A registry problem

Q. We want to register for our wedding but don't want the same cookie-cutter linens and china that most people give as presents. How can we get what we really want without just shopping ourselves?

A. Multiple registries are your best bet if you don't want your entire home set up in the same pattern (kidding, sort of).

Start by registering at the more traditional retailers, like Crate & Barrel, Macy's or Target. These stores are perfect for everything from pillows and throws to furniture and light fixtures. If your new home is a fixer-upper or you're a DIY addict, register at Home Depot or Lowe's. You can add anything from a new washer and dryer to hardwood flooring.

Another option (the guys will love this one) is to register at an electronics store. Go ahead and add that Nintendo Wii to your wish list and keep your fingers crossed for the group gift!

(Carley Roney, co-founder and editor in chief of The Knot, the nation's leading wedding resource, advises millions of brides on modern wedding etiquette at www.theknot.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)