Is a registry necessary?

Honest opinion I think you should still do a registry. Most guest will try to bring a gift for the couple getting married. My creating a registry you will give them ideas or the guest can even pitch in for a gift card. I don't think its rude to setup a register at all, just make sure the items you select are varied in price so people have plenty of options to choose from.

If you don't create a registry then you may get gifts for things that you already have.

I would still do a registry. FH attended some weddings when he was in college and completely broke. Even though he was barely making rent, he still gave them a gift. We are generous with our gifts now, but back then, the amount given was nowhere near what we give now. But my point is that I would never show up to a wedding without a gift.

It's very kind of you to say that you don't expect anything of them, but most of them will still give SOMETHING. So, I would make a very small registry, with very affordable items on it. You don't have to spread the word in any way, but it is out there for those that google search your name for your registry.

Could you create a registry and just add cheaper things, we have several things that range from $10 to $25, because we want to give people options.

Your family will probably appreciate a registry, you can add some higher priced items for them.

I would also spread word by mouth that you by no means expect a gift and presence is gift enough (Don't add that to the invitation though ).

I also know it's weird, but somehow I would rather give for example Hand Towels worth $10 than just a check for $10. I'm sure most of your friends will give you something, or they might just get together and pool their money to get you something a bit bigger. Even if I would have to eat ramen for a week, I'd get my friend a wedding gift.

Choose a place and register there. I would do at least one, otherwise people that do want to give you gifts could get creative. And god knows when people get creative with wedding gifts they can be crazy and also not exchangeable or returnable. Register for all prices of things too, I have a wide range on ours: from a $400 juicer that FH wants to $2.00 canning labels.

I would still do a small registry. Add things like others have listed. Avoid kitchen aid mixers and Dyson vacuum's.

Thanks everyone! I will talk to FH and see about setting up a small registry with maybe a few larger items for family and a good variety of cheaper items for friends who want to give something.

We didn't do a registry. I just don't need anymore stuff. I did reference this on our wedding website so guests weren't confused and wondering what to buy.

Yep, I think you should still do a registry too. Don't forget too that friends can also chip in together to buy a larger gift if they want. When I was newly out of college, I liked buying off a registry because I could get a few small kitchen gadgets and still feel like I was getting them something they would use, and I could use coupons.

My brother & his wife were in the same situation when they got married. They didn't setup a registry (although many guests would have preferred one!), but they did make it known that guests could give gifts of art if desired. Many of their friends are artistically inclined & those gifts were presented at the reception. It was beautiful & personal & made the guests who couldn't afford gifts feel they had a way to give to the couple. They had everything from music & dance, to poetry, art prints & crafts.

A wedding registry, I realized is not necessary. We didn't include a registry card but sent our wedding website (which included our registry info) on our details card. Most didn't even realize we had a registry and those people who wanted to gift us something gave us cash.

We've been married two years and own a home together in which we have everything we need. We're not doing a registry. I am also not having a bridal shower

We also own our home and are not having a bridal shower (that I know of) and aren't doing a registry. I still have items in boxes all over my garage that I received as gifts when we bought our house.