I was clicking around the WWW recently when I stumbled across a blog post called "11 Tech Items to Consider for Your Wedding Registry." And proceeded to spit coffee all over my laptop. {But don't worry! It seems I'm allowed to register for a new one! } I'm not naming any blog names, but here's the list:
1. DSLR camera, like the Nikon D800
2. Laptop
3. iPad
4. Flat-screen TV
5. Record player, like this affordable Wood Turntable
6. iPod speakers
7. Blu-ray player
8. Gaming system
9. Stereo system with surround sound
10. The Nest Thermostat
11. High-tech washer-dryer
I know I tend to be old-fashioned when it comes to registries, but lots of the items on this list made me cringe. The writer did check in with etiquette pro Anna Post, who said it's fine to have tech-y items on your registry, which I agree with, but I'm wondering if she shared the above list of "a few basic items to consider."
For starters, No. 1 is a THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR camera. I'm all for adding registry gifts that multiple guests can chip in for, but this just seems greedy.
2, 3, 4, and 9could be OK, as long as you're not asking for top-of-the-line models. A laptop can start in the $200 range and a small flat-screen in the mid-$100s. But all of these can easily cost into the thousands. And I know there are other standard registry times that cost a few hundred dollars (a KitchenAid stand mixer, All-Clad pots and pans), but generally speaking, those are items that will last a lifetime. I've literally gone through three laptops in the time I've had my KitchenAid. And personally, I'd rather not buy a couple a gift that's going to be in a landfill (or at least be totally outdated) in five years.
5, 6, and 7 I'm OK with. It's fun to have some not-too-serious items on your registry, and they're all around the $100 mark. (Although again, I'm partial to items that stand the test of time, and I wonder about the shelf-life of all of these.)
I'm sorry, but 8 just kind of grosses me out. I don't care if you play video games, but buy your own PlayStation. You could certainly argue that your hobby is gaming where mine is baking, but I don't know. Just ick.
10, a $250 thermostat, feels gimmick-y to me. I guess if you have a bunch of traditional registry items and you want to throw that into the mix, fine.
And a high-tech washer and dryer, 11, are edging their way into "greedy" territory in my book. The cheapest front-loading washer I found was pushing $600, and the matching dryer cost the same. And these were the basic-fancy models. The fancy-fancy models were $1,300-plus.
I guess I'd be more comfortable with this list if it had some parameters. Like, "Here's a specific high-tech washer that is well-priced and offers a bunch of great features." But I don't think brides and grooms should consider this list a green light to go on a high-tech gift grab.
And of course it's a little tougher to set up a wedding registry if you already live with your groom and own a bunch of stuff, but I'd rather upgrade my dishes (and donate the old ones) than have my wedding guests think I'm greedy.
Am I being too uptight? Would you be weirded out if you saw a $3,000 camera on a friend's wedding registry? Or is that just what the kids are asking for these days?