I was trying to keep my registry to two stores - but now I'm looking at three, mostly because I want to give people who live in various places or who don't shop online an option. Will three stores seems like too many to my shower guests?
IMO it matters more what you are registered for, which is to say that you have a variety of items at various price points. Three stores seems like more than most people would need, but I don't think it's a big deal.
If you absolutely can't narrow it down, I don't think it is a bad thing to have 3 registries. I think when I register I will be doing Buy Buy Baby and Target. Between the two of them I can register for what I want and get the best deals at either place.
I registered at three places, because we planned on buying items from all three places and I wanted the discount. We did Target, Amazon and our local cloth diaper store. I worried about registering at three places as well, but if people did want to look at our registries, there were options for online or in store.
I don't think three is a problem. Guests aren't obligated to buy from a registry.
This. The more you register for/ the more places, it doesn't change your guest's "obligation". They'll still buy what they want to buy and they'll spend what they want to spend. 1 registry or 10.
Re: How many places to register?
Registries are suggestions anyway, people aren't obligated to use them so register at three places if you really want to.