Do royal couples register for their weddings?

[delineate]

Most people from where I live seem to use registries in two different ways: either they're young, just starting out on their own, and don't have anything (quiet common in KS-people often get married while still in college...let's just say I don't envy them and am in no hurry myself!), or it's a general guideline for people to follow. While they might include a few pricier items, most people don't use it as an excuse to ask for a bunch of big-ticket things. Then again, I suppose what a couple asks for could depend on what kind of social circles they run in. Most people here are middle-class. Maybe this is why some of the things royals ask for could be considered vulgar, but it seems to me that registering among them isn't really common.

[Ditebaby]

ok. So now on the same subject here's another question. And everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Who thinks it's ok for royals to have a registry list and why?

[Lisele]

Originally Posted by Lady Marmalade

Hi Lisele,

And I am sure your had a very elegant affair. How kind and warmhearted of your family, his family, and your friends.

You handled it in a very tasteful manner. I wish you both congratulations and all the best on a long and healthy marriage.

Mine is in October, so I know what you went through. :)

Lady Marmalade,

We had a sunset garden wedding and reception in May of this year and the weather was perfect :) My congratulations and best wishes to you and your husband to be. I'm sure yours will be an elegant affair as well :)

Lis

[susan alicia]

Remember a friend summing up all the presents she and her husband has received to a group and she shrieked "you should all get married, then you get lots of presents" and we thought it was funny and laughed.

Think we expect different behaviour from our royals though so it is not ok anymore, society has changed. Edward and Sophie wanting the presents they did makes them seem greedy and shallow. If they want that kind of expensive extravagant junk they can buy it themselves.

Originally Posted by Ditebaby

ok. So now on the same subject here's another question. And everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Who thinks it's ok for royals to have a registry list and why?

[Little_star]

I've always been a bit wary of the whole "wedding list" idea. In my culture it's traditional to give the bride and groom money to help them start off with their new life, so in some ways the "wedding list" idea is quite alien. Although, it's becoming increasingly common as more and more people opt for it.

For a Royal couple to have a wedding list is just plain tacky, donations for a charity of their choice should be sufficient.

[Veronica]

Prince Laurent and Claire registered at a very chic interior decoration store. Their list had a number of expensive items but also some fun gifts such as wastepaper baskets with dogs in uniform on them -- the latter has become a very fashionable item to have
Every decoration magazine in Belgium now shows furniture and objects from that store (Flamant Home Interiors). Nice but expensive!!!

[Lady Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Lisele

Lady Marmalade,

We had a sunset garden wedding and reception in May of this year and the weather was perfect :) My congratulations and best wishes to you and your husband to be. I'm sure yours will be an elegant affair as well :)

Lis

Thank you Lisele, that sounds so romantic and beautiful. I am nervous, but so much looking forward to it. As long as it does not rain! :)

Nicole

[GrandDuchess]

In Sweden we haven't had this tradition of registering for gifts at stores for weddings, it's only in recent years that I've seen this in some places, but it's by no mean common. Instead it's a common thing that the bridal couple wish for something, often for their new home, but that is done by asking and answering, or sending a small list to the guests.

So unless the Swedish Royal Family will start to follow other customs, I doubt the royal children will register somewhere officially, but instead it will be kept between the guests and them. Unless it leaks out of course... :)

[Lady Marmalade]

Now those will be some beautiful weddings..when the royal children marry...I for one would come to Sweden to Victoria marry..

[florawindsor]

here in my country we usu. give new couples cash which is wrapped in red paper at the wedding reception.
isn't it a bit odd for the royals to have a wishlist? they have so much money, if they want anything they can buy them.

[iowabelle]

I think it's practical for a couple to register so they don't wind up with 3 toasters, etc. and have the hassle of returning items. They can get what they want. But I do think it's bad to only sign up for pricier things because you always have friends and relatives who want to give things but can't afford very much.

It would seem unnecessary for royals who have so much more money than everyone else.

[Lady Marmalade]

Someone earlier on had alluded that showers are just excuses to ask for gifts and that they are tacky and lowbrow.

Well, here in the U.S. at least, when a woman announces she is getting married, first marriage I am talking about, all the other females she knows, whether they are friends and family, will start asking about the wedding shower, who is going to give it, and where she is registered and what she wants. Women here take an active interest in giving at showers no matter what your financial status is or social class, showers, big or small, are still part of the wedding cycle and there is nothing tacky about as the actual brides, 99.9% of them, would never expect or ask any of their female friends or family to give them anything at all.

[Isabel]

Originally Posted by Lady Marmalade

Someone earlier on had alluded that showers are just excuses to ask for gifts and that they are tacky and lowbrow.

Well, here in the U.S. at least, when a woman announces she is getting married, first marriage I am talking about, all the other females she knows, whether they are friends and family, will start asking about the wedding shower, who is going to give it, and where she is registered and what she wants. Women here take an active interest in giving at showers no matter what your financial status is or social class, showers, big or small, are still part of the wedding cycle and there is nothing tacky about as the actual brides, 99.9% of them, would never expect or ask any of their female friends or family to give them anything at all.

I agree.

This is a huge tradition in the U.S. Of course, there will always be people who take advantage of a situation like this. But, this is something that is done in good faith by those who buy gifts for the couple. Many people don't complain because it is meant to help the couple start their life off together.

In the U.S. people not only have bridal showers, but also baby showers and housewarming parties. These are usually given by friends of the bride or mother-to-be, or the owner of a new home. The only thing that could be considered tacky about this is if the bride or mother were to throw her own shower, specifically for soliciting gifts. It would also be tacky for someone to throw their own housewarming party.

It is done, in my opinion, in most cases with the best of intentions and only out of the spirit of generosity.

[Lady Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Isabel

I agree.

This is a huge tradition in the U.S. Of course, there will always be people who take advantage of a situation like this. But, this is something that is done in good faith by those who buy gifts for the couple. Many people don't complain because it is meant to help the couple start their life off together.

In the U.S. people not only have bridal showers, but also baby showers and housewarming parties. These are usually given by friends of the bride or mother-to-be, or the owner of a new home. The only thing that could be considered tacky about this is if the bride or mother were to throw her own shower, specifically for soliciting gifts. It would also be tacky for someone to throw their own housewarming party.

It is done, in my opinion, in most cases with the best of intentions and only out of the spirit of generosity.

I know. My maid of honor gave me one as I knew it would not be proper for my mother to have one for me. That is the biggest faux pas.

I never expected her to, she absolutely insisted.

[Genevieve]

Depending on what you register for I think some gifts are appreciated. If a couple registers for very extravagant things that are very expensive, that is a bit disrespectful to their guests. But if a couple has a new home together and are in need of things like a toaster, an iron, cutlery or things like that, such gifts can be very helpful, especially if it is a young couple or a first marriage.

Where I draw the line is when couples getting married for the second (or more) times registers. That is so declasse.

[Lady Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Genevieve

Depending on what you register for I think some gifts are appreciated. If a couple registers for very extravagant things that are very expensive, that is a bit disrespectful to their guests. But if a couple has a new home together and are in need of things like a toaster, an iron, cutlery or things like that, such gifts can be very helpful, especially if it is a young couple or a first marriage.

Where I draw the line is when couples getting married for the second (or more) times registers. That is so declasse.

I agree with you. I only registered for the normal types of gifts such as flatware, pots and pans, my china, etc.

I would never register for say a big screen TV, that is just not right.

One more thing, in the U.S. it is becoming very common for the groom to be to attend the wedding shower now.

I gave mine the option if he wanted to and he did. To which I give him credit and love him even more as it was not easy to be around 60 crazy ladies for 5 hours or so.. :)