Please register....it really is helpful for people who want to give you a gift that you want to receive. But please don't ask anyone to contribute to your honeymoon fund as a gift "option." And please don't forget to write thank you cards afterwards, both for the shower and wedding gifts.

Can you tell I am a bit peeved at various people right now?

I adore weddings and really appreciate when people use gift registries. Even if you don't buy something from the store on the registry it gives the invitee a glimpse into your taste.
It sure was a lot of fun shopping for/buying my nephew a tent for his wedding gift along with a few other sundries. I have lived through many years of leaky tents and know a few things about them. I do believe he has a better tent than we ever had but it is years of experience that lead to this. We bought it a bit bigger than they wanted (included gift receipt, warranty etc with the specification no trouble exchanging and we would not be bugged) but two children later it is perfect. Wedding gifts are for life not just a moment. I adore using the engraved champagne glasses we received as a wedding each anniversary, etc. although I hadn't even heard of them beforehand and did not put on registry.
Registries also allow a group of people (work) to pool their resources to get that one really spendy item. I've always appreciated this for people I don't know as well.
Registries have changed over the years but I have always appreciated them to help me make my gift choices.
Guilt is a natural part of this but really a good tool for invitees. Congrats and have fun.

I have a slightly different take on it:

As a newly married couple I knew the thing we wanted and needed the most of all from wedding guests were their good wishes and blessings most of all.after all one out of every two weddings in the U.S appears to end in divorce.

All it took was my overhearing one too many conversations at the salon or coffee shop that went somewhat like this " I have to go to another wedding this weekend and I don't even know the couple so well. But the groom was my husband's college roommate and he insists on going. And the gift set us back almost $50". That was it. It wasn't happening. Not to say that people did not try to force a few checks on us (destroyed later by us).

I can tell you that our guests had a wicked good time at our two day nuptials: henna and music on day one and ceremony and reception on day two. We splurged on DJ, photographer, top shelf open bar both days and amazing food. My parents threw an impromptu brunch even the next morning for departing guests But showing our guests a fab time was a priority for me. I will say that no guest registry and a fab experience for wedding guests were my requirements not necessarily my hubby's but he went along with it. When his younger brother got married the next year they did have a gift registry.

But it was not as much as having guilt about asking for gifts as it was about not wanting anyone to have to stress about $$. We did receive some presents at our first anniversary or people took us to dinner later in the year. We did keep our wedding small :220 people which is minuscule by the usual 500-750 invitees at many Indian American weddings.

I am sorry that I got off on a tangent and rambled on. Back to the point at hand....

I would suggest that try and keep your minimum price point for gifts quite low. This should help.

I think registries are helpful to relatives and friends of the couples' parents, IOW, folks who don't know the couple well. I, however, hate registries where the cheapest thing is $100. I am not a china and crystal person, so I like registries at Target, Home Depot, and even BB&B. They also give one an idea of the couple's tastes.