Before you were engaged you probably thought that registering for gifts was going to be great. But most nearlywed and newlywed couples will tell you, registering can be surprisingly stressful. After a while, many couples even come to hate the whole idea of the registry.

For one thing, unless you're really rocking the entitled thing, asking people for presents just doesn't feel natural. Then, there are all the opinions about what you should and shouldn't register for and concerns about how others might judge you. On top of that, if you live in an apartment or in a temporary situation you're registering for a life that's still a little uncertain.

I recently started working with registry site Zola.com. One of the things I love about the site is how they want to make wedding registries fun again. Wedding registries shouldn't be stressful, they should be hopeful; they should help you imagine your future life, even if you aren't exactly sure what that future life will look like. These tips may help you do just that.

Yes, You Need to Register
First, let's get this out of the way. Even if you're both in your 30s and you've been living together for years and have everything you want, yes, you need to register, and you need to register for things. Why? Because people want to buy you gifts when you get married.

You may want cash gifts, but not everyone wants to give you money. Some people want to give you a gift and it's much better for everyone if you point them in the right direction.

Register for China, Silver, and Crystal
I know this is going to sound old-fashioned, but there are likely some people on your guest list who consider this the classic wedding present and want to buy it. It's worth considering adding to the list.

Quality over Quantity
If you're currently living in a small apartment the idea of suddenly receiving place settings for eight and multiple serving bowls may be a little overwhelming. But there's no need to junk up your current living space with things you don't want now and won't want five years from now. Register for items that are high quality and will last you in to the future. You may even want to think about replacing current items with an "upgrade." For example, if you have a blender already, but you've secretly been coveting a Vitamix Blender, why not register for one and donate or sell your current blender?

Think Classic
Remember that poster you HAD to have in your high school bedroom? The comforter you chose for your dorm room? Do you still want them in your apartment today? Believe it or not, even though you're an adult, your tastes will change. If you pick classic patterns and colors you'll be more likely to still like them later on. If you find you want something different later, you'll have an easier time selling something classic than something that screams a specific year.

Services
One of Zola's unique offerings is that you can register for premium services such as house cleaning. Wedding planning is stressful enough, why not give yourself a break and let someone else clean your house while you plan?

Be Yourself
Don't be afraid to show a little personality in your registry. Today's registry sites let you combine registries from different stores so you can satisfy fuddy-duddies like me that want to buy you china, and your friends who want to buy something fun. My husband and I had a traditional registry, but we also registered for camping gear, something we wanted and we knew some of our friends would enjoy buying.

Experiences
Speaking of camping, there's nothing wrong with a honeymoon registry. Studies show that experiences make people happier than things and one of the best ways to build a happy life together for the future is to build strong memories now. If you're worried that people will think a honeymoon registry is just a way of asking for money find a site that lets you register for specific events on your honeymoon.

Don't forget that just because you're registering, it doesn't have to be all about you. If you're having trouble coming up with things to add to your registry, give some thought to your favorite charity. Many charities allow you to "register" with them, meaning people make donations and you receive a notice.