Gift registries are a big topic of debate these days. Some brides and grooms to be are accused of being greedy, with taste beyond their means. When we got married nearly 16 years ago, I didn't want to register. We had one of those small weddings that happen after a quick two-week engagement because the couple is in...ahem...a bit of a hurry. I changed my mind about registering a few days into our brief engagement, after a call from a local shop showed me that I was making life difficult for some goodhearted, dear friends of my parents and grandparents.

Q: I'm getting married to my partner of 5 years in about 1 month! We are having the wedding in her parents' backyard and will be serving beer, wine, iced tea, and water, but we'd also like a cocktail. I'd like something that requires minimal effort and can be made with and without alcohol. Ideas?

Sent by Lisa

Q: My wedding is at the end of June and I am doing a "potluck" dessert table where people can bring chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or lemon desserts. I love to bake and I'm planning on making a few desserts myself ahead of time. What are some freezer-friendly desserts that I can make now, that will still be delicious in a month and a half?

Q: I am planning my wedding for October and would love to have some homemade desserts. We live four hours from our wedding venue and would need dishes that can travel well and still be good up to 48 hours later. Any ideas for small desserts other than cookies that would work?

Sent by Michelle

If you've ever hosted a multi-generational gathering, you know the question of what music to play is a tough one. You don't want to see Grandma huddled in the corner covering her ears, or your friend's teenage cousin rolling her eyes all night. So I turned to a professional for help — my pal Ian Gotler, wedding DJ extraordinaire, who knows how to make a playlist that appeals to people of all ages. (And if you're in the mood for dancing, be sure to check out his bonus dance mix!)

Q: I'm baking a gluten-free wedding cake and I would love some help! The wedding is for 100 people this September. Do you have a gluten-free wedding cake recipe? Non-gluten-free-but-adaptable wedding cake recipe? 

You know what automatically makes a sit-down dinner a little more fancy and fun? A printed menu of all the food to come! But you don't have to be a graphic design whiz to have a personalized menu at your next dinner party — we found five pretty, customizable templates you can download for free.

Sparkling wine is already a festive pour for a party, but here's an idea for making it a little more special: serve homemade fruit liqueur lollipops for guests to stir into their bubbly. It's an elegant, surprising take on the usual champagne cocktail.

I hate spending money on things I rarely use, hate burning through the disposable instead of investing in the reusable, and hate finding space for party decorations and supplies in my small apartment closets. And yet...I love hosting parties that are well-equipped and nicely decorated. How to host large gatherings without breaking the bank or having to keep lots of party supplies crammed under my bed? Enter the communal party supply collection, or as one  of my friends dubbed it, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Party Supplies.

Q: My friend is thinking of having a short afternoon reception for her wedding in October. What are some simple, elegant, tea-time-like items that we can make ahead? I would love suggestions that incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables, and that don't require tons of freezer or fridge space!