It’s hard enough planning a wedding, let alone an entire future. How could you possibly know that you’ll need a turkey roasting pan because your in-laws will want to host Thanksgiving in your home next year? Well, you can’t.
There’s no way that you and your soon-to-be spouse will know exactly what you’ll want or need to build a future together, so when it comes time to start up a wedding registry, it is all too easy to get confused and end up with two toasters and no bath towels. Of course, there are some staple items that most couples find helpful to register for. Our complete wedding registry checklist covers all the essential items you and your honey will likely need in your first year of marriage.
However, for the couple that seems to have it all already, don’t stress. With the right wedding registry, you can ask for funds to cover all the extras we missed that you want! Whether you prefer funds for experiences, honeymoon spending money, or charitable donations, we’ll guide you to the best registry to mix and match options.
Kitchen and Dining
1 blender
1 coffee maker
1 food processor
1 stand mixer (and attachments)
1 slow cooker
1 toaster
1 microwave
4-8 steak knives
1 set of chef’s knives
1 set of kitchen shears
1 8-10 piece cookware set
1 ice cream scoop
1 kitchen timer
1 basting brush
1 trash can
4 dish towels
1 dish-drying rack
2 oven mitts
2 pot holders
4 – 8 casual place settings
1 set of serving dishes
4 – 8 mugs
1 set of salt and pepper shakers
3 mixing bowls
1 rolling pin
1 set of measuring spoons
1 set of measuring cups
2 spatulas
2 whisks
1 set of tongs
1 cheese grater
1 veggie peeler
1 can opener
1 pizza cutter wheel
1 meat thermometer
1 slotted spoon
1 ladle
1 colander
4 – 8 ramekin/prep bowls
2 cutting boards
8 – 12 formal china place settings
1 casual flatware set
1 set of serving utensils
4 – 8 wine glasses
4 – 8 double old-fashioned glasses
4 – 8 shot glasses
4 – 8 casual/juice glasses
1 cocktail shaker
1 jigger and set of bar tools
4 – 8 coasters
4 – 8 napkins and napkin rings
1 tablecloth
When it comes to wedding registries, it’s no surprise that kitchen and dining items are top-of-the-list for most couples. In fact, registries have almost become synonymous with cookware and formal china. For “foodie” couples, the kitchen and dining areas may be the most important in the home, but for the average couple, it is important to be realistic about what you truly need day-to-day. Of course, we’re not saying you can’t register for the more fun and luxurious stuff, but the items here are a bit more practical for a couple just starting out in a new home. Think about it: Wouldn’t you be frustrated if your friends and family spoiled you with fancy sugar bowls and accent plates but left you with no pots, pans, or utensils?
If you and your soon-to-be-spouse have been living together for a year or more, you’ve probably accumulated most of the items on this list. Starting your wedding registry could be a great opportunity to take inventory of what you’ve already got and ask for the items you still haven’t gotten around to purchasing. For example, you can easily get by without a formal tablecloth, but once you’re married, you may want one for hosting holidays and impressing the in-laws. However, on the flip-side, you could also decide that since you already have the majority of the items on this list it would be better to register for an experience that helps you use them, such as a couple’s cooking class. (Then you’d really impress the in-laws!)
No matter what stage of homemaking you are at, you need the basics: plates, cups, forks, spatulas. However, even the term “basics” is subjective, which is why we suggest registering for sets. An eight to 10 piece cookware set often comes with two skillets, two saucepans with covers, a large stock pot with cover, and various other items; some include sauté pans, some include spatulas and other cooking utensils, and some even include baking sheets. Each one is different, though we are partial to Cuisinart’s Try-Ply Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set; it looks trendy and covers all your basic pot-and-pan needs. Of course, if you’re not interested in a matching set or have more specific cookware needs, you can always look through these sets to get a sense of what they come with and how you might register for individual pieces to complete your personal collection.
And of course, the same sentiment goes for bakeware and barware. If neither you nor your significant other drink alcohol, maybe you can skip the cocktail shaker.
Formal china place settings are different though. You’ve likely seen TV and movie couples arguing over china patterns more times than you can count. This is because formal china has traditionally served as the centerpiece of wedding registries, matching everything to a specific pattern and décor style. Whether you’re a couple that entertains or you’re pizza delivery regulars, there are some benefits to registering for formal place settings; you can pass them on to your children as heirlooms, you can display your pieces in a curio cabinet, or you can save them for special occasions.
However, it’s also becoming more common for brides and grooms to skip on the fancy stuff and keep it more casual. For example, Kate Spade New York, Canvas Home™, Vera Wang, and Dansk all offer stunning four- or five-piece place setting sets with designer appeal and everyday durability. Just keep in mind the suggested amount of place settings as you register. Couples who entertain and want formal china may find it better to register for eight to 12 place settings, as entertaining implies a larger group of people will need to be accommodated. If you skip the formal china, you should discuss how many place settings you’d ideally need or want for the future. If you aren’t planning on hosting many dinner parties, you can probably get away with four to eight place settings.
Bedding
1 set of flat and fitted sheets
1 set of winter flannel flat and fitted sheets
1 duvet and duvet cover (or bedspread)
1 down comforter
1 bed skirt
2 blankets
4 pillows
4 pillowcases
Bedding is a lot more fun (and a lot less stressful) to register for than kitchen and dining items are. Even if you already have bedding, you should still consider registering for more. Depending on where you live, having multiple sets of bedding can be helpful. If you live in an area with harsh winters, you may want to register for a warm down comforter and flannel sheets and pillowcases, as they tend to keep you a bit cozier. If you live in the south, you may want a lighter bedspread or quilt because down feathers may be too hot for the summer season. Maybe you like to switch it up every once and a while or like to alternate between laundry days. Maybe you want to keep the Ralph Lauren in the master bedroom and want a second, less expensive guest bedding set. Assess storage space in your home, your needs as a couple, and your style and comfort preferences before you register.
If you’re set with bedding and have no interest in registering for extras (for your room or the guest room), consider adding up an approximate monetary value and asking for the cash instead. Your guests will appreciate that you’re not asking for extravagant bedroom accessories that you don’t need and will be happy to give cash for you both to use as you’d like.
Bathroom
6 bath towels
6 hand towels
6 wash cloths
1 bath mat
1 shower curtain
1 shower liner
1 scale
1 laundry hamper
1 waste bin
1 soap dish or dispenser
1 toothbrush holder
The bathroom may be the least exciting room to plan for, but it is also the most frustrating to use when you’re missing essential items. Unless you’re already living in your dream bathroom, everything on this list is important to register for. The quantity is up to you, but six is a good place to start for basic bath linens; it leaves you with a few extras for guests, laundry days, and family growth. (You’ll probably want to invest in more though if you do have kids.)
This list is short and to the point. There are plenty of items to consider that aren’t on here: vanity trays, towel racks, etc. But, everyone’s bathroom needs are different, mostly because everyone’s bathroom is different. If you’ve purchased a home with a standup shower and built-in glass doors, you won’t need a shower curtain or liner. If weight is a touchy subject for you or your sweetheart, a scale may not be a great idea either. The bathroom is the kind of space where you don’t know what you need until you need it, so if you haven’t moved yet, it can be trickier, but this list is the perfect starting point. Plus, a lot of wedding registries let you convert gifts into money, such as Zola. So, if it turns out you don’t need a shower curtain or liner but desperately want a better showerhead, you’re covered! (Well, maybe partially covered at least.)
Miscellaneous Décor, Furniture, and Appliances
2 vases
2 picture frames
2 lamps/lighting fixtures
2 crystalware
1 mirror
1 door mat
1 patio umbrella
1 furniture (sofa, ottoman, dining table, patio furniture, etc.)
1 electronics (TV, entertainment system, home security, etc.)
1 appliances (refrigerator, stackable washer and dryer set, dishwasher, etc.)
1 grill and barbecue set
1 vacuum
1 iron and ironing board
2 suitcase sets
1 digital camera
Just because your home is livable doesn’t mean you can’t keep going! What good is new furniture if the walls are bare and the personality is lacking? And to that point, what good is a kitchen full of cookware without a dining table to enjoy your culinary creations? If there is something you want or need, register for it. Whether you want a floor-length mirror for functionality or a stylish set of sunburst mirrors for the wall above your fireplace, put it on your registry. Entertainment systems, smart technologies, and furniture can all go on your registry, just as picture frames, door mats, and dishwashers. Nothing is too frivolous or expensive if it makes you and your soon-to-be-spouse happier or more comfortable.
You might be thinking: “Why would I register for a $1,600 sofa? No one is going to gift something with that high of a price tag.” That might be true, but it doesn’t matter. Enable group gifting on your registry, and let family and friends contribute what they can toward a new sofa. If you already know that you’ll need a few high-priced items, make sure to choose a registry site with this function. Zola is a good one, and even if the item hasn’t reached the full dollar amount, you’ll still receive whatever amount has been gifted.
So, whether you’re buying a new home or sticking with apartment living for a bit longer, feel free to dream big! Go for that grill and host backyard barbecues for years to come, or ask for the perfect little setup for your patio. It’s up to you.
Finding the Right Registry Site
Every couple is different, but one thing is common: flexibility is ideal. Modern registry websites offer so many options for couples with specific wants and needs for the future. Having everything offered on one site is one of the most impactful differences between older, traditional registries. Why register in one store when you can register at five stores using one simple site?
Also, newer sites not only let you register for the staple items listed here, but also let you register for experiences (skydiving, wine tasting) and funds (buying or building a house, honeymoon airfare?). In fact, you can even choose to set up a fund where guests can donate to your favorite charity (the animal rescue organization where you both met your beloved dog).
The wedding registry we recommend above all the rest is the Zola wedding registry, which can do all this and more. They offer the lowest cash fee of all the other registries like it, which is great for you and your guests. Plus, those name brands you love are available through Zola: Cuisinart, Kitchen Aid, Kate Spade New York, and more.
With the Zola wedding registry, you can download an app straight to your iPhone or Apple Watch and scan barcodes straight to your registry. It’s so simple. You can easily plan out your registry so that there’s something for each guest to give either by evaluating price points based on how many people are attending or by letting you swipe (Tinder-style) to discover new items. You’ll also get real-time alerts whenever you receive a gift, so you can decide if you want it to ship right away or if you want to wait a little longer to possibly trade in for something no one purchased.
Plus, for all you wedding bees out there, Zola is offering a $25 credit when you receive $250 in gifts on your Zola registry page.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a registry, and there are plenty of options out there to confuse you. The most important thing is that you both research the capabilities of each registry site and choose what works for you. Of course, as the wedding registry that will do anything for love, Zola does seem like the obvious choice.
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BLOGGER
Staff Writer
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