Want to make it easy on yourself? Zola’s Planner can help you figure out how many gifts you need at each price point based on the number of guests attending your wedding. Consider a cooking class experience to complement your new pots and pans, or a honeymoon fund to go with the suitcases you’re asking for. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to shy away from the splurge items you’ve been eyeing. Register for that Vitamix you’ve been dreaming of, and mark it for Group Gifting, which lets multiple friends contribute to a gift. It’s also okay to register for cash, but do it creatively (i.e., a down payment for your home, plants for the aspiring gardener, etc.).

And here’s a bonus tip: Add extra gifts (under $100) early on so that there are options for your engagement party and wedding shower, too!

Don’t Be Afraid To Exchange!

We know they mean well, but it’s okay to tell your parents’ friends not to bring actual gifts to your wedding. That tradition is one that’s no longer necessary, thanks to online shopping. As a bonus, when your guests shop online, you get to control when you receive each gift. With Zola’s Send It Later feature you can ship the blender you can’t wait to use, but hold off on the crystal you don’t have room for yet.

Have a #HASHTAG

While you and your groom may want to wait for the professional photos before sharing pictures of the big day, we have to face the fact that it’s the age of the iPhone and your guests certainly won’t wait. How can you get around this? Control all the snaps with a wedding hashtag. Zola’s #Love feature on their iPhone app (yes, you can have your entire wedding registry set up on an app!) let’s you see all of the tagged Twitter and Instagram posts with your wedding hashtag in one place.

Say Thank You!

One tradition that you should still stick to? Handwritten thank you notes. The age-old saying is that you have a year to write them, but trust us when we say that your guests want to know you’re enjoying their gift a little bit sooner than that. It’s also a good way to let your guests know that your gift has arrived, and wasn’t lost in some mailing snafu—which is why we love Zola. With Zola’sAlerts & Thank You Manager, you’ll get notified whenever someone buys you a gift. Send your guests a text message with a quick thank you (before you have time to write the thank you note and put it in the mail) to avoid those “have you gotten my gift” calls from your friends. Then, when you’re ready to start writing, export a list of who gave you what and when to make the process painless. Talk about organization!

Reblogged from Lauren Conrad