Planning a wedding is often one of the most exciting times in a bride's life, and with the increasing theatricality of the wedding industry, it is also one of the most overwhelming. If you use a little bit of forethought and advance planning; however, creating a bridal gift registry is one of the easiest and most fun tasks in the whole process. Once considered highly taboo and showing a gross lack of etiquette, bridal registries are now almost universally considered par for the course when planning a wedding.

Getting started

Even before heading into that first store, carefully consider what kind of registry you want to create. With so many couples these days marrying later in life, they often do not need the same essentials that were wedding gift staples for so many years. A couple in their mid-thirties or older likely has no need for a toaster, blender or towels that a younger couple may need. And while the mother of the bride might urge her to register for multiple sets of elegant dinnerware per tradition, this fine set could go unused through the years.

Where to go

It may come as a surprise to realize just how many different options exist for registries in this day and age. Naturally, department stores offer plenty of options for the bride who wants to go the traditional route. For an active, outdoor loving couple, some sporting goods stores have registries, allowing couples to register for things like bikes, kayaks, tents and sleeping bags. Grilling gear, gym equipment, luggage and power tools are also items to consider.

Perhaps the most important consideration is who is buying the items from the registry. Couples need to consider both the financial and geographical situations of their guests. Registering at two or three places that run the gamut from upscale and pricey like Macy's, to more affordable places like Walmart or Target, is a good idea. And if the guest list stretches across the country, choose stores that have locations nationwide instead of local boutiques. Getting creative

While still a little unusual, and sometimes not as accepted as traditional registries, couples also have a growing number of more "exotic" options. Couples who feel that they truly want for nothing are increasingly requesting donations to charity in lieu of gifts. And although some people consider them little more than asking for cash indirectly, two other increasingly popular options are honeymoon registries, where guests can contribute to a couple's honeymoon fund, and "big ticket item" registries, where guests can contribute to the couple's large purchases, such as a home or furnishings for it.

Make it fit

An essential, but often overlooked consideration is your personality. It may sound greedy, but when registering, consider what it is that you want. Registering for toasters and towels is easy and not likely to cause any raised eyebrows. Picking china patterns and considering numbers of place settings can feel traditional and fun. But if these items are not things you want and can actually use, it completely defeats the purpose of registering for them. Few things are more disappointing than looking at a china cabinet full of never-used dishes and thinking of the flat screen TV you should have put on the registry instead.

Bridal registries are increasingly accepted and even expected. They offer an easy, convenient way for you to make sure you have what you need, and for guests to feel secure that their gift is something the couple truly wants. The more effectively a couple uses their registry options, the happier everyone is in the end.

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