Q: Hey guys!! I find that I often look to you all on things DIY related, but more often than not, on things life related. I would love to hear items in or around your house that you are so glad you own because it helps with the day to day. I really enjoyed reading about how you saved money with Clara (what items you skipped out on or decided to go back and buy) and how you saved money with your wedding. I am getting married next June and it would be super helpful to hear what things my fiance and I should register for (and what we shouldn’t). You guys are my favorite! – Tyne
A: Let’s do this. We thought it would actually be fun to search our brains to see if they would even stretch back to 2007 and remember what we got, what we still love, what we regretted asking for, and what we wish we’d asked for. Because friends and relatives can be amazingly generous (and at least in our family really seem to appreciate a list of things you love so they don’t have to guess), so it all comes down to thinking long and hard about what you actually will use and love for the long haul. No pressure, right?
Registry items are definitely one of those personal preference things (some people might love that they registered for formal china, while other folks like us are happy to skip it) but in general we think the key is to know how you live and what you will actually use/need (registering for a Kitchenaid mixer when you don’t cook/bake is probably not the best idea). So try to toss out romantic notions of who you “should be” someday (ex: don’t picture yourself as “a grown up” hosting a giant formal 20 person dinner if this won’t actually happen – not everyone grows up, gets married, and does that).
Instead, try to focus on how you live now and how you realistically think you will continue to live and entertain over the years. Whether you’re a casual couple or are fancy and formal, embrace who you are and think about what you’ll truly use and love. Chances are you’ll still be who you are in a few decades – you might evolve a little, but you probably won’t become a completely different couple with a completely different personality and lifestyle.
Also, trying to choose things that are classic never hurts, just so that if your tastes change over time, you won’t be completely over a bunch of style-specific stuff that you once loved but now loathe. It can be pretty expensive to re-buy everything instead of going with something timeless – and you can always add personality later with inexpensive and easy to switch out items, like patterned cloth napkins, table runners, etc. See? White dishes, clear glasses, and basic silverware can be dressed up a whole bunch of ways:
We also learned that it helped whenever possible to choose things that are attractive enough to be left out (ex: a nice stainless steel toaster or blender) because you never know what you’ll leave out for convenience’s sake. So skipping something in a crazy color that might clash with your future kitchen curtains or forgoing something super cheap that you’d never leave out in favor of something that looks a little more elegant is usually the way to go for lazy folks like us who tend to leave the blender out for three weeks after we make smoothies.
But enough chitchat, we thought it would be fun to share a list of the stuff we registered for and still love to this day, a few things that we regret putting on our registry, items that we passed on (and why), and items that we wish we had added to the list. So without further ado…
Kitchen Stuff We Registered For And Still Love:
- Basic silverware from Crate & Barrel
- White cloth napkins
- Basic white dishes that go with everything (we’re still loving that they’re classic and they’re not too precious, so if one breaks we won’t cry for days)
- Good serving bowls and serving ware (three salad/chip bowls, three large platters)
- Stainless blender & toaster (we also have a griddle)
- A cute strainer (ours is bright yellow)
- Chunky wood cutting boards (two, since we leave them out on the counter because they’re charming and use them all the time)
- Simple and small (easy to store) can opener (we didn’t want a giant electric countertop one)
- Cute clear pepper corn and sea salt grinders (classic, yet kinda fancy since they grind)
- Basic glass pitcher (we definitely tried to go for timeless basics)
- Stemless wine glasses (they’re more versatile, so they can also work for oj or smoothies)
House Stuff We Registered For And Still Love:
- Two Dolce lounge chairs from Target that we still use today (they’re in the guest room of this house)
- Two basic glass based lamps that lived in our first house’s living room and this house’s bedroom/entryway
- Organic bed sheet set (in white) and four nice bed pillows and cases
- Gorgeous large leather photo album that we used for all of our wedding photo strips
- Fluffy white towels (which we still use to this day, both in our bathroom and the guest bath)
- West Elm daybed (from John’s way too generous Godmother)
- West Elm parson’s desk (from my way too generous BFF Cat)
Stuff We Got And Later Regretted (all our fault – we wish we had chosen more wisely):
- Hepa filtered vacuum (regret: we registered for a cheap one that didn’t hold up very well, so we later upgraded to a Bissell Helix Bagless Upright)
- Set of knives in a knife block (regret: again, totally our fault, but we chose a cheap-ish set that we have since had to replace, but our current one is by Paula Deen from HomeGoods and we like it)
- Basic white mugs (regret: we didn’t think about scale at all, so the set that we got is so small it was sort of like teacups – we’ve since replaced them with larger mugs that actually work for tea and hot chocolate without feeling like you’re at a kid’s tea party)
- Cordless hand vac (regret: we wish we had done more research before randomly choosing something, since ours bit the dust pretty fast – we later replaced it with a Dirt Devil Kurv)
- A few basic pots and pans (regret: they weren’t great quality and got scratched and beaten up pretty fast – we later learned about Greenware pots and pans, which are eco-friendly and teflon free, so we asked for them for Christmas in 2009 and have been enjoying them ever since)
Stuff We Passed On (mostly specific kitchen gadgets after we realized we just wouldn’t use ’em):
- Coffee maker (we’re a tea household, and even when coffee folks stay with us we all go to Starbucks)
- Kitchenaid mixer (as much as I’d love to buy one in a fun color, it would totally collect dust)
- Monogrammed towels and robes (we’re not robe people and basic white towels sans monogram did it for us)
- Espresso machine (same as coffee maker, just wouldn’t get used)
- Ice cream maker (didn’t think we’d ever use it)
- Toaster oven (after thinking it through we decided a stainless steel toaster and an oven were all we needed, and five years later we’re still happy without one)
- Rice cooker (much like the ice cream maker, we just didn’t think we’d use something so specific)
- Panini press (ditto)
- Waffle maker (ditto)
- Martini glasses (ditto)
- George Foreman grill (ditto)
Stuff We Have Since Bought (if we could turn back time, we’d have registered for these too):
- Nice set of wood spoons and spatulas for a caddy next to the stove (get things in sets whenever possible, our old ones were all mismatched and later we updated to a matched set and appreciated how much better they looked)
- Immersion blender (we didn’t miss any other gadgets but we did end up yearning for this one – and we use it often enough to warrant storing it)
- Cute “Cucina” soap and lotion set from Anthropologie (so charming on the counter in a kitchen or bathroom)
- More specific things as rooms evolved and our taste became more clear (ex: green cloth napkins, J & S mugs, metallic holiday glasses, etc)
- Sonicare toothbrushes (wish we had thought to register for these guys)
- Two big clear glass containers for cereal, flour, sugar on the counter
- Clam shell fruit bowl from ZGallerie (it has been our fruit bowl for years)
I’m sure we forgot a few items (it was five years ago!) but that’s a pretty good idea of what we registered for, what we regretted/replaced, what we skipped, and what we wish we had added. And after compiling that list it made me want to poll some friends and relatives to hear their five favorite registry items (you know, because I’m nosy) so here are their responses. It’s so interesting to see who loves what the most (and it definitely reinforces that knowing what you will love and use is more important than putting too much stock into what works for someone else (like slacker chefs and non-coffee-drinker like us, haha).
- My BFF Katie: white dishes, white platters, white towels, stainless toaster, and basic silverware
- My other BFF Cat (you’ve seen her wedding here): basic white towels, a silver goes-with-everything serving platter, everyday dishes (colorful Fiestaware bowls, plates, and serving dishes), a brightly striped ceramic pitcher from Crate & Barrel, and a cute bowl set from Anthropologie.
- My friend D from All Things G&D: my crockpot, a good set of knives, good pots and pans, an Aerobed (air mattress) and G’s heavy bag (for boxing – it was his “guy” gift from all of his groomsmen).
- My friend Heather (you’ve seen her wedding here): everyday dishes, a blender, nesting bowls, picture frames, a Rainbow vacuum cleaner. Things I never use: martini glasses, electric knife, cake stand, and ice cream dishes (why did I register for special ice cream dishes when basic bowls work even better?!).
- My friend Cody: plush white towels, a 9 x 13 baking dish, a throw blanket, a welcome sign wall hanging, and of course white dishes.
- My friend Kristin (you’ve seen her awesome house here): white everyday dishes, knives/cutlery, small electronics like toaster/hand mixer, serving platters that don’t go out of style (plain but nice), and basic glasses. All boring kitchen stuff! But I have friends who got married 8-10 years ago and registered for trendy everyday ware (in a specific color and style) and are now replacing it all since they no longer like it!
- My friend Lisa: a nice set of knives, pots and pans, flatware, and an ice cream maker (we’ve been married 13 years, so nearly everything else has been replaced).
- My brother (who’s officially Doctor Dan, not Almost-Doctor-Dan – woot!): basic towels, a good knife set, simple flatware, a coffee maker, and picture frames.
- My sister-in-law Katie: coffee maker (still going strong after 9 years!), casual dishes, stainless steel silverware, serving dishes that match our casual dishes, Wustof knives (we surely would have put pots and pans on this list but we already had those before we got married, but those are still going strong too).
- My mother-in-law Kathy: wow- who can remember?! Haha. Crock pot, hand crank ice cream maker, big woven basket that we use as a laundry basket, glass canister set, and a beautiful bowl. We were very practical and did not register for fancy china.
So there you have it. A whole lotta registry loves and a few shoulda-woulda-couldas. What are your favorite registry items? Anything you got that you wish you hadn’t? Or that you later purchased and wished had made it onto your registry? Hindsight is 20/20, huh?
how2home says
This is such a great and honest guide. We’ve been invited to so many weddings, we dont really know what to get our friends. So we stick to money and gift cards but these suggestions are really great to follow. Thanks for sharing!! This is going to be very helpful :)
Lauren G says
When my husband and I were engaged, we thought registering would be so “fun” but ended up getting totally frustrated, in a fight and leaving Macy’s . . . I went back later with my mom. We were totally unprepared for how confusing and stressful regsitering could be (although now, having three energetic boys, that was a walk in the park compared to a typical day in my life now!) I think you summed up a lot of things that work for us, too! Although, grilled cheese is a hot commodity around here, so my panini maker is definitely one of my top loves in the kitchen :)
Jen says
My biggest registry advice is to have at least one $50/ish item per guest. Even if you have more expensive items as well, $50-$75 is a great midline price point for most guests. I registered for the items I actually wanted/needed, then added enough $50 items to make sure there was enough for guests to choose from. This meant that it was easy to return items that we didn’t really need/want and then use the credit to purchase the large items on the list. I know it might sound greedy or something to register for items you really don’t need. But if you don’t have enough items on your list then guests start getting random items that you likely can’t return and then it’s really a waste. I’d rather know that the returned item went towards a larger purchase that we’ll actually end up using, or to buy up all the small odds and ends.
Natalie says
My favorite wedding gift by far was our Keurig coffee maker. We didn’t even have it on our registry, but one of my mom’s friends got it for us and we use it so much!!
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Oh, this is so much fun! It’s like a trip down memory lane!
Ok, things I’m really glad I registered for: Rather than a large block set of knives, I just registered for three – chef, paring and bread – it’s all I’ve ever needed and I get them sharpened once a year and they are sharper than most other peoples’ knives that I use! I’m also glad I registered for nice (but not fancy) white and cream dishes that can go in the dishwasher. Good luggage was also a must for us – don’t regret that at all!
Things I sort of regret registering for: Too much Waterford crystal – people love to buy it, but I hardly ever use it and my family is afraid to touch it – oops! I also overloaded on both Pyrex AND Corningware. I probably could’ve just done with the Pyrex OR the Corningware but not both.
What I would’ve changed/added: Don’t get colored bath towels – just go with white – so much more versatile.
Best of luck to all those getting married out there!
Katie says
Funny, I’ve been thinking of writing a similar post for weeks (but I’m lazy)! I actually love our formal china, even though it doesn’t get much use (coincidentally I used one of the dessert plates for a slice of cake this afternoon). We have it out on our hutch, so I get to look at it everyday, and it just makes me happy. Love our coffee maker (Cuisinart brand), which gets everyday use. A ten-inch nonstick skillet with a lid is infinitely useful when cooking for two (probably something you’d outgrow as your family gets bigger though). Good towel- and sheet-sets make our everyday a little bit more luxurious – our towels are Hotel Collection from Macy’s and sheets are Ralph Lauren, also from Macy’s. We hardly ever use our stand mixer, waffle iron, roasting pan or potato ricer, but I still appreciate having them when I do need them. Oh, and I love having a really good whisk. Randomly, I end up using ours a LOT. It’s from Wiiliams-Sonoma. I really could go on and on about this topic! Maybe I will write that post after all, haha.
Simply Life says
Oh I love this post! We are actually celebrating our 5th anniversary this week and definitely have some items we LOVE and some we haven’t used but thought we would- great advice!!
Katie says
The America’s Test Kitchen cookbook has an amazing product review section in the back. We registered for everything listed, and so far, no regrets.
One weird thing we registered for that I thank my lucky stars we did, was a ladder. Oh my goodness! If you own a home, you need a ladder!
Kate Fuller says
I registered for a bicycle. It was sort of a whim, the bike was on an incredible sale, and I really did want it. I never imagined anyone would buy it, but I got a good laugh and a surprise when it was wheeled into our wedding reception. It’s a gift I’ll never forget, or regret!
Jen M. says
Never been married, but in general, while it’s nice to receive something someone has picked out with you in mind, it isn’t always all hearts and butterflies.
Case in point: one Christmas, my boss gave me a special-ordered [very] large and [very] expensive glass platter that is one of a kind. It’s beautiful, but doesn’t even remotely go with my house colors or even a holiday color scheme, and it’s too large for any of my kitchen cabinets. It’s stored in the only place it fits: under my guest bed and thus never used. If it had been my colors or even included any of the colors I have in my home, I could have displayed it, or set it out on a table. Instead, it’s under a bed never used because I forget about it and it just collects dust.
But, I’m also the type to prefer gifts from a list (usually things I need – I appreciate getting things I need, so I don’t have to spend the money on them myself!). My youngest sister and I are the same, we like getting lists from people to help our buying process and we like getting things off our lists. Our other sister HATES lists, doesn’t want one and doesn’t give one.
I think it’s helpful knowing the person — if they are the type to prefer things they have wished for already, then get them something from their list/registry and you’ll know they’ll enjoy it and think of you fondly every time they see it/use it. If they are the type to prefer thoughtful gifts, then take the time to think of something they’d like (or, if you can’t come up with something, give them something YOU’D like and let them know that you’d love this [fill-in-the-blank] and you hope they will as well).
Since the giving of gifts isn’t about YOU, consider the giftee’s wishes and follow that instead. They’ll be much happier and in turn, you will be as well. No one wants to think their gift was just meh!
Samantha says
When we were registering for our wedding, I gave my husband the scanner at Bed Bath & Beyond and he ended up scanning a $500 three-blender Margaritaville frozen drink machine. I laughed about it, but later made him take it off because it was just too ridiculous – that’s $500 someone could have spent on things we actually needed!
Well naturally, my husband let slip at his bachelor party that I had made him take it off the registry, so all his guy friends went in together and got it for us. And 2 years later, it’s sitting on our kitchen counter (it doesn’t fit anywhere else!) and we’ve used it all of two times.
Although I do have to admit, the thing puts on quite a show. We just need to have more margarita parties. :)
Kate S. says
I would not recommend registering for toothbrushes–that strikes me as a personal item that does not belong on a registry at all. To each their own, of course, but I would totally give the side-eye to that if I was out shopping for wedding gifts, even for a close friend.
I would also say don’t spend too much time on the registry. My husband and I spent hours on our registry, over several days. We were shocked when we received only one gift on our wedding day, despite a guest list around 350. Everyone gave cash, which was nice, but we just put it into our savings and I was bitterly disappointed that we never had gifts to open. I might have been less so had we not expended so much time and effort making our registry perfect.
mp says
When I married for the first time 32 years ago, I was so young & naive that I was surprised people gave us gifts. When I did it again in 2005, I felt like two middle-aged people with complete households had no business asking for gifts. That said, if someone asked me now what I’d appreciate as a gift, I’d say a blender, food processor and a good set of knives.
Meredith says
One big thing for us on our registery was to get new place settings. We registered for the mat Crate and Barrel, they were in the section that the told us they’d ALWAYS have, not the seasonal area. Well… they LIED! literally 3 weeks before our wedding (when everyone is buying the wedding gifts) they started running out of that place setting because they were DIScontinuing it!! But the real ringer is we didn’t know this until after our wedding, and now have only 6 settings because we were young and dumb those three years ago and din’t think to return and get somethign different.
Just means we’ll have to buy new stuff here soon! :)
Whitney says
I love this post!!
I’m getting married in just a few months, and it’s so reassuring to see that the “basics” are what ends up being your favorite items. It was difficult not to spring for the fancy gadgets and electronics when we made our list, but this makes me feel like we made some good choices. Thanks for posting!
Leigh says
We registered for an electric skillet. The thing sat in the bottom of our pantry for 4 years untouched. Last year, I gave it to my mom and she uses it at least twice a week.
The things we love: everyday dishes (Noritake Color Wave mix and match), basic silverware (Oneida Aquarius), Cusinart stainless toaster, Wustof knives, pyrex and corning ware baking dishes, a stainless crockpot, Rachael Ray cookware.
I already owned a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer (in white) and I love it!
Gabrielle says
Since my family demanded we register, but no one was really using them, I ended up with 4 crock-pots, 1 cereal bowl, and a very mismatched set of glasses, along with a lot do miscellaneous items. I was grateful to the people who bought me gift cards so I could go back and fill in the blanks!
Wendy says
My husband I basically eloped (a few friends knew and my parents were there to take pics, only becaused they lived within a 1-hour drive).
As a result we had no registry, nada. We were well established on our own (me- teacher, him- self-employeed) and when he suggested I create a registry, I nixed it.
We wound up sharing our wedding with family and friends the night we got married, and a few gifts trickled in. It was a blessing for us, as we wound up moving within 8 months and had to donate a TON of stuff that we didn’t need/fit, etc.
We’re now expecting our first little one near Thanksgiving. Due to being far from family, my dad suggested a “virtual baby shower” for which we are creating a self-made registry.
We have 3 lists: stuff we have (so others won’t buy), stuff we need, and other. We plan on putting a little story/narrative about “us” so others will frame it reference (we’re really not expecting anything, but want to help with the “I want to get you/the baby something” requests).
My hub will put it up on a website like a registry so when something is purchased, it can be noted. We have suggested links, but there are only about 5-9 specific items (e.g. cloth diapers, infant car seat, etc.).
Peace.
Sarah K says
Things I’m glad we registered for:
Our basic white dinnerware. Fancy knives (Wusthof – but just asked for 3 of them). Corningware set. Nice wine glasses (we love to drink wine, and use them all the time). We also got a set of stemless glass and some everyday water glasses that we still love and use all the time. I also love the fancy flower vases we got (one large, one small) although I don’t use them every day, it’s nice to have something pretty to pull out when I get some flowers.
Things I wished we hand’t registered for:
Some (relatively) inexpensive bedding that had to be replaced a year or two later. A cheaper flatware set that wasn’t well balanced and rusted quickly.
Things I wished we had registered for:
Our Dyson vacuum (worth every penny!)
Cast Iron pots – we didn’t think to register for them, but a smart family member got us two & we use them ALL the time!
I love buying glassware for my friends when they get married. Whether it’s wine glasses or water glasses. I also like buying quality vases, especially if I know the bride and know that she’ll have flowers in her house on a regular basis.
Natalie says
Great suggestions! My husband and I were verrrry picky about what we put on our registry because we knew we’d feel bad taking something back that someone gave us as a gift. My top 3 items:
#1 a GOOD sheet set {600 thread count or higher}
#2 white dinnerware {like you said, timeless}
#3 Pyrex mixing bowls with lids {perfect for baking, storing, & transporting food}
*bonus item you’d better get ASAP* a PLUNGER! {haha sorry but it’s true}
P.S. Did you get the Large atlantic clam shell or the Extra Large one? Or is the one you got different from this: http://www.zgallerie.com/p-2298-large-atlantis-clam-shell.aspx … I have been eyeing that bowl since I first started following your blog and think it’s time to finally buy it for myself! :)
YoungHouseLove says
We got the large one. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amanda says
We love our stovetop popcorn popper we received as a wedding gift. It pops to perfection and the popcorn is much cheaper and healthier than the bag variety.
kelsey_tish says
wow… i’m in the minority, i am so glad i registered for my Kate Spade China, i use it every opportunity i get, it isn’t just for special occassions either!
And we only registered for 3 knives, best advice my mother ever gave me. i have a paring knife, a bread knife and a chef’s knife, all wustoff, love them!
I regret registering for towels at all… we got SO many of them i had to return a bunch because we literally received 20 towels!
Lettie says
My Grandma still makes christmas cake every year in the china mixing bowl she got for her wedding 46 years ago- it’s been used frequently, dropped by clumsy grandchildren and it isn’t even chipped!
Wedding registries are so hit and miss!
I noticed a comment about them just being a way to redecorate your house…. My cousin asked for money for a honeymoon instead and it was very frowned upon by the older (aka most!) family who thought it was ‘impersonal’!
Another cousin registered for so many expensive things her mum had to get her to include things under £60….
Maybe they both should have followed your advice with the option for money!
On the subject of ice cream makers- my cool uncle got me one when I was ten and it remains one of the best presents I ever received!
Natalie says
P.P.S. Just one more question: What exact blender do you guys have? Is it the Oster 2-speed blender? If so, do you find that you wish it had more speeds? Thanks! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I think that’s the one. It looks like a silver bullet beehive thing. Haha. So pretty! We don’t mind the two speeds, it keeps it simple…
xo,
s
Claire says
I couldn’t agree more with the suggestion to register for classics and more basic items than the special entertaining stuff. Sure china is pretty but it’s definitely not practical. None of my friends who registered for it use it. Good quality bedding will last forever and you can’t go wrong with a few Caterer’s Boxes from PB (sets of 12 white dishes in each dish variety).
Lena says
I LOVE my kitchen aid and actually splurged for the Professional. I was hesitant to do this but my husband encouraged me to do so, do not regret it! We use it all the time!
I wish we registered for basic white dishes. My husband had a set of dishes before we got married so I thought it was “practical” not to register for another set… wish I went for it because I don’t like his dishes but dont want to buy new ones.
I wish we HADN’T registered for a toaster oven… It has only been used a handful of times and takes up a ton of room.
MJB says
After 20 years of marriage, I still think of our guests as I use something they have given us. So yeah…. no lingerie on my registry, thank goodness.
A few thoughts:
1. I hated the thought of telling people what to give me, but believe me, after going to lots of weddings over the years, registries help the guests. People WANT to give you something. (Just don’t put the registry info on the invitations — that’s an etiquette no no.)
2. If you don’t register, you’ll end up with stuff you don’t like or don’t use.
3. Worst gift: homemade family sign with our name spelled wrong.
4. Best gift: gas grill from our wedding party. We didn’t register for it, but they knew us well enough that they knew we would use it all the time.
5. Still use: basic white dishes, stainless steel silverware. Our marriage has outlasted most of our gifts. (Still, better than the other way around!)
6. Never used: wok.
7. Wish I registered for: good kitchen knives. I thought it was crazy to ask for a $75 knife, but quality is worth it.
8. Advice:
* Register for a few fun things that (you like and)your younger single friends would prefer to purchase: games, cooler, croquet set, lawn chairs.
* Even if you’re not a DIY’er, every house needs a basic set of tools: hammer, screwdrivers, measuring tape, etc.
* Don’t be afraid to register for a couple of big items (see gas grill comment above) — especially if you think a group might chip in together to buy something memorable.
* Be you. For me that means coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
Joanna says
I love this post! We got married in February 2010. We didn’t live together beforehand, so we literally needed everything.
Things we registered for and love/use very often:
High quality knives (not Cutco quality, but I think it’s the Martha Stewart brand and they work well)
Midweight down comforter and pillows.
Brita pitcher
tons of different sized baskets from Target (they’re pretty good quality)
glass lamps from target
frames
Lenox “Chirp” china – it’s casual enough to use every day and really high quality – nothing has chipped and they’ll replace it if it does.
High quality pots and pans
My Martha stewart flexible silicone spatula with measurement equivalents
[I highly recommend silicone cookware if at all possible! It’s flexible, doesn’t melt, and if they use it in boobs, it must be safe! ;) ]
Joy of Cooking cook book
Lots and lots of Pyrex, the ones that comes with both glass and plastic lids are the best!
Cute dishtowels
Things we should have left by the wayside or gotten something different:
White towels: We should’ve gotten a better quality towel, these ones from Target shred randomly
Crock-pot: I’m a vegetarian and my husband won’t eat foods that are “all mixed together,” so a crock pot doesn’t do us much good.
Vacuum: Wish the Dyson Multi-Floor was out when we got married!
Flatware: wish we got better quality
Cutting board: wish we got a better quality
Terresa says
I completely agree with the toaster oven response. Most used thing my husband and I got for our wedding! Especially when it’s just the two of you and you’re making small dinners, not big family dinners.
Not to be nosy, but I love hearing about family stuff. What type of doctor is your brother, Sherry?
YoungHouseLove says
He got his Dr of Chemistry so he’s working for a big pharmaceutical company for cancer/disease cures. Ever since our aunt got sick when we were kids he wanted to work every day to cure diseases. Sniffle. So proud of him!
xo,
s
Terresa says
Wow, that’s wonderful! thx for the response:)
amybeth says
It’s so interesting what some people use and others don’t. Our rice maker and coffee maker get used almost everyday (but my husband is Asian…)Actually… we’re on our third rice maker…lol Neither of these were registry items though, they we hand me downs. :-)
My favorite registry items: expensive neutral sheets, a couple fun dishes, and my crock-pot.
Definately wish we had gone with stainless steel pots. Our non-stick ones need to be replaced already only 5 years in. (we were a 7/7/7 couple like you all. :-)
Chrissie says
We didn’t do a registry, we received mostly money/vouchers towards our house (yay!) but also quite a few serving platters, which have been great!
One thing I do wish we had, not necessarily from the wedding but in general, is a good set of pots and pans. All of ours are hand-me-downs (sometimes having hoarders in the family can be useful!) but not great quality – every week or two I have to tighten some handles with a screwdriver, and half of them don’t have lids.
Nice new pots with lids are definitely on our to-buy list!
Tracy K says
Love this post! I was just at Target & overheard an obviously new bride complaining that someone got them a rice cooker! “Who uses a rice cooker & who buys that for someone that didn’t register for it?”
Would it be wrong to renew our vows & register for more gifts? ;)
Heather says
Here’s something I never see anyone mention about registries: Price point! So often I see people’s registries with a lot of $15 items that are cute but overpriced and then jump to the $150+ items. I think most people shop in the $40-60 range, unless the bride or groom is someone really special. Don’t load up the registry on the really cheap stuff. People are going to feel lame giving you a spatula and an oven mitt. You’ll probably get gift cards so you can buy that cute $8 tea towel yourself. For those younger people shopping for a bride and groom, consider going in with other people so you can buy a nicer gift. A group of our college friends chipped in to get us a nice kitchen appliance that we probably wouldn’t have received otherwise.
Angela says
This would have been a great post for wedding week. Why didn’t you guys do that this year?
YoungHouseLove says
We just sort of ran out of stuff to share other than what we did for our anniversary and what we got for each other (which we shared in our beach trip) – this totally could have worked to, we just didn’t think about it! Haha.
xo,
s
Krysta says
Sunday is our 6th wedding anniversary. Yes – neutral dishes, good knives, classic drinkware, quality cookware (I love our stainless steel Calphalon).
We didn’t need the waffle iron or panini press. We didn’t need half of the fun serving dishes we registered for. It would have been enough to just get the ones that went with our dishes. I also got way, way, way too many wine glasses. I got rid of them and got some stemless ones.
I wish I would have registered for a second muffin pan. I always need two. Not sure why I haven’t bought a second one yet.
Erin says
I wish we would have registered for china. We went the practical route and didn’t (mainly because I didn’t find a pattern I absolutely loved), but now, I’m 99% sure we’ll never have china. :)
The registry items we use all the time are our hamper from Crate & Barrel, our knife set and some great OXO metal kitchen tools. (Racking my brain for what gifts we received! Ha ha.)
Things we should have passed on: an electronic skillet/griddle (It was so huge that it was too big to fit in our cabinets – I Goodwilled it over a year ago and my hubby just asked about it last weekend when he wanted to make us eggs.:)), items that you think you should register for, but don’t necessarily use – like the big Kitchen Aid mixer (which I have used maybe three times in five years) and the tablecloth that I don’t care for the color and is the wrong dimensions for our table.
Peggy says
I’ve been married 35 years, and we still use and love the same plain white dishes every day. Regret? The china we have used maybe 5 times in 35 years.
Sam M. | Atkinson Drive says
This is SUCH a good question – I wish I would have thought of this before I got married! My biggest registry regret is not getting plain white plates/bowls/serving platters. I opted for something with a little more color and it’s so frustrating whenever we host a get-together! When we got married neither of us had anything to our names {because we both lived at home} so I’d say the best stuff we got was our soap/toothbrush holders/etc. We got really neutral clear & silver sets and still use them! And I’d have to go with the same as you guys and say the immersion blender is my favorite kitchen appliance that I wish I would have registered for.
Nikki Kelly says
So I’ve only read about half of this post, but I am shocked.
How can you be fine without a waffle maker? I mean, you had the waffleized cinnamon rolls with Katie B, and they are amazing! I made some two weeks ago, and this week I expanded it into a waffleized cinnamon roll version of a McGriddle sandwich.
Get on it!
Nikki Kelly @ the ambitious procrastinator
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it was pretty fun! We are such simple breakfast folks. Cereal or smoothies most of the time – or frozen whole wheat waffles in the toaster every once in a while. Haha. I think we like an excuse to go out to a fun breakfast every month or two!
xo,
s
Aimee says
Love your list!
My husband and I lived together before we got married but we both had been using hand me down dishes. We registered for glasses (the rings barware from C&B) and serving pieces and TONS of glass storage containers. We added some weird stuff as well. Baking stuff and a waffle iron. We use the waffle iron at least 2x a month. Yeasted Buckwheat waffles are AMAZING…
Carly says
My husband and I registered at Honeyfund and got a super sweet (and free to us) honeymoon! We were in our late 20s and mid 30s so we already had all the housewares we needed. We could have gotten some more stylish household stuffs, but the honeymoon was a much more fun and memorable choice. I would recommend it!
Joy Franks says
We have the same white dishes, bowls and “ring” glasses! Thank goodness for Crate and Barrel.
Shannon says
My fav items – large white serving platters and bowls from Crate & Barrel
Registry tip – register for pots/pans as separate items rather than the set as the set is pricey to ask someone to buy. Then return them and buy the set with the money when a store is running a sale, I got my set from BB&B with a 20% coupon and they were offering a free extra pot with the set
Item I wish I had registered for – covered bakeware with the insulated carrying case. I never have any way to bring hot or cold dishes to friends or parties and keep them ready to eat!
Alison says
We went for all the basics that Sherry recommends here (flatware, small appliances in stainless steel, wine glasses). I wish we hadn’t done any of the table linens since they’re fussy and we have a gorgeous table that I hate to cover up.
I wish we had gotten many more serving pieces since we entertain all the time and never seem to have enough huge bowls. I bake. And I mean A LOT. So I’d love to have an extra couple bowls and blades for my stand mixer (which I already owned). I end up washing the one I have several times a day. I wish we had done flatware for 12 instead of 8 since we ended up adding 4 place settings. Also, I wish we had registered at Etsy! We got everything else for the wedding from there so why not.
Katelyn says
Thanks for this … super timely, I was just researching registry tips earlier today!
Renee Smith says
I wish I’d registered for a big old set of hermetic jars for holding dry goods (after a moth infestation, we went out and spent a small fortune on those!).
I also agree with the simple basics approach!
We registered for formal china, and I’m happy to say that we use it at least a few times a year, and more often with each passing year. I’m able to take it over to my mom’s when she’s hosting a more formal holiday gathering so we can set more tables… the family is only growing after all! I totally get the philosophy behind passing on it, and I’d encourage anyone who regrets registering for it to just pull it out and use it every now and then – we let our kids eat on it when we take it out for special occasions. What I have noticed with my relatives is that as their kids are getting older and getting married, they start hosting showers, and there have been instances that 3 or 4 aunts bring their formal china for a luncheon/shower, and it just feels and looks swanky! I watched an employee throw a china plate to the ground at Bed Bath and Beyond and it bounced… she was making a point to my friend that she didn’t have to worry about clinking the plates together while she was checking them out for her registry! I know people who regret registering for it, but I also know people who use and love it… just don’t feel pressure to get something you will never use!
alg says
We LOVE our cobalt-blue pyrex bakeware set — we use it constantly at home (for casseroles, brownies, banana breads, etc.)
Plus, it’s nice enough to transport food to/from gatherings. (Cakes and cobblers; dips; and every type of salad… from 3-bean to potato to fruit!)
It can go from fridge to oven, is dishwasher/microwave safe & is pretty enough to serve from right on the table and/or store on open shelving.
And best of all, it’s SO durable — ten years in & it still looks great!
Beyond that, I totally adore our George Forman grill. I use it practically every day — quesadillas, tuna melts, frozen hamburgers/chicken breasts, grilled veggies, paninis… the list goes on & on. I would absolutely recommend one to any busy couple with average-level cooking skills :)
NYer says
This post and the comments have been thoroughly enjoyable reading. Thank you!
AntoniaB says
Just got married last year – I’m in my mid forties and my husband is in his late thirties. We didn’t need anything at all – and live in a two bedroom condo in Dc so there’s not a lot of room. When people asked we said that whatever they got us would be lovely, but we enjoyed experience gifts – dinner, theatre, movies etc. We have been having a smashing time going out with friends and going to the theatre – just delightful.
It’s a great way to enjoy gifts but not ask for money (which really just isn’t done) and avoid having too many things in our small home.
Lori @ Lighten Up! says
Love this! What a great idea – fun for you, and no clutter.
AmyM says
For those who want kitchen stuff that works well and lasts, COOK’S ILLUSTRATED is your best friend! Would have saved me from registering for expensive non-stick cookware that started scratching right away. Since getting married, I’ve updated almost my entire kitchen with their recommendations and have never once regretted it! They give helpful ratings for why they recommend certain products, and they do not accept advertisements so their opinions are unbiased. I suggest signing up for their free two-week trial online (which gives access to all reviews and recipes), and using it to inform on registry decisions. The $35/yr is completely worth it for me (since about 75% of the meals I cook are from their website), but that depends on how much you use it.