(Photo Credit: Crate & Barrel)

Guest Post by Amy from Belles on a Budget

You’re getting married! Congratulations! One of your first wedding planning tasks will be to register for gifts for your new life together. Wedding registries are great because guests will know for sure that their gift will be loved and used and there is a reduced chance of duplicate gifts. Not all guests will use the registry, but it is nice to have it as an option for those who prefer to purchase gifts this way.

With that being said, not all registries are created equal! When considering what store or stores to register with, you’ll want to consider: a) which stores have products you like and the type of items you need for your home, b) the price point of the items- make sure you have a variety of price ranges to accommodate all budgets, c) the store’s convenience to your guests- even if online shopping is available, it is nice to have some brick and mortar stores that guests can visit so they aren’t forced to pay shipping fees, and d) the perks the registry offers to you and your guests.

Here are some of my favorite wedding registries because of all the extra goodies they offer to either engaged couples or wedding guests purchasing gifts. These benefits can really add up and could mean hundreds of dollars in savings and some quality freebies for your married life!

Bed Bath and Beyond
My favorite thing about Bed Bath and Beyond is that they are incredibly coupon-friendly! They send tons of 20% off a single item coupons or $5 off $15 coupons to everyone on their mailing list. (Tip: Make sure to have your parents or wedding party spread the word about the coupons to other guests. One recent bride told me she assumed everyone knew about the coupons and then felt badly when she found out her future mother-in-law paid full price for her gift!). Free gift wrapping stations at each store, with boxes, wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper and ribbon allow guests to wrap their gifts right after they make their purchases. This definitely helps with the cost of wrapping paper! Bed Bath and Beyond also offers a 10% registry completion discount, but I would recommend using your 20% off coupons instead for the most bang for your buck. Plus, their registry referral program gets you a $25 gift card for every friend you refer who registers there.

Crate & Barrel
Did you know that Crate & Barrel offer wedding events for brides and grooms?! At this events (which are closed to outside customers!), you’ll snag free food and free gifts like toasting flutes, and you’ll be able to browse and select items for your registry.
Plus, you get a 10% off completion discount on any items you buy from your registry within six months after your wedding which can include furniture. (Tip: Consider adding furniture to your registry, especially if you plan on buying it after your wedding. This will qualify the furniture for the completion discount!)

Dillard’s
Dillard’s offers brides and grooms a hefty 20% off completion discount on all items left on their registry for 60 days after the big day.

Kohl’s
Kohl’s has several free gift offers that will get you some nice freebies if you register for certain products. Guests save 15% off a $50 in-store registry purchase when they present one of your registry announcement cards at checkout. You also get a 15% completion discount for items left on your registry.

JCPenney
When you register, make sure to sign up for the free registry rewards program. This program gives you points based on how much your guests purchase off your registry which means you can earn up to a $50 gift card for free! Plus, you can snag free gifts when you register for certain products too. In addition, all couples receive a free engagement portrait session when they register.
Guests receive free shipping on any registry purchases of $69 or more- perfect for all of those online shoppers! JCPenney offers a 10% completion discount on registry items for 90 days after your wedding date.

Macy’s
Macy’s is one of my favorite places for registries because of their Star Rewards Program. Here’s how it works: You register at Macy’s and after your big day, you get a gift card worth 5% of all the gifts purchased from your registry and an additional 10% of any purchases you make with your Macy’s credit card during that time. You do need to have a Macy’s credit card to participate in the program, but it is free and you can always cancel after your wedding. There is a lot of potential here to score a substantial free gift card! Brides get a free tote bag when you register (Fun and very useful for hauling your wedding binder to vendor meetings). Macy’s even hosts Sip and Scan events for brides and grooms where you can enjoy free drinks and appetizers while you register. Sounds like a fun cheap date night to me! You also get a 10% completion discount for items left on your registry that is good for 90 days after your wedding date.

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn gives you a 10% completion discount on any items left on your registry or any items that you wish to add to your registry for six months after your wedding day. This could help you save big on large items like furniture!

Target
Target offers couples a 10% off completion coupon for items left on your registry. Make sure you also pick up the registry welcome kit when you visit the store- it includes bonus coupons!

Williams Sonoma
You get a 10% discount on any registry items or additional items you would like to purchase within six months after your wedding. Couples receive free gifts for registering for certain products depending on vendor offers, such as gift cards or free items.

Knowing each registry’s perks will help you make the best choice for the two of you and for your guests. Do what works for your lifestyle and register for the things that you really plan on using- no one wants their gift to be stuck in a cabinet forever! And have fun with it! Revel in being showered with a little love at the stores and enjoy planning your future together. Congratulations!

Go to Belles on a Budget for more tips, deals, inspiration, and advice for planning a wedding on a budget!