What To Put On Your Wedding Registry
Did you just get engaged?! YAYYY!!! Now time to plan 😉 If you haven’t already, you’ll soon find out that one particularly polarizing part of wedding planning is figuring out what to put on your wedding registry. I get asked this question a decent amount, but the truth is that it’s SO personal.
Adam and I are both in our early 30s and we live together… so we don’t need a lot of the traditional wedding registry items because we already have them! We also live in an apartment without a ton of storage, so we have to be mindful of what we can actually fit in our place.
Luckily, taking inventory of what we have helped us figure out what we want. And now we’re really excited about everything on our registry. The brand new items, the upgrades, the funds, and all! And while we haven’t gotten everything yet, I’m excited to share my favorite items we’ve gotten so far today!
Wedding Registry Guide
Before we dive in, does all of this sound overwhelming? How do you know what you need and what you don’t? There are too many items to keep straight! Don’t worry – I have a Wedding Registry Guide to help you out! In the guide, you’ll find a printable checklist with all of the major registry items, so you can go through your house and check off what you need, what you don’t need, and what could use an upgrade. This is SUCH a helpful exercise to do in order to figure out what to put on your wedding registry.
After the checklists, you’ll also find a page where you can brainstorm fund ideas, read about the best gifts my married readers received, plus what they wish they registered for and what they wish they DIDN’T register for 😉 Oh, and you’ll find a list of places to register for! (Spoiler: I’m team Zola!)
You can purchase this wedding registry guide as a part of my ultimate Wedding Planning Bundle. In addition, you’ll also receive my 12 Month Planning Timeline, customizable Budget Template, a Venue Comparison Sheet, and Exclusive Discounts! I know first hand how overwhelming wedding planning can be, so I really hope these resources are helpful and informative for you!
What to put on your wedding registry:
As I mentioned, since we aren’t tying the knot until May, we haven’t gotten everything yet… but here are our favorite registry items so far!
Towels
Adam and I have both had the same towels for years, so this was a no brainer for us. We decided on Crate & Barrel ribbed towels in ink blue (such a pretty navy!) and they’re perfect.
Dinnerware
Once we realized that all of our dinnerware was old scratched hand me downs, I convinced Adam that this is our chance to upgrade and start fresh. I was originally set on Crate & Barrel plates, but then I chatted with a few food photographers who mentioned that they love shooting on more of a matte finish. Shortly after that, I discovered the brand Year & Day and fell in LOOOOVE. Their plates and bowls are all ceramic and made in Portugal – and the quality is gorgeous. We got a mix of the moon and midnight colors and I’m obsessed.
Flatware
Flatware took a little more convincing than the dinnerware… but I’m really glad we decided to upgrade here too. Again, we both had hand me downs, so our drawer of utensils was such a hodge podge! (It still is honestly – we need to donate all of our old flatware now ?) We stuck with Crate & Barrel on this one because of the satin finish and the soup spoon. Love!
Knives
I feel very strongly that everyone should register for new knives. Unless you’re a baller and you bought yourself really nice knives when you were single, it’s such a satisfying registry addition. We got this set and chopping has become infinitely more enjoyable. I don’t have to fight with the food anymore!
Salt Cellar
A salt cellar might seem like a silly little gift, but it makes me feel like a real chef every time I use it. Either that or salt bae 😉 (We also got new salt and pepper grinders, too!)
Cuisinart Food Processor
I had my trusty 4 cup food processor for years, so I was SO excited to finally have a reason to upgrade to a 13 cup version! Now I can make big batches of pesto or hummus and it all fits easily. And it has slicing and shredding attachments! I love it.
KitchenAid Mixer
I don’t bake a lot… but that doesn’t change the fact that I have ALWAYS wanted a KitchenAid Mixer. There’s something very ‘adult’ about owning one to me. I think it’s because it reminds me of my Mom and Nana. Any time they baked (especially around the holidays), they’d pull out their KitchenAid and we’d all help out. I got the ice blue color and I love seeing it on our counter every day. It’s so pretty!
Serving spoons, ladles, spatulas, etc.
This was one that we didn’t realize we needed until we had the Priest who is marrying us over for brunch. I needed a spoon for the eggs, and spatula for the potatoes, another spoon for the fruit… and by the time I brought everything to the table, it was a hilarious mix of old plastic kitchen tools ? So in an attempt to be more adult, we registered for this spoon, this ladle, this slotted spoon, and this turner. They’ve been such a useful upgrade!
Toaster
Adam picked this toaster out, actually! We rarely toast 4 slices at a time, but it’s nice when we have company over.
Tea Kettle
Not everyone will care enough to register for an expensive tea kettle, but I’ve been admiring my Mom’s for years and I couldn’t wait to get one of my own! She has the red and I got the Caribbean Blue – and both look so lovely on a stove. There’s no need to ever put it away!
Stasher Bags
Registering is the perfect opportunity to start more sustainable habits – and Stasher Bags have been a super easy switch for us! I will admit though, we got a knockoff version first, and while I still love them, they aren’t as great in the dishwasher as the OGs. Just something to keep in mind!
Dog Treat Jar
Up until about a month ago, we just had bags of Luna’s treats out on a shelf in our sunroom ? But thanks to this cute little dog treat jar, we now have a place to put them!
Planters
Adam has such a green thumb, so I loved the idea of registering for some pretty new planters that we can put succulents in. These two planters are SO pretty in real life – we love them!
Sonos Wireless Speaker
Our Sonos is the perfect example of something we NEVER would have bought for ourselves, but we’re so happy we have it now! It’s wireless, so you can connect it to your phone or computer, and it’s a great way to listen to music, or even podcasts. And this one is great for people who like the idea of a speaker, but don’t need Alexa to turn the music on or do anything else for them 😉
Carry On Suitcase
We both resisted getting a new carry on suitcase a little bit, just because we each already own one. But once I realized that one of them has seen better days and another one could definitely be sold, we gave in. I like that this one is a hard exterior, it has a lock, and it has a USB charger!
Brooklinen Sheets
When I was putting together my wedding planning bundle, SO many people recommended registering for sheets – and it makes a lot of sense when you think about it! You might not think you need any more, but if you anticipate moving into a place with a guest bedroom anytime within the next few years, why not stock up?! We like Brooklinen’s sheets the best – they’re such great quality, especially for the price!
A few more…
As I mentioned, I owned a lot of things that most couples traditionally register for before we got engaged… so they’re not listed above. That being said, if you don’t own these yet, ADD THEM TO YOUR LIST! I use each of these items on a very regular basis and can’t recommend them enough!
Nespresso Aeroccino Frother
If you follow me on insta-stories, you know I LOVE this thing. Since I work from home (and even before I worked from home), I’ve preferred to make my coffee at home each morning. Don’t get me wrong, I love to treat myself to an occasional latte or cold brew – but for the most part, I like coffee in pjs 😉 This aeroccino frother has taken my morning coffee from something I like to something I really look forward to every morning. Literally all you do is add milk and press one of the 4 buttons (cold froth, hot milk, airy foam, dense foam) – that’s IT! I find that oat milk, almond milk, or dairy milk works the best.
Dyson Vacuum
If you’re wondering if the Dyson vacuum lives up to the hype, I’m here to tell you – IT 10000% DOES! I’ve never had anything that’s easier to use or does a better job. In addition to being cordless and easy to clean out, it also comes with a combination tool (works on both carpet and hardwood), a crevice tool (for edges and narrow gaps), a mini motorized tool (good for tight spaces), and soft dusting brush (for delicate surfaces). It’s the best vacuum ever.
Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Funny story – 28 year old me always kind of assumed I’d need to register for my wedding before I got a Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I mean, it’s not a cheap pot! But that Christmas, my parents went to their outlet and got one for me and my 2 siblings… and I cried ? But seriously, this is the holy grail for cooking soups, stews, risotto, and so much more. Everything cooks really evenly, you can transfer it from the stove right to the oven… and it’s so pretty! (I have the 5.5 qt size.)
Vitamix
I know Vitamix blenders might seem overpriced, but I really think they’re worth it if you’ll use it a lot. If you like smoothies, nothing gets the ingredients as fine and smooth as a Vitamix. I’ve also used it to puree soups, easily whip up pancake batter, and other savory things, too!
Ceramic Pan
Not only is ceramic cookware free from chemicals found in Teflon non stick coating, they are also SO EASY to clean. I think this is the one I have (mine is a few year’s old!), but we also registered for some other sizes from The Green Pan, which is a super similar line.
Pyrex Food Containers and Bowls with Lids
I actually got these food containers from a collaboration with Pyrex a few years ago, and I instantly forgot how I ever lived without them! Between those and the bowls with lids that are also a few years old (thanks Jennie!), we don’t use plastic tupperware at all anymore. Such a great investment for sustainable storage!
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Do you have any favorites that I missed?
Also, if you’re not sure what to do with your old stuff… DONATE IT! This Food52 article includes a lot of great information about what organizations accept various home goods. As long as it’s in good shape, don’t just throw it out. There are people who could really use secondhand household items!
And if this inspired you to get your own registry started, don’t forget to check out my full Wedding Planning Bundle! Along with this wedding registry guide, you’ll also get my 12 month planning timeline, a customizable budget template, a venue comparison sheet, and exclusive discounts. Click here to purchase!
PS. You might also like Where To Shop For Wedding Dresses in Chicago, Chicago Wedding Venues, A Classic Long Sleeve Bridal Shower Dress, and What To Wear For Engagement Photos.
