Last week, I talked about how to create a wedding registry. Planning a wedding is stressful, and for some couples, the stress levels can hit a breaking point when you are in the middle of a store holding one of those registry scanner guns (if you read that episode, you know that was me!)
To help you plan for your upcoming wedding, I thought it would also be helpful to provide a list of the top items to include on your wedding registry. If you want a more thorough checklist, Real Simple has one of the best ones I’ve seen. But if you’re confident coming up with your own list, these suggestions should help get you started - and keep you on track.
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Quality Bath Towels
You know the towels you used in college and in your first apartment? Those are great items to move to your guest bathroom and keep on hand for when company visits, but when you get married, a couple sets of new, plush towels will help you feel like you’re living in a 5-star hotel.
But that doesn't mean they have to cost an arm and a leg. You can find some great, long-lasting towels at places like Target, or upgrade to options from a high-end despartment store. I would recommend getting 4 bath towels (2 for each of you), 2 hand towels for each of your towel bars, and 2-4 wash cloths (if you use them.) If you have 2 complete sets of towels, you will always have a clean set ready to put in place when you the dirty towels are in the wash.
Luxury Bed Sheets
Trust me when I tell you that once you are married for a few years, luxury bedding is something that will likely move down your priority list - so get it at the beginning of your marriage. Later in life, when jobs change or kids come in to the picture, it can be difficult to justify spending $100 or more on a set of sheets.
The good thing about quality sheets is that they last a long time, so if you put a couple good sets on your registry, you will be able to enjoy luxury bedding for years to come. If you aren’t sure what to look for in a set of sheets, check out my episode, How to Buy Sheets.
Matching Dishes and Real Glasses
When you are in college, it’s perfectly acceptable to have plastic plates and cups as tableware. Getting married is a grown up decision, though, so it’s time to make sure you have grown up dining pieces, too.
I’m not a big proponent of registering for fine china - I'd opt insead for good solid plate and bowl sets. I recommend going for neutral color or pattern, so they can last through the changing of your décor. Personally, I am a fan of plain white plates because they go with any décor or table setting, and they showcase food beautifully.
In terms of drinkware, I also like to go with basic clear glasses, which can be dressed up or down to fit your table settings, and will be functional for many years to come. Now, don’t get me wrong - we do still have a few plastic cups from our college and early-adult days in the house, which we use as everyday drinking cups. But for dinners, we typically use glasses - which give you a sense of going out, even when you are dining in.
Solid Silverware
Make sure both you and your soon-to-be spouse weigh in on this item; you may be surprised to find out that your fiancé or fiancée has issues with spoons that are too deep, or forks that are too big.
You know those plastic handled forks and spoons you’ve been lugging around since your first apartment? They won’t look quite right next to your nice new plates and glasses, so you should probably add a set of silverware to your registry, as well.
When desiding, consider both the appearance as well as the functionality of the sets. Look for stainless steel, which will prevent spots and rust from appearing on the silverware. Also, make sure both you and your soon-to-be spouse weigh in on this item; you may be surprised to find out that your fiancé or fiancée has issues with spoons that are too deep, or forks that are too big. You are going to be using these pieces a lot over the years, so make sure they make both you and your other half happy.
Once you have the design picked out, figure out how many sets you need. I would recommend getting at least 8 of each of the dining pieces (forks, spoons, and knives), so you can host a 6-8 person dinner party. I’d also recommend holding on to those older pieces, but only if you take bagged lunches to work - that way, if one of those pieces doesn’t make it home, you aren’t out a piece of your good silverware for your next dinner party.
Some Good Knives
If you aren’t planning on cooking most nights of the week, you can probably get by with a couple standard knives for your everyday needs. At minimum, every kitchen should have a chef knife, a small paring knife, and a serrated knife to get through small cooking and eating tasks, like cutting an apple.
If you are a home chef and love to cook, you may want to consider putting a knife block set on your registry. When picking out the knives you want, it’s always helpful to hop online and read the reviews for your top picks. This will help you learn the pros and cons of each set, and help you make a more educated decision for which ones to put on your registry.
Pots and Pans (If You Plan to Cook)
If you don’t intend to cook much, the pots and pans you currently own are likely good enough to get you through the first few years of married life. If you do plan to cook lots of homemade meals, your registry is an ideal place to request your perfect set of pans.
I prefer to have a non-stick set of pans for most of my daily cooking, but also have a stainless steel skillet and a cast iron Dutch oven to use when recipes call for them. Cookware sets can be pricey, so if you don’t think you’ll have a wedding guestwilling to spend that amount on your gift, it may help to put each individual pot on your registry separately, to break up the cost for your guests.
Baking Pans
Even if you have zero interest in baking, there are a few basic pans you should have in your kitchen.: a large baking sheet, a 9x13 cake pan, a round cake pan, a pizza pan, and a glass baking dish.
While these are definitely handy to have in case you want to bake a box of brownies or a birthday cake, they can also be used for many other things - from heating up store-bought cinnamon rolls and carrying food to and from a grill, to freezing berries and other fruit. You don’t need to have a big stash of baking pans, but having these few on hand will prove useful for years to come.
A Vacuum
If you haven’t yet purchased a real vacuum, or you’re using a hand-me-down that seems to be at the end of its life, a vacuum can be a very practical gift to add to your registry.
Even if you live in a small apartment, having a real vacuum that plugs in to the wall (ie, it doesn’t run off batteries like a Dust Buster) is important to keep dirt at bay. If you will be living in a larger house or plan to have lots of indoor pets, you may want to opt for a more powerful vacuum. One of my favorites is the Shark Navigator; for under $200, it does a great job on all types of flooring.
Something Pretty
Most of the items that end up on a wedding registry are very practical ,day-to-day items. This is great, because these items will help you function together in your new life together.
But it’s also important to have a couple things on the list that will bring a smile to your face when you see them. Married life isn’t always easy, so sometimes it helps to have something pretty or cute to help get you through a bad day.
Maybe you want to get set of 2 fancy wine glasses that you can use on a weekly basis, or perhaps a pretty serving bowl that you can make salads in? While you are making your list, each of you should pick out at least one item that is functional, but also makes you smile.
Something Fun
Like I mentioned before, there are ups and downs in every marriage, and at times, that can lead to feeling disconnected to your spouse. In those times, it’s good to have a few fun things in your house to help you reconnect.
Consider asking for a few board games that 2 people can play, items that support your hobbies, or things that will help keep you occupied when you are snowed in.
Well, those are my top wedding registry ideas! If you have other items for the must-have list, share them with me on Facebook or Pinterest. I’d love to see what you think is essential for new couples to have in their homes.
Until next time, I’m the Domestic CEO, helping you love your home.
Photo of table setting courtesy of Shutterstock.