There are two times in your life when it is ok to tell people exactly what to get you as a gift- for weddings and babies. While it is purely acceptable and expected for you to do this, you have to be nice about it. There are some basic etiquette rules to follow to make sure that your friends and family are not offended or inconvenienced by your bridal registry :

1. First of all, take care of this as soon as possible. There is so much to do when planning New Orleans weddings that the bridal registry may fall by the wayside. If you wait until the last minute to set it up, it puts undo pressure on your guests. They might need time to plan and budget for your gift. Remember that the world does not really revolve around you and your guests don't want to have to scramble to get the list and finally get your present with days to spare. Also, if you wait too long, people will get you whatever they want and that can be bad for you!
2. Make sure you choose some places that have online shopping or are nationwide stores. There are a lot of great gift ideas for New Orleans weddings , but not all of your guests will have access to some of the shops and boutiques where you are registered. Most major chain stores have online registries that will take care of wrapping and shipping for the person and in today's busy world that is a great convenience.
3. Because this is your wish list, you may be tempted to go crazy and put everything you ever wanted on the bridal registry . That's okay as long as you have a wide range of prices for people to choose from. Put everything from a measuring cup to your fine china so that there is something everyone can afford. If you receive duplicate items, be gracious and don't call attention to it. You can always get store credit or exchange it for another item you did not receive.
4. Never ever offer up the information about your registry unless you are asked. The only invitation that should contain the info is for your showers. It is in poor taste to put the information on your wedding and reception invitations. Also, make sure your bridesmaids and the mothers know so that they can pass along the info when asked.
5. Keep to tradition and be a little unique with your registry. For the older guests, they want to set up your home with dishes and linens. Your friends may want to throw you a "Bar and BBQ Shower" or other couple-type showers. So, be sure to register for those traditional items, but don't forget to include unique items that express who you are as a couple. If you want to stock a bar or do some gourmet grilling, there are specialty shops that have registries as well.
6. Be prompt with thank you notes. Yes, everyone knows that you have up to a year to get the notes out, but when a guest gets a thank you card a year later, it just calls to her attention how long it has been. Have your bridesmaids help you by writing down who gave what and acquiring the proper addresses at each shower. Once you are back from the honeymoon, get started and make your groom help. Personalize each note by mentioning the specific gift and how you can use it.

Have fun with your list and let your groom have a say so that you both benefit. Just because times are changing and tradition is becoming more casual, the rules of grace and etiquette still apply when it comes to wedding registries.