By Sharon Goldman Edry
Newsweek.com

Another June, another wedding season, another search for fluted champagne glasses or other suitable gifts. If you're tired of the trek, you might want to visit WeddingChannel.com (www.dellajames.com), the first online bridal registry to unite many popular national and local retailers in one location: Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Neiman Marcus and Dillard's among others. Couples can register for all of their gifts online, or pick out what they want in person at the store itself — their registries will automatically be uploaded to the site. And if a Web-wary relative actually goes to the store to buy a gift, their purchase will still be reflected on the WeddingChannel.com registry. The service is free to both couples and guests.

"Today's bride registers in an average of three stores," says Rebecca Patton, president and CEO of the San-Francisco-based company. "From her perspective, managing those registries is a challenge — what if she wants to change the amount of place settings, or take something off? And being able to go to one place to find all of a couple's registered items is great for the gift buyer." In addition to stores offering "staples" such as china and flatware, couples can register for one-day spa certificates, outdoor gear and consumer electronics.

When a bride logs on, she is led through a simple registration process, which includes password protection. Couples can also browse the site to learn (if they care) the difference between porcelain and bone china, or what pieces of silver are "must haves." There is also the option of a personal wedding Web page, where the bride and groom can post photos and plug in details about their big day, and, of course, link to their registry.

What next: a site where the happy couple E-mails its vows?

* * *