Once you get engaged, it?s time to start planning the wedding. There are so many things to do it can be difficult to figure out what needs to be done first! Well, as a courtesy to your guests, you should consider making your wedding registry a priority. Here are some things to keep in mind as you decide when to register:

Determine the Length of Your Engagement

Whether or not you register right away will largely depend on the length of your engagement. If you get engaged but don?t plan on getting married for over a year, you may want to wait to register until the date is at least set. Some people get engaged and then want to enjoy a long engagement. There?s no need to register until you begin planning the actual wedding.

Register Before the Bridal Shower

If you register a few months before your wedding, it might be too late. In fact, most guests tend to shop on the registry primarily for the bridal shower and then gift money for the wedding itself. Although every guest is different, it?s incredibly important to register in time for the bridal shower. However, if the bridal shower won?t be happening for over a year, there?s no need to rush to create your registry.

Be Mindful of People Who Can?t Attend

Another reason why it is important to register for your gifts early is because you need to give those who won?t be attending your wedding enough time to send you a gift. Once they get the shower or wedding invitation they will often know right away whether or not they are able to attend. At this point, they?ll want to select a gift right away so that they can send it to you with their regrets. If you haven?t registered yet, you miss out on the opportunity to get a gift that you really want.

Don?t Be Afraid to Be Unconventional

One thing to keep in mind once you do put together your wedding registry is that it is okay to be unconventional. For instance, you can ask your guests to help you pay for your honeymoon or help you make a down payment on a new home. However, no matter what you?d like, you need to let them know as soon as you can by including it in your registry. As a general rule, you should put together your registry right after you get engaged only if you are getting married within a year. If your engagement is going to be longer than a year, you should register about 9 months to a year before the actual wedding to give your guests a chance to shop your registry before the bridal shower. If you have an engagement party, you should consider registering even earlier than that. Remember that the registry is designed to make your guests? lives easier, and registering in a timely manner is part of that.