May 20, 2005
THE KNOT AND KOHL'S UNWRAP THE ULTIMATE RULES ON WEDDING GIFTS

Survey of 15,000 Brides-to-Be and Newlyweds Reveals the Scoop on Wedding Gifts and Etiquette, from the Most-Wanted Presents to How Much Couples Expect Guests to Spend

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., May 20, 2005 — Going to a wedding this summer, but fretting over the perfect gift and how much to spend? According to a recent survey of 10,000 brides and 5,000 newlyweds conducted by The Knot (www.theknot.com), the leading wedding website, in partnership with Kohl's Bridal Aisle (www.kohls.com), couples today have very specific wishes when it comes to their wedding gift desires.

Here are the must-know rules for wedding gift shopping for 2005 based on survey findings and expertise from editor in chief of The Knot, Carley Roney:

DO BUY A GIFT FROM THEIR REGISTRY
Do your very best to buy a gift from the couple's registry - whether in the store or on the Web. Nearly 85 percent of today's to-be-weds want you to select a gift from their wish list, and 98 percent of them have created at least one wedding gift registry list. Most brides surveyed indicated that they registered before the bridal shower, giving guests plenty of lead-time to shop off their wishlists. If you're a friend of the groom and you're not sure which gift will suit his taste, don't worry that you'll disappoint: over 90 percent of grooms are involved in creating the gift registry list today, with over 60 percent having participated in every single decision.

DO LOOK FOR TOP GIFTS IN KITCHEN, BED & BATH, & OUTDOOR DEPARTMENTS
Some of the most wanted gifts this year hail from kitchen electrics, cookware, bakeware, casual dinnerware, bedding and bath departments, according to the respondents of The Knot & Kohl's Survey. Couples said everyday cooking and entertaining was a favorite activity, and ranked their gifts accordingly. Among top gift choices mentioned were:

• Bakeware, cutlery and gadgets, and Calphalon cookware
• Casual dinnerware, stainless flatware and glasses
• Kitchen electrics: KitchenAid Stand Mixer, food processor, toaster and coffeemaker
• Bedding: 400 thread count Egyptian-cotton sheets
• Bath: towels and accessories
• Outdoor: BBQ items/accessories, patio furniture, gardening equipment & supplies

DON'T SKIMP: NEVER SPEND LESS THAN $50
How much to spend on a gift is always a mystery but, based on The Knot survey conducted on behalf of Kohl's, guests should never spend less than $50 on a wedding gift. Using the price-per-plate as a measure isn't a good idea either (only 10 percent of brides agreed with that rule) - you wouldn't give your best friend a less expensive gift just because she was having a more casual affair. Instead, ensure that you spend what's appropriate to your relationship to the couple and what's customary in your city (get advice from your peers).

Here's a guide based on national averages:

• Co-worker and/or a distant family friend or relative: $50-$75
• Relative or friend: $75 - $100
• Close relative or close friend: $100 - $150+
  

DO GO IN ON A BIG GROUP GIFT
When asked about their favorite wedding gift, the majority of the 5,000 newlyweds polled indicated the gifts that topped their list were the big ticket items purchased by groups of guests including the super-popular Dyson Vacuum ($599 retail), complete sets of professional cookware ($199 and up) and the KitchenAid stand mixer (all available at Kohl's or Kohls.com). Other favorite items include full sets of their formal china and sterling ($600 - $2000, TheKnot.com/chinaregistry).

DON'T RE-GIFT, BUT IF YOU DO, DO IT WISELY
One of the most common complaints among newlyweds polled was that they received a recycled gift. The urge to save a penny or get rid of an unwanted item by giving it as a wedding gift can be compelling - but it's not so easy to pull one over on the bride and groom. You're better off waiting a month or two to save for a special gift rather than giving them something that's been sitting in your closet. But, if you do re-gift, beware: several newlyweds told us that they received gifts with the original cards still enclosed!!!

DO LOOK ONLINE FOR REGISTRY LOCATIONS
Most couples spread the word about registry locations via word of mouth -- 77 percent of newlyweds told us they relied on their moms and bridesmaids to get the word out. If you don't want to ask, log online to the couple's personal wedding webpage. There has been a 7 percent increase in the number of couples who are using the Web as a homebase to link to their registries. Today, 4 in 10 couples have a wedding webpage and statistics indicate that number will continue to grow. (A note of caution to brides: it is still unacceptable to list registry details in your wedding invitation, but it is acceptable in your bridal shower invitation).

DON'T WAIT LONGER THAN TWO MONTHS
Longstanding etiquette states that wedding guests have a year to send a gift, but procrastinating your gift buy is a sure way to forget to send one all together. Two out of three newlywed couples polled indicated that they still haven't received all of their wedding gifts - so clearly, the one-year rule isn't working. So, take advantage of the modern conveniences of online shopping, and send a gift within two months of the wedding.

For a complete list of the year's hottest wedding gifts or to speak with Carley Roney about more gift trends and etiquette, please contact The Knot Press Office at 212.219.8555 or email pr@theknot.com. To find out more about Kohl's Bridal Aisle Gift Registry, please visit kohls.com.

ABOUT KOHL'S BRIDAL AISLE
Kohl's Bridal Aisle Gift Registry offers everything from everyday essentials to those little extras. Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS) carries the best brands in small electrics, cookware, bakeware, casual dinnerware, flatware, glassware, bedding, bath, luggage and vacuums. Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's operates 670 stores in 40 states, which makes it easy and convenient for your guests to shop. Kohl's Bridal Aisle Gift Registry is also available online at www.kohls.com.

ABOUT THE KNOT, INC.
The Knot, Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT; www.theknot.com), the nation's leading wedding resource, provides more than one million new members a year with comprehensive wedding planning information, interactive tools and resources, and wedding-related shopping. The Knot has extended its brand to reach every venue engaged couples consult, including bookstores, newsstands, nationally distributed cable television programming, and the Internet. Its award-winning website, TheKnot.com, is the leading online wedding destination and wedding content provider to America Online, MSN and Comcast. The Knot also offers a diverse collection of wedding planning print publications. The Knot produces a national publication, The Knot Weddings Magazine and publishes The Knot Weddings, regional wedding magazines in 16 U.S. markets and "The Knot Real Weddings" magazines in two additional markets. The Company also publishes a wedding planning book trilogy with Broadway Books, and a gift-book series with Chronicle Books, as well as producing a televised documentary series on The Oxygen Network and a Video On Demand (VOD) service for Comcast Cable. The Knot is based in New York and has several other offices across the country.

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Media Contact for Kohl's:
Lori Sansoucie, Kohl's Public Relations Manager, (262) 703-6752

Media Contact for The Knot:
Amy Shey Jacbos, Director of PR, (212) 219-8555, ext. 1246