How do you handle the overpriced registry?

I say you wrap the gift card in a box :)

There is no rule that says a gift card must be put in a card. I wrap them in boxes all the time. You still get to have them open something, but they also get something they want :)

Honey, this is 2011 not 1911. She can buy her own expensive hand towels with her own money.

Here's a gift guide.

Give what you can without blowing your own personal budget. The bride and groom would be horrified if your utilities were disconnected because you spent your bill money on their overpriced gift.

A good rule of thumb - is to total up what you and your significant other would spend on a night out and give that amount. If a night out means fast food and a budget movie, then give that amount. If you're well-heeled enough to afford reservations at Chateau Les Big Bucks and box seats at the Opera, then give that amount.

In truth, $50 - $75 is quite generous indeed for a person on a limited income. How about just stuffing a $50 into a "money card," signing it, and leaving it on the gift table with all the other envelopes.? Then she too can go to the outlet mall where she usually shops and buy her hand towels there.

As for this foolishness of "I don't like to deviate from the registry" business - get over that. Like now, because you sound like a Wedding Nazi talking. You're not in a position to look like Mr/Ms Fat-Cat anyway. So just give cold hard cash.

Again, $50 is a very generous gift.

I just ran across the same problem a month ago. I mean they even had televisions on there for four hundred and two hundred dollar toasters. I thought it was rude and tacky. Not to mention they had six pages of stuff on there. I already planned on giving them a hundred bucks for the wedding present so they can put it towards their honeymoon. I ended up picking the thirty dollar picture frame and a nice card. With this being said, she recieved things that werent on the registry at her bridal shower like neglige's and such. You can get creative and give her a more memorable present like wedding night "care package" complete with fuzzy handcuffs, oils and a sexy nighty.......or a nice robe that says bride to wear on the wedding day, or something similiar. I would not get a sixty dollar towel set, no matter how much money i had. Its just the principle of it. Well that is just me, but If you dont want to get whats on the registry, then dont. JUst put some thought into it.

I try to find the same items at different stores. For example, if the person has pyrex baking dishes registered at Crate and Barrell for $25, I might go to Target and get the exact same set for $12.99 or if I'm lucky, Ross or Marshalls for $7.99. Or, if they want Oxo Goodgrips kitchen utensils from bed bath and beyond, I'll usually find the exact same ones at TJ Maxx. In the event that I cannot find the same items in other stores, I'll usually buy a $50 gift card at the store where they registered and a tasteful, inexpensive practical item that may not be on the registry from a discount store (such as oven mitts, pretty candles, a picture frame). There have been times, I've gone for the "theme" gift, such as dinner and a movie for two (gift cards), or a picnic basket with a bottle of wine inside (and if I can find them for a low price, 2 glasses or a picnic blanket). I try to utilize discount websites like groupon or travelzoo, and sometimes score great symphony tickets or dinner for two packages at fancy restaurants for %50 off. Lastly, if I'm out of ideas, I look at the color schemes and style of what's on the registry, and I buy something that would go along those lines that isn't on the registry but is in my price range. Hopefully, it will "go" with everything the couple receives from their registry.

What you should do is put a check or gift card into a shower card then wrap the whole card in a box. Basically trick her into wondering what you got her and that she has to unwrap something.

Usually I just buy what I know the person needs if I am close to that person. I usually buy small items and make a pretty basket for them because the wrapping is actually more important that what is inside! People are amazed by simple baskets I put together because I make sure they look so pretty and expensively wrapped (even though it wasnt expensive to wrap).

I think you should get silver paper and ribbons and wrap the gift card with the card in a box and make it look very pretty like you had it professionally wrapped.

Another thought is that people love 'crate and barrel' and they wrap items for free in a white box. I would go down and buy a set of nice drinking glasses and maybe wrap the outside of the box. People think WOW crate and barrel and yet that store does have low priced items like glasses for 1.25 each (so I usually get 4 tall and 4 short glasses and maybe wine or martini glasses). If you think she could use more glasses dont use the registry and go to crate and barrel and buy necessities you can afford there. And just ask for a gift receipt so she can exchange it if she really wants to.

Buy the towels you can afford, present them nicely in a basket with other small bath accessories- fancy soaps and a loofah won't break the bank.

Don't over think it, its just a bridal shower. I personally would be appreciative of ANYTHING I received from my registry.....after all, you register for it because you really want/need it. If your fear is that the bride won't be happy with your gift unless you go over the top, then you should question why you'd attend the shower/wedding at all.

The bridal registry is just a guide. You can buy whatever you think the bride would need or like. There's nothing wrong with limiting your gift to one set of towels which would appear to be within your budget.

You shouldn't feel cornered into spending an arm and a leg on a wedding present. It's NOT an obligation or a way to repay the couple for your head cost at the reception or any other crazy bridezilla notion going around. Only spend what you want to and what you can afford. You absolutely do NOT have to get a gift from their registry, especially if everything is really expensive. If you want to get them towels and washcloths, go for it. It's not a crappy gift at all. That's so expensive!

Another idea is to buy similar items to their registry either at a discount store or a cheap store like Ikea. A friend of mine registered for a salad spinner, which was the cheapest thing on her registry (like $30). I'm self-employed and business is slow, so I seriously didn't have $30. I mean... I was "choose between student loan payment and wedding present broke." I went to Ikea and found their private label salad spinner for $3. I was so excited! Spent a couple bucks on a pretty bag and tissue paper and they loved it. I got one for myself, too, and I believe it works better than the real "Salad Spinner." You can also find good deals at Ollie's Outlet and Big Lots and most stores have online printable coupons on their websites.

Funny story: I remember registering for nice, expensive, plushy towels when I was engaged... and someone got them for us. And they ended up being overpriced garbage. The towels didn't dry us off very well. The washcloths wouldn't lather in the shower. Everything shrunk in weird ways. We ended up buying $3 Walmart towels and they've served us well for 4 years. It's a dread to find that the only clean towel in the morning rush is one of our registry towels lol. I usually use them to lay near the front door when it's raining so I can wipe my dog's paws with them.

Not crappy at all. The fact that you are asking about this, shows the thought you are putting in to it, and as they say, it is the thought that counts.

I think a gift card is a fine idea. In fact it is very useful especially if the couple gets a partial set of something and needs to complete it. If you want them to have something to open it, consider wrapping the gift card. Personally, I like to wrap a gift card in the biggest box I can find.

Depending on the price of the full bath towel, I'd probably do one bath towel, one hand towel & one washcloth. Wrap it up nicely as a set with some ribbon, maybe tie on some bath salts with the ribbon. Now normally I'd give towel sets in twos but the bride should have thought about that when she registered for such expensive stuff! Why anyone would need a $12 washcloth to wash their..umm...well behind with is beyond me lol.

It is a perfectly lovely shower gift to give a set of towels, one each size as long as you can keep it within your budget. No reason to worry