Bridal registries are a staple of any wedding, and often one couple will have more than one registry. Registering for gifts before your wedding ensures that you and your husband will have all the supplies you need in order to start your lives together.

Registering

When an engaged couple has "registered" at a store, that means that the pair has chosen a selection of items they want. The store keeps that registry, or list of desired gifts, on file so that customers can shop for the bride and groom.

Items Included

Brides and grooms usually register for household items so they can put together their home without having to buy everything themselves. They will register for linens, china, silverware, cookware and home decor items.

Pricing

Couples usually include a variety of items on a registry, some of which are expensive (such as fine china or silver) and some of which are less expensive (such as kitchen utensils or small home decor items). This way, guests with a variety of spending options will be able to choose a gift for the couple.

Shopping for a Bride

When you are invited to a wedding or bridal shower, it is customary to purchase a gift for the new couple. Buying a gift from the bridal registry ensures that you buy something the couple really wants; in addition, the store will remove the item from the registry after you purchase it so no one else will buy the same thing.

Bridal Showers

Bridal registries provide friends of the couple with a guideline for shopping. Then, typically, the bride's friends and family members will throw her a bridal shower, which is a party where she will receive gifts for her new life as a married woman. The bridal registry helps to ensure that the bride receives the gifts she truly wants at her shower.

Source:

The Knot Bridal Registry Guide

Wedding Channel Bridal Registry Etiquette