Target is the new Tiffany

I never really understood the idea of registering at stores when you get married. I always kind of thought it is was a little bizarre for a couple to tell people what to buy them instead of having faith in your friends and family's gift-choices (though my girlfriend just told me it's to avoid getting "like" thirty blenders, which I suppose is true). Anyway, apparently more and more people are registering at (shudder) Target and (vomit) Wal-Mart. That's the new America for you. From Reuters:

About a third of brides reported registering at specialty stores like Crate & Barrel and Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., while another third registered at stores with a broad scope of discounted products, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target.

The remaining third registered at department and national chain stores including Neiman Marcus Group Inc., J.C. Penney Co. Inc. and Kohl's Corp..

"They cover such a wide variety of products," Peter Greene, general manager of NPD Houseworld said, referring to the popularity of discount stores such as Target as a place to register. "A lot of it has to do with what's available" in terms of the wide variety of products sold there.

Couples on average register for bridal shower and wedding gifts at 2.5 stores, but the registry captures only about 33 percent of wedding and 35 percent of shower gifts, according to the survey.

The average wedding guest spends about $59 for a shower gift and about $126 for a wedding gift, the NPD poll showed.