How Do We Get Started?
Some friends and relatives may want to get you a gift as soon as they hear about your engagement, so it's best to register, at least for a few items, early on. If you're having an engagement party or a shower, try to register at least a month beforehand. Don't feel pressured to make all of your choices at once; you can always go back and fill in or edit your list later.

While it's possible these days to set up a registry and pick out items entirely online, you should visit a store at some point to take a look at everything in person. In addition to everyday items -- towels, sheets, cookware, and the like -- consider special pieces. "A wedding gift should feel important to the giver and the recipient," says Franklin Getchell, president of Moss, a design store in New York City. "Now's the time to go for fine china and crystal stemware." Select items in a range of prices, based on your current tastes. "Registrants should not only think about what they need now, but also what they might need five years from now," says Chrissy Yonaites of Crate and Barrel. Keep an eye on your list as the months go by -- if items are sold out or discontinued, replace them with something else.