “If a registry makes you feel icky but your mom is insisting you have to have one, meet in the middle. You can register for a few items that you really would love and use, but keep the registry info off your wedding website entirely. Then your mom (or anyone close to you) can let guests know through word of mouth about the registry if they ask about it, but you won’t feel like you’re pressuring people to buy you something.” – A Quick Guide to Navigating the Wedding Registry, Loverly; Twitter: @loverly

12. Don't be afraid to make adjustments to your registry how you see fit. “Consider your registry a revolving list of things you and your fiancé want for your new life together. You can always add or subtract as you see new things. You always want to have a good variety of different price points on there, so if you notice some of the lower price items are all bought up or some of the higher ticket items have been purchased, you will want to add more items in that price range so your guests can buy something in their comfort level.” - Wedding Registry Etiquette for the Bride and Groom, The Everyday Hostess; Twitter: @KJolliffe

13. Plan for your future. “[T]ry to focus on how you live now and how you realistically think you will continue to live and entertain over the years. Whether you’re a casual couple or are fancy and formal, embrace who you are and think about what you’ll truly use and love. Chances are you’ll still be who you are in a few decades – you might evolve a little, but you probably won’t become a completely different couple with a completely different personality and lifestyle.” – Sherry Petersik, Registry Dos and D’ohs: What We Registered For (and Skipped), Young House Love; Twitter: @younghouselove

14. Be realistic with your décor choices. “Don’t select décor items specific to where you live it you’re not really, really certain you’re in what will be your long-term home. Even then… simpler is better.” - Amy Eley, 9 things we wish we'd known before registering for wedding gifts, Today; Twitter: @TODAYshow

15. Ask for heirlooms. “Couples should register for items that will stand the test of time in style and in quality, and hopefully that they can one day pass on to their children. This isn't a time for disposable products or impulse purchases. This may mean combining a registry of many items into a smaller list of fewer at a higher price point–and that's okay. These products will endure and live with you over time (long after the blender you registered for has died) but register with a place that lets you shift your credit (or group gifting) to give you the ability to make adjustments to your registry along the way.” - Carrie Goldberg, Registry 101: 10 Tips to Creating The Ultimate Wedding Registry, Harper’s Bazaar; Twitter: @harpersbazaarus

16. Give guests the option of buying online or in person. “Some of your guests are going to want to order you a gift online and have it sent to your home directly. Others will want to buy a gift in-store and bring it with them to the wedding. Make sure you offer them both options.” - Casey Slide, Tips for Your Wedding Gift Registry & Etiquette Checklist, Money Crashers; Twitter: @MoneyCrashers

17. You should have more gifts on your registry than guests. “Make sure you have enough gifts. This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many times wedding guests go to pick out a gift and the only thing they find is an empty registry!” – 7 Tips and Tricks For Creating the Perfect Wedding Registry, Woman Getting Married; Twitter: @WomanGetting

18. Replace your chipped or damaged items. “What’s broken or worn out in my kitchen? If you’re getting married right out of school and you have no kitchen equipment to speak of, this probably doesn’t apply. But if you’re like me and you have a fairly well-equipped kitchen already, look over your tools. Are your tongs rusted and falling apart? Is your only stockpot thin and flimsy? Does any lack of equipment trip you up when cooking a basic meal? Look for the sore spots of your kitchen; this would be a good time to replace them.” - Faith Durand, Building (and Pondering) a Wedding Registry, A Practical Wedding; Twitter: @PracticalWed

19. Don’t forget your décor. “[We wish we registered for] more things for our home like picture frames, decorations and specific kitchen appliances and utensils. Be very specific about what you would like and register for MORE than you think you’ll need. We ran into the issue of not registering for enough and we had a lot of repeats." - Peyton Baxter, Bride to Bride Advice: Wedding Registry Tips, The Pink Bride; Twitter: @thepinkbride

Wedding Registry Etiquette

20. Don’t make yourselves look greedy. “While it’s okay 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.” - Anna Post, Wedding Registry Rules of Etiquette, Inside Weddings; Twitter: @InsideWeddings

21. Don’t make people search hard for your registry. “[G]uests appreciate having these details on the wedding website so they don't have go searching for where a couple is registered -- it's actually bad etiquette not to post this information. While this rule has changed over time, Gottsman says it is still in poor taste to put any gift-giving guidelines on your wedding invitations.” - Wedding Etiquette Rules You Can Break, Huffington Post; Twitter: @HuffPost

22. Word of mouth registries can be problematic. “Spreading news of a registry by word of mouth was fine when everyone was from small, tight-knit communities and barely left their hometowns. Now the internet exists, people are all over the place, and it's pretty likely that the person most effectively able to get the word out is you. Go forth, internet-minion, and do my bidding.” - DIYallthethings, My tacky registry: Why I think registry etiquette is bullshit, Off Beat Bride; Twitter: @offbeatempire

23. You can list your registry information (just maybe not on the invite). “Wedding websites have also given couples another terrific option. You can post a link or links to your online registries or list your brick-and-mortar ones with contact information right on your site. Since this is a place for guests to come for practical information about the wedding, such as hotels and flights, registry information will fit right into this helpful category.” - Anna Post, The Etiquette of Wedding Gifts, The Emily Post Institute; Twitter: @EmilyPostInst

24. Don’t add items for an individual. You may include items that one member of the couple will enjoy more than the other, but not gifts that are obviously for just one of you. “Remember that this is about both you so only include items that you and your spouse will use.” - How to Create the Perfect Wedding Registry, BrideBox Wedding Albums Blog; Twitter: @BrideBox

25. Registry information doesn’t go on the Save-The-Dates, either. “While your guests will likely want to know where you're registered, it's in bad taste to include this information on your save-the-dates. Gifts, of course, are not required. You can wait to include a link to your wedding website (where your registry information should live) on an invitation insert, and guests will know to ask bridal party attendants or your parents for the scoop if they need to do so.” - Don't Make These Save-the-Date Mistakes, The Knot; Twitter: @theknot

26. Some couples go all out and create a custom website for their wedding, but it's not an essential – a registry or wish list more than sufficient for many couples. “Fashioning a wedding website is a handy tool for many modern couples, but the practice is by no means a necessary component of wedding planning. If you feel that a dedicated website is not essential for your own big day, by all means skip it.” - Tyler Atwood, Is a Wedding Website Really Necessary?, Brides

27. You can ask for money for your honeymoon. “An emerging trend that’s tempting many millennial brides and grooms is the idea of a honeymoon fund, either through companies catered solely to this purpose, like Honeyfund, or via donation on their nuptial website. Requesting donations to help pay for the many expenses of a honeymoon—travel, accommodations, excursions—is a practical thought, but is the approach, well, tacky? According to top wedding planners, no.” – Lindsay Tigar, Should You Ask Your Friends to Fund Your Honeymoon?, Vogue; Twitter: @voguemagazine

28. If you opt for donations, stay away from controversy. “Where possible, describe how different contributions will be used: ‘$80: rental car for a day of Rob driving us through the hills of Tuscany.’ Donation registries are also fine, but draw the line at anything controversial. A local food bank, yes; a political candidate, no.” - Wedding Registry Etiquette, The Emily Post Institute; Twitter: @EmilyPostInst

29. Get started on your registry sooner rather than later. “It is best to complete your wedding registry four to six months in advance of the wedding date. This allows your wedding shower hosts and guests to start lining things up for the shower. It also gives out-of-town friends who are not able to attend the opportunity to order a gift and have it sent to you.” –The Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Registry Etiquette, Roberts Centre; Twitter: @RobertsCentre

30. You shouldn't just ask for cash outright, however. “Giving money as a gift is no longer considered tacky, but expressly requesting it sure as hell is. Thus, the crapshoot side of this option: you may get some of the money you want, along with stuff you don’t.” – Amalah, The No-Registry Conundrum, Alpha Mom; Twitter: @alphamom

Getting More From Your Registry

31. Don’t forget the bridal shower. “Yes, you should always give both a bridal shower gift and a wedding gift — but you don’t have to break the bank to do so. If you know you’ll be invited to pre-wedding events on top of the big celebration, create an overall 'gift budget.' The largest portion of that budget should go towards the wedding gift, and about 20 percent towards the shower gift.” - Allyson Johnson, The 7 Must-Know Wedding Registry Etiquette Rules for Guests, WeddingWire; Twitter: @WeddingWire

32. Look for deals. “Thoroughly investigate the store's policies regarding how long you have to purchase things off your registry at a discount after your wedding and also find out how long you have to return items for the full value. Make sure you won't be stuck with duplicate items from well-meaning friends who didn't check things off your registry.” - Kristi Kellogg, Where to Register: The 50 Best Wedding Registry Sites & Stores, Brides; Twitter: @KristiKellogg

33. Register somewhere that will reward you. “Wedding registries have further benefits, discounts, and freebies. There are free 'after completion' gifts which mean that certain items on your registry must be purchased before you can get those free gifts. When you look at the various registries, you will often see similar offers from the same vendors and brands. Often registries have additional benefits such as a percent off of remaining items after your wedding date, or even a discount throughout their store for months after the wedding. Some have free gift wrapping and even free shipping so your guests get benefits.” - Stacy Fisher, Free Wedding Registry Gifts and Bonuses, The Balance; Twitter: @thebalance

34. You might be able to score some freebies just for registration. “While you won't be eligible to receive most of these gifts until certain items on your registry have been fulfilled, some stores offer freebies just for registration!” - Caroline Thompson, 100+ Wedding Registry Freebies Every Engaged Couple Should Know About, Brad’s Deals; Twitter: @bradsdeals

35. Learn the lingo. “Called incentives, bonuses or just free gifts, some stores – in conjunction with home goods manufacturers – offer these as a way to encourage you to pick their brand. Can’t decide on the china you want? Maybe that free serving dish from Mikasa will help sway you.” - Wedding Registry Freebies for 2018, Yo! Free Samples; Twitter: @yofreesamples

36. Find the merchant who gives the perks or incentives that matter most to you. “[N]o need to spend it all in one place—or simply give your registry business away to the first vendor who asks for it. Rather, shop around. Look for perks and see which vendor is willing to work hard to gain your trust and your business.” - 5 Ways to Score the Best Wedding Registry Perks, The Krazy Coupon Lady; Twitter: @KrazyCouponLady

37. Think twice before you register for sets. “You know what else can be expensive? Bridal registries. These can be expensive if your guests don’t buy the complete sets that you’ve registered for.” - 7 Best Bridal Registry Programs That Save You Money, Leah Ingram; Twitter: @theleahingram

Don’t Box Yourself In

38. Think of that down payment. “If wedding registries are truly about helping a couple start their life together, there’s nothing more practical than a homebuilding registry. Saving for a down payment or starting a fixer upper fund isn’t easy.” – Katie Stasberg, 7 Unique Spots to Register for Your Wedding (and One That’ll Make You Laugh), Southern Living; Twitter: @Southern_Living

39. Think about paying it forward. Especially the old that gets replaced by the new. “If you truly don't need or want any gifts for your wedding, consider channeling all the goodwill you'll be receiving toward others. Ask for donations to a favorite charity (or charities!) in your name, or consider donating your old stuff (you know, the things you'll be ugrading[sic]) to a local shelter.” - Eleanor Büsing, Creating a Wedding Registry: Tips for Couples Already Living Together, Apartment Therapy; Twitter: @AptTherapy

40. Consider asking for a year’s worth of dates. “Museum memberships will make for a year's worth of dates. Register for a museum membership and you'll have members-only access to special events year-round.” - Courtney Balestier, 15 Seriously Unique Wedding Registry Ideas, Brides

41. Keep in mind traditional gifts aren’t necessarily practical gifts these days. So don’t be afraid to step away from the typical registry items. “Traditional wedding presents no longer make sense in a contemporary context. Our gifting is based on the outdated (and, needless to say, sexist) assumptions of near-universal marriage, a very young age at first marriage, and extremely low expectations of male housekeeping skills.” - Matthew Yglesias, Stop the Scourge of Wedding Presents, Slate; Twitter: @Slate

42. Register for gifts that reflect who you are as a couple. “Wine registries for budding oenophiles and honeymoon registries―where guests can, say, pay for your breakfast in bed while you’re in Fiji―are becoming increasingly popular.” Ingela Ratledge, Wedding Registry Do’s and Don’ts, Real Simple; Twitter: @RealSimple

43. Experiences a couple can share make wonderful gifts. “For the couple whose [home] is already filled-to-the-brim with all sorts of stuff, consider gifting them something that’s not tangible, that they can enjoy together. And what’s more enjoyable than a spa experience right in the comfort of your own home?” - Jenn Sinrich, 10 Must-Have Registry Items If You Already Live Together, WeddingWire; Twitter: @WeddingWire

44. Know yourself. “Don't be a slave to traditional registry lists. If you never cook at home but love to camp, it makes more sense to register for a tent than to request a crystal gravy boat.” - 26 Must-Know Tips to Creating the Best Wedding Registry, The Knot; Twitter: @theknot

45. Still not sure what you want? Two words: gift cards. “Gift cards make things so easy on your guests, and you will be able to put them towards any item, large or small! You won't have to feel guilty if you change your mind on any of your gifts and eliminates the need for returns — just use them to purchase whatever you want!” - Jessica Bishop, The Perfect Wedding Registry Strategy, The Budget Savvy Bride; Twitter: @savvybride

46. Give your guests options that go beyond the ordinary. Especially if you don’t have the space for more stuff. “My husband and I live in a 450-square foot apartment, so after a lot of our registry was already sold out, some guests gave us off-registry gifts that we physically cannot fit in our home. It was so generous of them, but it would have been better if we had selected more gifts, including experiences, that we could accommodate in our space and that fit our taste.” - Wedding Bells: 10 Wedding Registry Tips From a Real Newlywed, LaurenConrad.com, Twitter: @laurenconradcom

47. Even traditional weddings don’t have to have traditional registries. “Consider adding things like the Nintendo Switch, a ClassPass subscription, a custom papercut portrait, or a creme brûlée kit, because having a registry may be a tradition, but traditional products don't have to be on your registry.” - Mallory Mower, 28 Unique Gifts To Put On Your Wedding Registry, BuzzFeed; Twitter: @BuzzFeed

48. For the couple who has everything, think outside the box. “I work at an art gallery called Pace Prints, and they will put together a wedding registry for couples who basically have everything. For example, family and friends can make contributions for a set of prints, and then the couple get[s] to enjoy something that reminds them of their love of art and for each other.” – Elisabeth Passarella, I Wish I’d Registered For...., Real Simple; Twitter: @RealSimple

49. Maybe a honeymoon registry is more your speed. “Honeymoon registries let guests contribute to your first big trip as a married couple, by choosing to cover all or a portion of airfare, hotel rooms, and travel experiences. With a few exceptions, the payments aren't directly applied to those items; you'll receive a lump sum to spend how you wish. A ton of honeymoon registries are out there, but these are the most popular.” – Jessica Hulett, Your Complete Guide to Wedding Registries: The Best Perks, Stores, and More, Deal News; Twitter: @DealNews

50. Include items you need and will both enjoy. “BBQ Grill or grilling accessories. Get your soon-to-be hubby in on the registry action by adding things he will not only enjoy, but get excited about.” - 13 Unexpected Things to Add to Your Wedding Registry, Bridal Guide; Twitter: @bridalguidemag

The simplest way to create your wedding registry? Sign up for Gift Hero – you can add items to your wish list from any retailer and easily share it with your guests.