How to Plan a Gift Registry for Your Same-Sex Marriage

Even if your marriage is not acknowledged by the state you live in, you can still have a commitment ceremony and by all means register for gifts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Be creative, and remember that you don't have to register for china and silver. Gay and lesbian couples break a lot of rules to create a household, and the antiquated views on bridal registries can be another casualty of progress, if you want.

2. Fear not, however, if you do want glasses, plates and towels as gifts at your ceremony. Many department stores offer - or at least accept - registries for same-sex couples. Just ask, and then be pushy if they give you any trouble.

3. Consider something completely different. What new couple couldn't use gifts from a home improvement store?

4. Seek out a travel agency that accepts gift registries and register with them for the trip of your - and your partner's - dreams, then let your friends help you pay for it.

5. Find a mortgage company or bank that accepts registries and sign up with them. China and silver, after all, are useless if you can't afford the house to put them in.

6. Share the joy of your commitment ceremony and send a positive message about gays and lesbians at the same time by asking your friends to make charitable contributions to an organization of your choice - or theirs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel awkward about registering for gifts, just think about how much easier it will be for your family and friends to get you something you actually want or need.
• While gifts are a part of many of life's important events, remember that the ceremony itself is more important than the gifts, so try not to get hung up on them. You'll probably consider them a small detail when you look back on the day.

[MarcusMann]

on 6/5/2008 Check out MyRegistry.com. A lot of our friends have relied on this gift-registry website for years – MyRegistry gets it. Going online is a lot easier than going into stores and dealing with nosy store clerks while trying to register for what you want. At MyRegistry, couples aren’t forced to list the names of a bride and a groom, you list whatever names you want - however you want. It’s especially friendly for people planning non-traditional weddings, and unlike a lot of the other GLBT registry sites, people can pick items from any type of store or website they want – no matter how bizarre or unusual. There’s even a way to discreetly request cash instead of gifts. It’s incredibly easy to set up, and easy to use. We highly recommend it!