I'm a bit meh on the registry thing, personally. We did a couple registries, but honestly, it was because it was like a pretend shopping trip without actually spending any money and we had SO much fun doing it. In fact, now I kind of want to do it again. We didn't tell anyone unless forced to, pretty much. I think Tom's work and my work each got us gifts. We got a few checks from close relatives. A couple of Tom's friends got us stuff on our Amazon list. But we eloped. No wedding = No stress = No presents, and that's fine with me.
(Side note: Also, I hate that it costs so much to GO to weddings. Travel costs, hotel, etc. I work with someone who said that a few years ago they had SIXTEEN weddings to go to in a year, and they *just* got out of debt from that, and now all their newly married friends are having babies!)
Oddly, I don't have the same problem with baby registries. Shit. Babies are expensive and the parents won't get consistant sleep for another 20 years, the least I can do is get some Winnie The Pooh onesies and Baby Einstein DVDs. And those cute little newborn head socks! Aw.