Top Wedding Registry Places

2000+ wedding items and ideas available at www.AbsoluteWeddingStore.com


Wedding registries today are anything but basic. Beyond bed linens and blenders, couples are signing up for everything from fine china to trips to China!

We've scoured the online registry landscape for our favorite vendors and made our selections based on product lines, customer service and incentive programs. Our picks include department stores, charities and even eco-friendly retailers—so you're sure to find a shop that suits your home decor and lifestyle.

And don't forget the perks: Many offer completion discounts and free registry cards you can tuck into shower invitations or e-mail to guests—and still others have in-store registry events. Happy shopping!

CHARITIES

I Do Foundation
You'll donate up to 8 percent of the value of your wedding gifts to charity when you register with the retail and travel partners affiliated with the I Do Foundation. All gifts must be purchased through a wedding Web site the I Do Foundation will ask you to create. You can also opt to have guests make tax-deductible contributions to the charity of your choice.

Just Give
Used alone or in addition to traditional gift registries, the site allows you to create a customized Web page that encourages contributions to your favorite charities. Just Give offers more than a million charities to choose from, including national, regional and local organizations. Through the registry, you can also make a donation in honor of your guests and buy charity gift certificates for your wedding party.

Changing the Present
Register for gifts such as funding an hour of cancer research or providing supplies to children in need. You can do more than select a nonprofit to support; you can choose exactly what you want to accomplish. Create your own registry Web site and select a wish list of gifts from hundreds of nonprofit organizations that will show your family and friends your favorite donation ideas.

CHINA & DINNERWARE

Ceramica
Register online for their striking selection of colorful ceramic tableware crafted in Italy and Ceramica will send an e-mail announcement to all your guests. You can also register for their Italian kitchen accessories and accent pieces like lamps and clocks.

Fortunoff
Create a registry with Fortunoff and you save 10 percent on wedding bands and some attendants' gifts you purchase at one of their stores, which specialize in jewelry and upscale items for the home.

Michael C. Fina
Specializing in wedding and engagement rings and china, Michael C. Fina lets you register in person, online or over the phone. Couples qualify for free gifts depending on the amount of gifts purchased. Up to one year after your wedding date, enjoy a 15-percent discount on a purchase worth 50 percent or more of the remaining value of your registry.

PlaceSettings
PlaceSettings offers changing discounts and specials on many popular brands including Royal Doulton, Villeroy and Boch, and Waterford. In addition to tableware, the no-frills site also offers giftware such as Vera Wang picture frames and Lenox crystal clocks.

Replacements, Ltd.
This retailer of old, discontinued and new china has encyclopedic knowledge of china patterns, and they come in especially handy if you need to replace pieces or add to your service.

Simon Pearce
Register online for their large selection of classic and contemporary handblown glass and handmade pottery items. Registrants receive a welcoming gift and a romantic getaway including a complimentary meal for two at a Simon Pearce restaurant and a night's stay at a select bed-and-breakfast. In addition to the completion program, which entitles registrants to a onetime 10-percent savings on items remaining on their registry after their event, Simon Pearce will celebrate couples' one-year anniversary with a gift certificate for 10 percent of the total value of the items purchased from their registry. Simon Pearce offers complimentary replacement of glass or pottery designs purchased from registries damaged within 12 months of the registrants' event date.

DEPARTMENT STORES

Barneys New York
Register in any one of their chic stores and your list is quickly made available online for your guests. While couples can register for anything in the store, they mostly focus on items in the store's Chelsea Passage home section, which features upscale formal china from J.L. Coquet, Bernardaud, Haviland, Puiforcat, Hermès and Raynaud. In addition to flatware, glassware and handmade pottery are also available.

Bloomingdale's
The registry at Bloomingdale's offers a gift with its registry package that includes special discounts throughout the store, personal one-on-one service from a registry consultant and a six-month multiple-use completion discount. Gift givers also receive complimentary gift wrapping with registry purchases in stores or online.

Carson Pirie Scott
This department store is truly one-stop shopping for couples and offers everything from fine china to appliances to collectibles. Online registries can also list shower dates, and the store can provide you with announcement cards. Receive free "royalty gifts" when you register with select premium vendors.

Dillard's
Register online for everything from formal china to kitchen appliances at the store known for its stylish, affordable merchandise. Dillard's offers a completion program that takes 20 percent off most registry items for 60 days after the wedding.

Gump's
The San Francisco–based retailer offers a 10-percent completion program, and you can register online, over the phone, via e-mail or in person. Check out their gift notification program, which allows you to receive your gifts following the wedding and easily make returns and exchanges.

JCPenney
The retailer gives couples a free wedding planner-organizer, and there are no shipping charges for gifts sent to JCPenney stores for pickup. Register for anything from table and bath linens to fitness equipment to margarita makers. The site categorizes gifts by price too: less than $50, $50 to $100 and more than $100.

Kohl's
Kohl's Bridal Aisle Gift Registry Completion Program offers a 15-percent discount, and guest notification is available. Register for anything from standard sheets and towels to fun accessories like a candle warmer or wall art. Feeling practical? Even cleaning products can be added to a registry.

Macy's
The nationwide department store chain offers a bridal rewards program that allows you to earn 10-percent rewards on eligible personal purchases you make with your Macy's credit card and 5-percent rewards for every eligible gift purchase off your registry. After your wedding you will receive a Macy's gift card for the total amount of your rewards.

Neiman Marcus
The luxury-goods retailer offers the InCircle bridal rewards program and offers a 20-month interest-free credit card that allows you to complete your registry. Select anything from Christofle flatware to Baccarat vases to Tumi luggage.

Sears
Register online or in stores for everything from Craftsman tools to Weber grill accessories to Kenmore appliances like a washer-dryer. Most items are available online, but some require guests to visit a store. Guests can also purchase Sears gift cards in place of specific gifts.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Branch
This online-only store offers high-design, sustainable products for every room in your home. You can register online for everything from organic cotton throw pillows to colorful bamboo bowls, and the store will combine orders to reduce shipping costs for your guests.

Gaiam
Gaiam's products promote a healthy mind, body and spiritóas well as environmentóand registry items can include anything from housewares to clothing to gift items like yoga mats. Their free online photo album feature allows you to upload personal photos onto your registry.

Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store
This international human-rights organization is dedicated to promoting environmental, political and social-justice causes and operates a fair-trade online retailer that sells the work of artisans from around the world.

Greenfeet
Register online for a wide selection of hip items typically made from recyclable materials or renewable resources. The site includes everything from towels to appliances to jewelryóall available for your registry.

GreenSage
Fill out an online form to register with this site, which features eco-friendly linens, glassware and more. Their organic bedding is especially popular. Other items include bamboo flooring, air purification systems and yoga towels.

Vivaterra
This San Franciscoñbased e-tailer sells stylish, modern items including furniture (all sustainable or reclaimed), home decor and even eco-friendly clothing. Nearly every item on the site is available for your registry.

FINANCIAL

Educationregistry
Launched in August 2006, the site allows you and your betrothed to create a personalized Web page detailing the cost of your education—either a completed degree or upcoming schooling. Guests then visit the site and make pledges for certain dollar amounts, which they are then expected to give on their wedding day.

Gifts of Stock
This company sponsors Dividend Reinvestment Plans, or DRIPs, which allow those with at least one share of stock to increase their holdings by letting guests make additional purchases through the company without going through a stockbroker.

Registerstock.com
This site lets you and your guests buy any stock normally available on the market. Not sure what's for you? For inspiration, the site helpfully lists the top five stock gift purchases for the month.

FOOD & WINE

67 Wine
Register for wine, spirits and glassware via e-mail with this NYC-based merchant and it will quickly be uploaded online for your guests. Note that spirits cannot be shipped out of New York State, and wine cannot be shipped to several states (call or e-mail for details).

The Gourmet Chocolate of the Month Club
Register by phone for monthly chocolate and other food programs and get e-mail announcements for guests. Each month features a different company's chocolates. Recent selections include Chocolate Potpourri Truffles and Toffee and Charlie's Chocolate Covered Ganaches and Caramel Turtles. Yum!

Italian Wine Merchants
Celebrity chef Mario Batali co-owns this NYC-based wine shop, which offers an extensive online selection of wines from around the world, ranging in price from $8 a bottle to more than $2,000—all available for your registry. When you register, the shop will pair you with an in-house sommelier, who will help you make your selections either over the phone or in person. The shop will also create a Web page your guests can access for purchases.

Morrell
This knowledgeable New York City–based wine merchant carries a huge selection of wine and accessories. Check out the Top Picks section of their Web site for some of their favorite bottles—including several for less than $10. One caveat: Bottles cannot be shipped to a handful of states, but Morrell can make arrangements to ship to nearby locations.

Wally's
Register online or in the store for wine, gourmet food, glassware and wine accessories from the store that Zagat's has called the No. 1 wine shop in LA. Their wine specialists are available to make suggestions and help you pick wine and liquor from a variety of price ranges.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Home Depot
At this mecca for home-improvement goods, couples can register for everything from tools to small kitchen appliances. You can even register exclusively for gift cards. Registry is available only online, and the program includes e-mail announcements.

Lowe's
Looking for a place to register for air conditioners, patio furniture and ceiling fans? Everything on Lowe's expansive Web site is fair game for your registry. The site also allows couples to e-mail their registries to guests.

HOME DECOR & FURNITURE

Bed Bath & Beyond
The name says it all. Avoid the crowds and register online for everything you need for your bedroom and bathroom. "Beyond" items range from wall hangings to MP3 accessories. Check out their free Bridal Toolkit feature, which allows you to do everything from inputting your wedding-related appointments to completing the seating chart.

CB2
A spin-off of Crate & Barrel, CB2 offers a specifically modern assortment of products, including contemporary tableware and furniture. Register for anything on the site and check out their funky area rugs and bed linens to create a hip living space. The site also features a "spread the news" function that sends guests a notice of your upcoming event and provides a link to your registry.

Crate and Barrel
Register online or in stores for items including table linens, glassware and even contemporary furniture. Registry features include free announcement cards and a completion program offering a one-time 10-percent coupon for unpurchased registry items.

Finnstyle
This Minneapolis-based retailer sells modern furniture, tableware, jewelry and more inspired by classic modern designs from Finland. They offer a partial-payment option that allows several guests to contribute toward the same gift.

HomeClick
This site offers thousands of items to register for, from tableware to fireplaces. Their completion program offers a one-time 10-percent discount on unpurchased items for one year after your wedding date. They also offer free shipping and no sales tax for items shipped anywhere (excluding New Jersey).

Le Magasin
Owner Didier Milleriot specializes in tableware and linens from France and will print custom descriptions and photographs of registry items for you to give to your guests. Register in person at this Chicago-based retailer or over the phone, and the registry is posted online for your guests.

Linens 'N Things
This home-furnishings retailer offers a 20-percent completion program for 90 days, free registry announcement cards and online sign-up as well as in-store scanning. Plus, you can include a personalized note on your registry informing guests of your decor preferences.

Moss
Register for dishes, furniture and more in Moss's signature modern industrial designs. You'll receive a gift notification as soon as a purchase is made, and you can decide when you'd like items shipped to you.

Pier 1
This trendy housewares merchant offers an eclectic mix of contemporary items for your registry—anything from furniture and tableware to window treatments and throw pillows. You can also register for gift cards.

Pottery Barn
At housewares staple, you can register for anything from towels to tableware in their signature classic American styles. Pottery Barn offers an online thank-you-note manager and 10 percent off most unpurchased registry items for up to one year after the wedding.

Relish
Based in Portland, Ore., this shop carries modern home and personal accessories from emerging and classic designers worldwide. Register in person or via e-mail. The owners will order any item from the catalogs of any of their manufacturers for you to add to your registry.

Restoration Hardware
Restoration Hardware, a purveyor of modern and retro housewares and furnishings, offers a completion program, along with complimentary announcement cards and a thank-you-note manager.

Retromodern
This Atlanta-based retailer specializes in radical modern and contemporary designs from the 20th century along with designs from the present. Register online for funky tabletop items, bathroom accessories, lighting and more from designers including Alessi, Herman Miller and Knoll.

Tiffany & Co.
Although primarily known for its jewelry, this exclusive retailer offers a host of great tabletop items for $100 or less. Registry items can also include Tiffany china patterns, sterling-silver picture frames and crystal barware.

Uncommongoods
Choose from a fun, quirky and colorful selection of household items including handmade soaps, decorative plates and one-of-a-kind jewelry. Register for anything on the site.

Unica Home
Register online for an impressive selection of modern items for all aspects of the home. Unusual items include scented chew toys for your dog and an artsy piggy bank. Alert friends to your registry via e-mail; announcement cards are also available.

Velocity
This Seattle-based design store offers a mix of contemporary designs and classic staples. Everything on the site is available for the registry, including their popular selection of original artwork.

Vivre
This site offers an eclectic mix of fashionable, contemporary itemsóeverything from glam cocktail rings to affordable napkin rings. Items are created by well-known brands as well as artisans not found elsewhere. Register for anything on the site; home-decor items include furniture, lighting and vases.

KITCHENWARE

Chefs Catalog
Register for bakeware, tabletop items, cutlery and more from this online and catalog-only business. Choose from more than 20 well-known brands. Registry features include a 10-percent completion program and the capacity to e-mail personalized event announcements to all guests.

Chefs Corner
Launched in 2006, the site focuses on the kitchenóeverything from large appliances to cookbooksóbut also features items like mailboxes and outdoor furniture. The site allows you to e-mail your registry to guests.

Cooking.com
This e-tailer sells more than 50,000 different items for your kitchen, including cutlery, cookbooks and tableware. The site offers 10 percent off unpurchased registry items for up to six months after the wedding.

The Pampered Chef
Register for The Pampered Chefís assortment of multifunctional tools for cooking and entertaining. Need some help? You can choose to have a registry consultant contact you via phone or e-mail for assistance. With every purchase made from your registry you will earn rewards points worth up to $200 of free products redeemable for three months after your wedding.

Premier Gourmet
This merchant goes the extra yard by offering free gifts with some registry items and a gift card equal to 10 percent of all purchases made from your registry. Register for kitchen tools, gourmet food, coffee and more.

Sur La Table
You can register online, in person or over the phone at this seller of upscale housewares. More than 60 brands of cookware are available. Don't forget to check out their assortment of coffee beans and accessories, like their selection of milk frothers.

Tupperware
The party has moved online. Outfit your entire kitchen with their range of high-quality cookware, knives and gadgets like a julienne peeler or salad spinner. Create your registry online and e-mail guests about your selections.

Williams-Sonoma
This housewares giant offers a thank-you-note manager and 10-percent completion discount. They also offer periodic "The Store Is Yours" events, which allow you to make your registry selections before the store opens.

Zabar's
Zabar's has great prices on an inventive and comprehensive selection of cookware, housewares and food. This New York City institution currently offers its registry in store and over the phone and plans to soon launch an online version. Free gift wrapping is available for registry purchases, and store personnel will open the doors early and stay late for couples.

MASS MERCHANTS

Amazon.com
Thought Amazon.com was just about books? Think again. This online giant offers everything from power tools to cookware available for your registry. Check out the online registry guides for inspiration.

Target
Club Wedd offers online and in-store access to Target's well-priced and very well-designed merchandise. Choose anything from kitchen essentials to bed linens. Popular registry items include TV trays, grocery bag holders and pizza pans.

Wal-Mart
Stretch your guests' dollars by registering with this discount giant, where you can select anything from a flat-screen TV to a soap dish. An online wedding-planning guide is available.

RECREATION

Backcountry Gear
Register for tents, backpacks and even "Ruffwear" gear for your dog at this no-frills destination. Everything on the site is fair game—just be sure to register in the gift section rather than in the wish list.

Campmor
This New Jersey merchant has a well-stocked Web site and offers great prices on everything from hiking socks to kayaks. Complete your registry and send an e-mail announcement to family and friends.

REI
Whether you're a triathlete or you just want to stock up for the ski season, REI is an outdoorsman's (and outdoorswoman's) dream come true. You can choose your outdoor clothing and equipment online, over the phone or in one of the REI stores.

The Sharper Image
Register for outdoor gear like bikes, scooters and skates as well as their always-unusual assortment of gadgets. Best sellers include air purifiers, navigational systems and the R2-D2 Interactive Droid. Everything on the Web site is available for your registry.

TRAVEL

TheBigDay Travel
A romantic dinner and scuba diving lessons are among the honeymoon "experiences" for which you can register. This honeymoon planning company charges a service fee that ranges up to 9 percent, which is deducted from guests' contributions. (Rates depend on how much you book.)

The Honeymoon
Register for anything from drinks by the pool to hotel accommodations, and the fees for this service are charged directly to gift buyers (the bigger the gift, the lower the fee.) The site also offers destination guides.

HoneyLuna
In business since 1995, the site can either book your honeymoon or allow you to register for excursions like snorkeling or horseback riding for existing travel plans. You can also put airfare and hotel costs on the registry and break them down into increments guests can purchase as gifts.

Marriott
Register for fun stuff like rounds of golf or spa services, and purchased gifts are accrued onto one card that you can take with you for the big trip. The card is redeemable at any of the 2,700 Marriott hotels and resorts across nine brands. If you donít use all your points on your honeymoon, they are redeemable for future trips.

Sandals
Book a vacation at any one of Sandals or Beaches 12 all-inclusive resorts and then register your honeymoon so guests can help defray the cost—and you can truly relax and enjoy your time together. Their resorts are located on Antigua, the Bahamas, Jamaica and St. Lucia.

Starwood
Starwood, which owns Sheraton, Westin and W, among others, lets couples register for "Honey Money" gift certificates that are good for 24 months from the date of purchase.

Smart Honeymoon - Ten Dollar-Stretching Destinations

2000+ wedding items and ideas available at www.AbsoluteWeddingStore.com

1. THAILAND
This Asian hot spot may be halfway around the globe, but it's worth the journey. With ancient temples and exotic cuisine, this is one of Asia's most alluring countries - and one of its most affordable. Where elase can you get a beach massage for $8?

Perfect itinerary: An ideal Thai journey would take two weeks, but you can see the highlights in eight days. Start in Bangkok. Many dismiss it as a jumping-off point - but from massage lessons at Wat Pho temple to shopping in the night bazaar, there's more than enough to justify three days. Next stop: the historic capital of Chiang Mai an hour's flight north. Stay three days, and don't miss the view from the mountain-top Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple. From there, Phuket is a two-hour flight. There's not a lot to do beyond snorkeling and sunning - and that's the point. In two days you'll see why this glamorous isle attracts surfers and supermodels.

Where to stay: Happily, top hotels here go for less than $400 a night. In Bangkok, choose the Peninsula, where rooms overlook the Chao Phraya river. Doubles from $375 (year-round), 866-382-8388; bangkok.peninsula.com. A posh addition to Chiang Mai, the DusitD2 appeals to couples with fashion sense. Doubles from $118 (low season);011-66-53-999-999; dusit.com. Phuket is known for pricey, stylish resorts, so Indigo Pearl, winner of several design awards, is a find. Doubles from $121 (low season); 011-66-76-327-006; indigo-pearl.com.

Nice surprise: Although Phuket is best known for its beaches, the wildlife-filled jungles are worth exploring too. Our pick for transportation? Skip the Land Rover in favor of an unforgettable elephant ride.

2. PORTUGAL
Portugal's Alentejo region, a two-hour drive south of Lisbon, is a true gem; when combined with a few days in the capital itself, it makes for the perfect mix of city and country. Made up of national parkland, the Alentejo is quiet as can be: the whitewashed villages are a throwback to simpler days - no fast-food joints, no high-rises. Cows graze the fields overlooking the beaches where the fishermen cast their lines for the sea bream you'll have for dinner.

Perfect itinerary: Fly into Lisbon and spend a few days exploring one of the most appealing (and least expensive) old cities in Europe - walk the medievel streets of the Alfama, ride the trams, and finish one day at the rooftop bar at Bairro Alto Hotel overlooking the Tagus River. The next morning, take the train to Sintra and one of Europe's most eccentric castles, Palacio da Pena. Then rent a car and join the hipsters heading to the Alentejo, known for a spectacular coastline - golden sand and black basalt cliffs - and fabulous food. Have a glass of port at a clifftop cafe, then brave the heart-pumping descent down a beach escarpment (it's amazing what you can do in flip-flops!) to your own stretch of sand.

Where to stay: The Heritage Ave Liberdade's comfortable, smart rooms overlook the palm trees of a grand 18-th century boulevard. Doubles from $210 (low season); 011-351-213-218-200; heritage.pt. On the Alentejo coast, Herdade do Touril de Baixo is made up of farmhouses built around a saltwater pool, with private access to a stunning beach. Doubles from $109 (low season); 011-351-283-950-080; touril.pt.

Nice surprise: Feel the thrill of catching your first wave where some of the world's pro surfers play. In summer, the breaks can be gentle enough to make anyone feel like a champion, especially at the wide beaches of Carrapateira and Arrifana, home to surf schools and private instructors. The accomplishments is sure to stroke your - er - appetite.

3. BELIZE
Belize is a true sleeper: a small country that packs a big punch. It has jungles. It has Mayan ruins. It has coral reefs that put other islands' snorkeling to shame. It has quiet white-sand beaches. And it costs so much less than more established Caribbean destinations that you'll feel like the smartest honeymooners around.

Perfect Itinerary: Start in the jungles in the west of the country near the Macal River. You can canoe and swim, or go on horseback rides to Mayan ruins and hikes in the rain forest with the resort's guides. From the mountains, travel to Ambergris Caye, a tropical gem just off the coast, set in brilliant Caribbean waters. Your days will be spent snorkeling among giant sea turtles and stingrays.

Where to stay: The Chaa Creek eco-resort is set in a 365-acre nature reserve that's truly unspoiled. Book a thatched-roof villa with tiled floors and antique Guatemalan furniture, and you can hang out on the screened porch and breathe in the perfume of the tropical flowers. Best of all, the darkness makes the sparkling Milky Way so vivid, it's like seeing it for the first time. Doubles from $160, including breakfast (low season); 877-709-8708; chaacreek.com.

On Ambergris Caye, check into the 42-room Victoria House, a colorful resort on a wide beach. Rooms on the second floor have plantation-style shutters and balconies with views of the ocean. The pool is surprisingly stylish, an aqua-tiled beauty with lounge chairs that sit right in the water. Doubles from $163 (low season); 800-247-5159; victoria-house.com.

Nice surprise: For an exciting day trip, hop a boat to the Maruba Resort Jungle Spa on the mainland for a couples' Mood Mud treatment. You'll strip naked, save for a few modesty-providing hibiscus flower blossoms, and be paintedin different-colored muds with palm fronds.

4. VIETNAM
Put aside your Hollywood images of Vietnam: this is a small, elegant country with a European influence and the infectious energy of youth (more than half of its population is under 25 years old). Not only will you find French Colonial architecture, delicate food, and tempting shopping, you'll also be able to splurge in this emerging economy. And, despite its turbulent past, the Vietnamese could teach usall a lesson in forgiveness - the people harbor no bad feelings toward North, South, or foreigners.

Perfect itinerary: Start in Hanoi, a northern outpost that feels like a city of lovers: couples promenade along the walkways around central Hoan Kiem Lake, stopping for espresso on the riverboat location of Highlands Coffee (Vietnam's answer to Starbucks), or renting swan-shaped paddle boats for two. Browse in the shops on Nha Tho Street, admiring the dazzling, inexpensive lacquered housewares and silk; shopkeepers rely on charm instead of hard sell.

To truly understand Vietnam, you must get out of the capital. Fly into Da Nang to visit the historic port city of Hoi An, where you can sample an authentic bowl of pho - noodles in beef broth - and bask in the sun. The country's best beach, My Khe, is also here, along with access to the up and coming Cham Islands. Take a boat out for a day trip to swim and wander around the quaint fishing village.

Where to stay: Retreat to Hanoi's Inter-Continental Hanoi Westlake, a glamorous new "floating" hotel located in the middle of West Lake. Each room has a balcony, and many overlook the torch-lit pool. Doubles from $234 (low season); 888-424-6835; ichotelsgroup.com.

The Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa has 105 rooms, all with either river or sea views. But don't let the feel of a traditional village fool you - this is one of the toniest resort in the Hoi An area. (The vintage Renault bus that shuttles guests from the airport to the hotel is a nice touch). It's easy to relax here: Book a spa treatment, and streat out on Cua Dai, a white sand beach that's exclusive to hotel guests. Doubles from $190, including breakfast (low season); 011-84-927-040; victoriahotels-asia.com.

Nice surprise: Consider adding a one night trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, home to 1,600 limesone islands and floating villages. Sail overnight on the Emeraude, a modern 38-room vessel designed to resemble a 1910 French Colonial riverboat. Doubles from $375 (year-round), including all meals; 011-84-4-934-0888; emeraude-cruises.com.

5. ARGENTINA
Argentina ma be nowhere near Europe, yet for Americans seeking a taste of Continental cafe life and sophisticated culture, it's a worthy substitute. Here, in a land of idyllic vineyards, country estates, glacial spires, and buzzing urban centers, Spanish, Italian, and indigenous cultures have melted into something unique. The Argentine heartbeat thumps in Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan city of French architecture and Latin American exuberance, where lovers dawdle on cracked sidewalks, order bife de chorizo and bottles of malbec at bafflingly cheap prices, and dance until daybreak.

Perfect itinerary: Argentina is vast, but you can get a taste of the toporaphical smorgasbord in a week. Fly into Buenos Aires for four days of tangoing at Confiteria Ideal, discovering art galleries in the winding streets of the San Telmo neighborhood, and the inhaling dulce de leche ice cream at the ubiquitous chain Freddo. Your next adventure is two days in Iguazu Falls, a touristy yet jaw-dropping system of waterfalls on national parkland along the Brazilian border. Once back in the capital, take a boa to the tropical islands of the Parana Delta for a quiet and relaxing overnight.

Where to stay: With its jasmine-scented garden and sapphire pool, Home Hotel proves a stylish sanctuary from the bustle of the Palermo neighborhood. The 19 units are chic as can be - picture Chilean wool rugs, vintage Scandinavian furniture, and hand-printed wallpaper. Doubles from $125, including breakfast (year-round); 011-54-11-4778-1008; homebuenosaires.com. The Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa isn't just the nicest resort by the falls - it's the only one (which accounts for the price, a rare non-bargain in this otherwise affordable land). Fortunately it's modern and has amenities - like an Internet cafe, a gym, and tennis courts - that you wouldn't expect to find in the jungle. Doubles from $319 (low season); 800-325-3535; starwoodhotels.com. An airy lodge along the banks of the delta, Rumbo 90 Delta Lodge & Spa offers canoeing and hiking along with less hardscrabble activities like massages. Doubles from $208, including breakfast and dinner (low season); 011-54-9-115843-9454; rumbo90.com.ar.

Nice surprise: A burgeoning class of chic Argentinean designers using amazing native materials - buttery leather, rich suede - makes Buenos Aires a Shangri-La for the fashion-forward shopper. Pick out pastel tops with koi-inspired pritns at Maria Cher or exquisite handbags from Anahi M.

6. HUNGARY
The euro may be formidable, but the feeble forint? Not so much. Think of Budapest as Europe on sale: incredible architecture, glittering lights to rival those in Paris, and winding side streets with dark coffee shops that are perfect for film noir-style rendezvous. Hungary is also home to a pastoral countryside, villages of red-tiled roofs, and thermal springs - all blending old-world charm with timeless beauty.

Perfect itinerary: Start in the split city of Budapest, which is made up of the town of Buda and the town of Pest, linked across the river by a bridge.

Spend a few days here: Stroll the cobblestone streets of Buda's Castle District and simmer in the wave pool at the beloved Gellert Baths, then cross the Chain Bridge to artsy Pest. Jaunts down Andrassy Avenue - dubbed the Champs-Elysees of Central Europe - may end with shopping in the boutiques of Kiraly Street, followed by a toast with glasses of palinka, the local plum brandy, at a sun-soaked sidewalk cafe.

Had enough city life? The poetic village of Szentendre is worth a day trip, but you'll need more time for the spa-lined shores of Lake Balaton, a vineyard region located an hour from Budapest by train. Once there, waterski in the lake, and soak a while in Lake Heviz's slightly radioactive (in a good way!) medicinal mud.

Where to stay: Located on the Pest side, the Atrium Hotel, with its modern pastel decor and low-slung furniture, may seem more Scandinavian than Hungarian, but it keeps you within moseying distance of the ornate Opera House. Plus, the flat screen TVs, WiFi, and scrumptious breakfast buffets (kielbasa sausages and flaky crescent pastries called kifli) - would be welcome anywhere. Doubles from $203 (low season); 011-36-1299-0777; atriumhotelbudapest.com. Horseback riding, oil painting, and wine tasting are part of the allure of the Kali Art Inn, a countryside hotel near Lake Balaton that's situated among the wild lavender and rosemary of the Kali Basin nature preserve. Doubles from $135 (low season); 011-36-8770-6090; kaliartinn.com.

Nice surprise: Find an outdoor perch at Szimpla Kert, a quirky two-story garden in Pest that teems with international crowds downing frothy drafts of Dreher beer as they take in the avant-garde art installations and live music.

7. CHILE
Sandwiched between the Pacific and the lofty, chiseled Andes, this long, narrow country (2,700 miles in length and a mere 110 miles at her widest) boasts an unbelievably varied landscape. Think stark desert, celestial lakes, dense forests, and even a penguin-populated slice of Antarctica. Best of all, post-Pinochet Chile is one of the most secure countries in the region and those nonstop overnight flights from the US mean you arrive early in the morning, so jet lag is not an issue.

Perfect itinerary: You can see plenty of Chile in a week - especially if you don't dawdle in the city. Fly into Santiago for a quick hit of urban buzz. This is Latin America, after all, so you can expect an exciting music scene (in this case, emerging rock bands), vibrant coffeehouses that play host to impromptu concerts, and traditional dancing - here, the cueca. Rest from your flight for a night, and sample the empanadas and pastel de choclo, a beef-and chicken pie topped with sweet corn and baked in a clay pot. Then get out of town and move on to Patagonia's virgin peaks and glaciers. The perfect home base for exploring the area is the town of Puerto Natales, right outside Torres del Paine National Park. Check out the steppes and fjords - by foot, horseback, kayak, mountain bike, or 4x4. Thanks to a recent influx of young transplants from Santiago and beyond, this burgeoning port is also cosmopolitan - so don't worry if you don't speak Spanish.

Where to stay: Among the many hotels in Santiago's leafy, pedestrian-friendly, restaurant-packed neighborhood of El Golf, the year-old Atton El Bosque wins for its slic, chick design, and critically acclaimed eatery. Doubles from $170 (year-round); 011-56-2-422-7979; atton.cl. Down south, stay at Altiplanico Sur, a rustic, low-lying, 22-room gem of a hotel with a thatched roof, beamed ceilings, and stucco walls, all tucked into a hillside overlooking the Ultima Esperanza Bay. Doubles from $200, including breakfast (year-round); 011-56-61-412-525; altiplanico.cl.

Nice surprise: Santiago is situated in the middle of South America's most famous wine country, so you'll want to take a day trip when you return to the city for your flight home. Contact Santiago Adventures for tour options, or rent a car and go on your own.

8. CROATIA
This former Yugoslavian republic hums with the excitement of a country on an upswing. You'll find the style of Greece and Italy - think fresh seafood and local wines, along with Adriatic seascapes - all paid for in the fiscally friendly kuna.

Perfect itinerary: Ten days is the ideal amount of time for an introduction to several regions. Most flights connect through a European hub, like London, and land in the capital, Zagreb, a lively, walkable city in the center of the country. Spend two days admiring Zagreb's stately Viennese facades, then rent a car and head to the seaside hub of Split. The drive takes all morning, and you can break it up with a hike around the gorgeous Plitvice Lakes. In Split, set aside a morning to check out the 4th-century Diocletian's Palace, and an entire day to ferry out to Hvar Island, where you can explore the shady coves by kayak.

Then drive 200 miles down the photogenic E65 (another curve, another water view) to Dubrovnik, where the restored Old Town is filled with cafes and flanked by medievel walls that everyone walks atop at sunset. To save time, return your car here and book an inexpensive regional flight back to Zagreb for the longer haul home.

Where to stay: It's amazing how much style the kuna can buy. At the Regent Esplanade Zagreb, the earth-toned rooms are draped in hefty silks and striped damasks, and the beds will make jet lag a distant memory. Doubles from $245 (low season); 800-545-4000; regenthotels.com. With an infinity pool, a spa modeled after a Roman bath, and sleek rooms, the year old Le Meridien Lav, outside Split, looks more like a splurge than the steal it is. Doubles from $181, including breakfast (low season); 800-543-4300; starwoodhotels.com. Guest rooms feel old-school at Dubrovnik's Grand Villa Argentina, thanks to their rounded windows and ornate floral design schemes. The spa, pool and terraced gardens that meander down to a jumping-off point for the Adriatic are pure luxury. It's only a five-minute walk to the lively Old Town, but far enough away to offer a panorama of those iconic orange-tiled roofs - and shield you from the battle cries of revelers who've had too many plum brandies. Doubles from $280 (low season); 011-385-20-440-555; gva.hr.

Nice surprise: On the way from Split, stop for lunch in the village of Mali Ston, where locals have been harvesting briny mussels and oysters for centuries. At the family-run Vila Koruna, tables overlook the bay that supplies much of the menu's bounty.

9. BALI
This tropical hot spot didn't need a best seller like Eat, Pray, Love to make it popular. For the last century, the affordable, Delaware-size Indonesian island has bewitched travelers with gorgeous scenery and culture. You, too, will be seduced by the terraced rice paddies, broad beaches, and imposing volcano craters ringed by feathery clouds.

Perfect itinerary: There's no denying it: to reach Bali, you'll be airborne for at least 18 hours. So anything shorter than a 12-day stay would be, in our minds, madness. After landing at Denpasar, in South Bali, home to the country's only airport, recharge your travel-weary selves on the beach at Jimbaran (You can see - but not hear - planes alighting). Spend the next four days in the mountain village of Ubud, where you'll find temples and art galleries. Finish in East Bali: The pace slows, you'll be within reach of the ocean and mountains, and the tourists are few and far between.

Where to stay: With an oceanside salt-water pool overlooking Jimbaran Bay, and soothingly sophisticated rooms with carved teak furniture, the Ritz-Carlton, Bali Resort & Spa is a fitting first stop. Doubles from $245 (low season); 800-241-3333; ritz-carlton.com. The Komaneka Monkey Forest hotel in Ubud has decor that locates you firmly in Southeast Asia (pine ceilings, batiks), the location is central but oasis-like, and prices are low (pool villas for $300!). But our favorite thing here is lounging in the tub watching ducks waddle across the neighboring rice paddy. Doubles from $200 (year-round); 011-62-361-976-090; komaneka.com. The Alila Manggis hotel, in East Bali, is stylish, not sumptuous, but guests don't mind: they're too busy stretching out on their terrace's daybed or snacking on the chef's organic eats, including a nori-wrapped salmon that could inspire poetry. Doubles from $210, including breakfast (low season); 800-337-4685; alilahotels.com.

Nice surprise: Meet a real-life medicine man. Many spas offer sessions with Balinese healers who use a combination of stretching, breathing and massage to alleviate post-wedding stress.

10. HONDURAS
Honduras is full of surprises, not least of which are the idyllic islands just off its Carribean coastline - picture white sand, blue water, and palm trees lining the shore - and a coral reef that is truly untouched. On land, the mountains are home to spider monkeys, blue butterflies, and brilliantly colorful tropical birds.

Perfect itinerary: Start on Roatan, the largest of the three Bay Islands. There are direct flights from several US cities, so Roatan has become increasingly accessible while retaining its charm. Then head to the mainland via ferry to Pico Bonito National Park for hikes up to the park's untrammeled rivers, where your guide will leave you to swim blissfully in a pool beneath a double waterfall - all by yourselves. The only thing more magical than the pool's crystal-clear water? The rainbow-colored mist that hangs suspended above it.

Where to stay: On Roatan, make your base Barefoot Cay, a small resort on its own small isle off the south shore. Stay in a one-bedroom villa that's brimming with tropical chic: bright cantaloupe- and hibiscus-colored pillows, a striking foil for the stark whites and grays of the bed and floor tiles. Each guest gets a key to lockers stuffed with snorkel gear that you can borrow for the day (or the week), or you can just spend your time swining in the hammocks placed strategically around the resort. Doubles from $120 (low season); 866-246-3706; barefootcay.com.

The lodge at Pico Bonito is inside Pico Bonito National Park, where the hotel's casitas are hidden by lush green foliage. We guarantee that the veranda's oversize hammock will become your favorite spot to take in the wild flora and fauna. Doubles from $180, including breakfast (low season); 888-428-0221; picobonito.com.

Nice surprise: For a fun daytime activity, head to Roatan's north side. There, you an hop a seaplane for an amazing bird's eye view of the island.

HONEYMOON MONEY MATTER TIPS

It's not what you buy on your trip, it's how you buy it that matters - read on for simple ways to get the most for each dollar when you're traveling overseas.

CHOOSE YOUR CREDIT CARD CAREFULLY Whenever possible, use plastic to pay for hotels and meals. It gets you the best exchange rate, since banks can negotiate better rates than individuals. Before you leave home, call your credit card companies and ask how much extra they charge for exchanges and transactions abroad - a difference between two and five percent can add up fast.

USE THE RIGHT CARD AT THE RIGHT TIME You'll want to have a little cash on hand for incidentals, and you'll want to use your debit card to get it. Overseas, the fees stay lowest if you use your debit card for cash withdrawals and credit cards for purchases and not the other way around (cash advances on a credit card often carry a whopping five percent fee).

ASK ABOUT INSURANCE Many credit cards automatically include car-rental coverage. If you're staying in a city, skip the car entirely and rely on mass transit, which also gives you an up-close view of your locale.

GET CASH BEFORE ARRIVING Exchange at your home country. Don't hit the ATM at the airport as the exchange rates can be ridiculously high. They know most tourists need to exchange their dollars when they arrive, and charge exorbitant rates for it.

LEAVE THE CHECKS AT HOME Traveler's checks are so '80s. These days, you often need to go to a bank to exchange them, so don't bother.

How to Get Your Fiance Enthusiastic With Planning the Wedding

2000+ wedding items and ideas available at www.AbsoluteWeddingStore.com

Six Sneaky Ways to Get Him Jazzed About Wedding Menu Cards

You know how people say that guys hate weddings? It isn't true. Grooms love weddings. They just tend to love them retroactively. Ask any groom to look back on his big day and he'll tell you he's still amazed at how perfectly it all came together. That said, the mere mention of wedding planning will still send most men running for the hills (or at least the Wii remote). Sometimes it's your feverish energy - or the, um, mild undercurrent tension - that keeps him at arm's length. Or he simply can't be convinced that choosing ceremony readings has greater value in the grand scheme than preparing for his fantasy football draft. To give yourself perspective, consider this: You've been dreaming of this day since you were eight. Your fiance probably started thinking about it right after you said "Yes!" But don't panic - there are plenty of ways to engage hm before the big day.

EMBED TASKS
Help him warm to the process by placing it in a positive context. My fiancee called my best man and offered to treat us to an upcoming ballgame. Ten she sneaked in the idea that it would be great if we could get measured for our tuxedos on the way to the ballpark - turning an otherwise annoying chore into part of a memorable day of male bonding. Brilliant.

START SIMPLE
All guys prefer short, specific instructions and get frustrated when multiple tasks or unclear directives are thrown their way. "My fiancee gave me small jobs first, then gradually increased them," says Even, 29. "First it was stuff she knew I'd enjoy, like choosing the bar's stock list. When she started adding extra things - confirming the venue, booking our honeymoon flights - I already felt invested and didn't mind."

INTRODUCE COMPETITION
Men are indifferent toward a project only until it involves the chance to declare victory over someone else. "Jen played to my competitive instincts," says Justin, 33. "She'd never say anything like 'Have you gotten the limo yet?' Instead she'd drop little asides, like 'You know, Caroline's husband booked their Escalade four months before their wedding.' She knew it would get me in gear every time.

MOTIVATE HIM
Bribes are perfectly acceptable. Proven options include golf accessories and blatant sexual favors. Says Dan, 27, "My fiancee got me a new gadget from Home Depot every time I crossed something off my list. By the time we got married, I had an amazing toolbox."

ZIP YOUR LIPS
Metrosexuals notwithstanding, most of us still feel the need to maintain a certain macho image. By promising you won't leak the fact that he had a hand in the wedding planning, you'll be more likely to enlist his willing assistance. "I struck a deal with Tracy early on," says Brandon, 33. "I'd help with anything she wanted as long as we agreed to tell people she did it all."

PLAY UP THE FUN
Guys live for games and contests. Ideally, they involve balls or other projectiles, but they don't have to. When my buddy Greg, 29, found out he could select registry items online without setting foot in a store, he happily disappeared behind his laptop for hours. Of course, when he and his fiancee finally got to the store to make follow-up choices, she practically had to pry the electronic gun out of his hand. One should never underestimate a man's love of shooting stuff.

Wedding Splurges That Were Worth It

www.AbsoluteWeddingStore.com


We spent a ton on food - appetizers, side dishes, and desserts - because my mom didn't want anyone to go hungry. We once went to a wedding where the food was basically gone before all the guests had a chance to eat, and that's pretty much the only thing we remember about the day! - Dana W, 33

It was my mom's dream to hire an old Rolls-Royce to transport me to the church. The only one we could find was an hour away, so we had to pay the cost of travel plus the exorbitant price of having he car for a few hours. We got a 1949 cream and gold Rolls limousine, and it was gorgeous - Elizabeth S, 28

My husband and I slipped the band some extra money so they would keep playing for another hour. Everyone was having so much fun that it was absolutely worth it. And no one realized that the party was meant to end earlier - Emily C, 28

Our honeymoon! We splurged on business-class tickets and an overwater bungalow. Worth every penny - Lisa N, 32

We flew in a top-notch photographer - we'd seen her pictures in magazines and had fallen in love with her style. I panicked at first, but it was money well spent. The photographs will last forever - Christina G, 29

My DJ showed me a DVD he'd done of a wedding where he used low-lying fog for the first dance, and I loved how it looked. It gave a subtle, fairy-tale effect, not like cheesy concert "smoke". It cost more than we were planning to spend, but when my parents saw the video, they were like, "Go for it!" - Amanda T, 35

My dress! I really wanted to keep it at $1,000 or less since I'd only wear it once. When I saw the one I loved and the price tag was almost triple what I budgeted, I said "Forget my budget, it's my day, I'll charge it!" - Marian, 33

Wedding Etiquette Police

www.AbsoluteWeddingStore.com

Is it okay if we ask our guests to wear green to the wedding? It seems like a really cool way to make a statement about the environment.
We're all about saving the earth, but this request strikes us as more self-indulgent than sensible. It's tough enough for a wedding guest to pull together an appropriately fabulous outfit without having a color restriction - and, we might add, a color that's far from universally flattering - added to the mix. Instead, show your concern for the environment by using flowers grown locally, serving an organic menu and, in lieu of favors, making a donation to an eco-charity in honor of your guests.

When does the best man give his toast? Who else can give one?
Traditionally, the best man gives the first toast at the reception, but these days the maid of honor often makes a speech as well. As for timing, at a cocktail wedding reception, wait until everyone has a drink in hand before starting the toasts; at a seated meal, begin when everyone has taken a chair (and has a drink). The rehearsal dinner is more of a glass-clinking free-for-all, when anyone can stand up and tell sweet, sentimental, or funny anecdotes about the two of you.

At my friend's bridal shower, each woman was asked to write her name and address on a blank envelope, to help the bride with her thank-you notes. I love the idea, but my mom says it's tacky. Will guests be all right with this?
Nope - Mom wins this round. You wouldn't invite guests for a dinner party and ask them to stay to wash the dishes, would you? And while we're at it, we also give the thumbs-down to those preprinted thank-you notes on which guests fill in their name and gift, and all you do is stick on a stamp. Your friends and loved ones have taken the time to purchase a present and attend your shower, so the least you can do is send a handwritten note (and an envelope!). If the thought of writing 40 thank-you notes is overwhelming, divvy up the job into more manageable bits, like writing just five notes every night.

Can the maid of honor carry my one-year-old son down the aisle? We want him to be in the ceremony.
Carrying a baby isn't like carrying a bouquet. What will happen if he starts crying? She can't exactly rush back down the asile as you are about to make your entrance. A better idea: have someone who's not in your bridal party sit in the first row holding your son on her lap. Make an arrangement with your officiant to perform a family blessing during the ceremony - your MOH can bring him up for that.

My mom died when I was 12, and I want to include her name on the invitation. But my stepmom wnats it to say that I'm the daughter of "Mr. and Mrs. John Brady." How do I keep the peace with her while still respecting my mom's memory?
Only living relatives should be listed on your invitation - they're the ones doing the "inviting" for this occasion - so don't list your mother's name there. Print a tribute to her in your program instead. If you're planning an engagement or wedding announcement in the newspaper, though, it's perfectly acceptable to call yourself "the daughter of the late Barbara Brady." If you're rather not be listed as your stepmother's "daughter" on the invitation, use this phrasing, which still acknowledges her as a host: "Mr. and Mrs. John Brady/request the honour of your presence/at the marriage of Mr. Brady's daughter..."

We're on a tight budget. Do we need to invite my sister's boyfriend to the rehearsal dinn? They've been together only three months.
The significant other of every person attending the rehearsal - spouse, fiance, and anyone in a serious relationship - should be invited to the dinner. There's no hard-and-fast rule regarding length of the relationship, but if your sister considers herself part of a couple, her man should get the green light and be invited.

Do I have to serve dinner to the photographer and DJ at the reception?
Yes, but it doesn't have to be the same meal you serve your guests. Most catereres have less-expensive options for vendor meals. If your venue hosts a lot of weddings, there's probably already a designated spot (most likely a room that's separate from the reception) where they can relax and take a break.

My cousin wants to wear his military dress uniform to the wedding. I'm proud of him, but I'm worried he'll cause too much of a distraction. Am being self-centered?
As long as he's in the service and entitled to wear the uniform, it's fine. He'll probably receive more attention than if he were wearing a business suit, but if you're worried about his taking the focus off you and your fiance, don't be. Nothing can eclipse the bride and groom.

My mom's friends want to throw me a shower in my hometow. (I live two hours away now.) The trouble is, we're keeping our wedding very small, and I wasn't planning to invite any of them. It all seems kind of awkward.
Sounds like you're aware of the rule that everyone invited to a bridal shower is also asked to the wedding. But are you sure your mom hasn't already told them you're having a small wedding? If she did, and they still insist on throwing you a shower, you should graciously accept. If they don't know your plans, have your mom pass along the message that you'd love to do something more casual with them, like meet up for brunch at a local restaurant.

Do we need to wait until thank-you notes are sent to our guests before depositing their checks?
No. Deposit the checks as soon as possible. If you're leaving for your honeymoon the next day and won't have time to go to the bank, ask a trusted friend or family member to make the deposits. As with all wedding presents, it's best not ot delay sending thank-you notes. Put this job at the top of your to-do list for when you return from your honeymoon.

I'm getting married in two weeks, and I just bumped into a distant cousin whom I really like, but had completely forgotten to invite to the wedding. The invites have already gone out, but is it acceptable to still send her one? Do I need to explain?
Put an invitation in the mail, omit the reply card (since the "reply by" date has most likely passed), and follow up with a phone call. You don't have to say that you "forgot", just tell her that you were so happy to reconnect with her and that you'd love to see her at the wedding if she's free.

We're not Jewish, but we love the significance and look of a huppah. Can we still use one at the wedding ceremony?
Just call it a canopy instead of a huppah, and of course you can have one. Wedding canopies are especially popular for outdoor ceremonies, where they can help define the altar area. According to Jewish wedding custom, four attendants hold or stand by the poles, and a prayer shawl is draped over the top. Obviously, you'd omit these specific elements, but feel free to get creative with other wedding details and embellishments.