Archive for the ‘Give Good Gift’ Category

One of the most exciting parts about this process was creating our registries. It’s fun to put together a wish list of all of the items that you “need” in your life: the WII accessories, the cappuccino maker, the wall art.  It does seem kind of ridiculous, but the wedding industry has been hip to this consumerism windfall for a while and knows how to cater to couples.

Melissa and I created our registries a few months ago at both Bed, Bath and Beyond and Target.  We both felt that those were stores that we could not only find great items for ourselves, but also help us stay cognizant of  our guests’ costs for attending our wedding (most are from out of town.)

Our first stop was Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I was nervous as we walked up to the counter to ask for “the scanner,” but my fears were quickly diminished. Every person that we encountered, from the front desk staff who exclaimed, “Congratulations! When is your wedding?” to the women at the wedding registry section who were excited to help us as well.  I wasn’t sure what to expect as a same-sex couple, but the fact that they treated us like any other couple made me incredibly happy.

You might be thinking “Oh, but don’t these ladies live in Chicago?” Well, yes, but we were picking items out in the suburbs where I grew up.  “Gays” weren’t really tolerated when I was younger, so I did have my suspicions.  Bed, Bath and Beyond broke that fear apart immediately. Kudos to them!

We also created a registry at Target. This store is evil. I don’t mean in the true sense of evil, rather the fact that it is usually very hard to leave the store without buying $100 worth of stuff you don’t really need.  This is where we had a little bit of fun with the registry.  One of the things that we didn’t ask for is fine china. We really don’t see the need for it, and would rather have items that we would actually use and not stuff away in a closet, waiting for the day that guests arrive. Again, the staff was polite and gave us everything we needed to scan away.

Overall, we are very thankful to these two stores for making it an easy, fluid process, and for not treating us any differently than a straight couple.

About the Authors/Queerlywed.com

Melissa Johns

Melissa is the co-founder of Queerly Wed, a new website dedicated to helping LGBTQ couples plan their big day. She is an activist within the LGBTQ Community and has volunteered her services at many grassroots organizations over the years. Melissa is also an avid cyclist and won two silver medals at Gay Games VII, which was held in Chicago in 2006. She is also a lifelong student and enjoys studying Latin-American culture, photography and languages.

Stacy Jill Jacobs

Stacy is the co-founder of Queerly Wed, a new website dedicated to helping LGBTQ couples plan their big day.  Stacy is a writer, marketing nerd, and web geek grrl all wrapped up into one package.  Stacy has worked in the interactive field for many years including roles at eToys (US & UK) and Ticketmaster. Stacy became a professional queer when in 2005, she served as the Ticketing Manager for Gay Games VII. You can catch Stacy on her website at www.stacyjilljacobs.com or on Twitter at @StacyJill

Cute, flirty, sexy and fiscally savvy: Affinitas...

Affinitas Intimates Sexy or sweet?  Take your pick with fun, flirty and affordable lingerie, sleep & lounge wear perfect for brides this Spring/Summer.

Producing high quality lingerie at refreshingly accessible prices, the Affinitas Intimates label is comprised of bras, panties, camisoles, babydolls, chemises, and bustiers, each item designed by the Affinitas team to be stylish, comfortable, well-made and most importantly well-fitting.  Currently retailing at specialty, boutique and online stores in the U.S. and Canada, bras retail for $23-$35, panties from $8 – $18, camisoles $25-$58, and babydolls, chemises and bustiers for $25-$45.  The collection utilizes high-quality, soft materials sourced from all over the world to provide maximum comfort, such as cotton, microfiber, satin, French embroidered laces and even technologically advanced seamless materials that are stitch free, seam free and label free. Affinitas offers consumers a wide range of basic, everyday styles as well as special occasion pieces, targeting young, fashionable women aged 20 – 35 years old with an annual income level of $25,000 and up who want stylish, comfortable, high-quality lingerie at prices that won’t break the bank. Affinitas Intimates’ bras and bustiers span a size range of 30-38 A-DD, with all other items sized XS-XL.

Pieces retail from $8 – $58 in numerous boutiques throughout the United States as well as online at HerRoom.com and LaurenSilva.com.  Please visit www.affinitasintimates.com for the full store locator.