Dear Debra,

My husband and I are having an open house to celebrate our new home. Is it appropriate to put together a wish list and include it in the invitations so people can get what we want/need? Amanda

Amanda,

First of all congratulations on your new home! It is always such an exciting time to purchase your first home - decorating, learning the neighborhood, and meeting the neighbors. Sharing a new home with friends and family is one of the first things we want to do.

The verbiage on your invitation makes a difference; housewarming implies a gift and open house does not. Protocol says to leave the selection of a housewarming gift to your guests.

While gift registries have grown to encompass not only weddings but everything from birthdays to graduations and holidays, personal registries are only appropriate for very close friends or family that you usually exchange a gift with.

Debra

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