The Ultimate Wedding Registry Guide

James and I did A LOT of research when it came to registering for our wedding. We shopped several stores, read countless reviews and got advice from friends and family. We were careful chose classic, neutral, high quality items that we knew would last a long time. It was also important that we focused on functional items (mostly kitchen!) rather than things like home décor that we could eventually grow tired of. I’m happy to say that almost 5 years later, we’re still happy with every single thing we registered for! I went through all the gifts we received and came up with a list of the Top 15 Things to Register For…keep scrolling to see!

Here are a few key things to think about when you’re registering:

• Make a list of what’s important to you and your spouse
• Choose items from a reliable manufacturer
• Read customer reviews
• Choose items with a neutral color palette
• Invest in high dollar/high quality items that will last a lifetime
• Focus on functional items, rather than home decor
• Choose timeless items over trendy

Whether you’re newly engaged and getting ready to create your own registry (or just simply looking for a home refresh!) I hope this wedding registry guide is helpful for you.

If you follow me on Instagram, I’ll be sharing a bunch of the items listed below on my stories today…

 

WEDDING REGISTRY GUIDE: TOP 15 THINGS TO REGISTER FOR

1. LUGGAGE

James and I are avid travelers, so having nice luggage was a must. We chose to register for suitcases from the Victorinox Spectra Hardside collection. They look sharp and are extremely durable, ultra-lightweight and super easy to roll through the airport. We chose the 32” suitcase and 22” carry-on in Black. We were very hesitant about spending such an exorbitant amount of money on luggage but are SO happy we did. Our favorite features are the low profile design and the ability to maneuver and glide around so effortlessly. The carry-on piece turned into a great option for long weekend traveling as well.

2. WHITE TOWELS

Someone once told me that you can never have enough white towels…and boy were they right! Every house should have a closet stocked full of white towels, whether for your family or your guests. My favorite white towels are by COZY EARTH – they are the softest I’ve ever felt! They also wash really well and the quality is unmatched. I also LOVE their sheets – the softest I’ve ever slept on. You can use code CE-JEN for 40% off your purchase.

3. SLOW COOKER

A slow cooker is a necessity for busy people like us. James and I rely on a slow cooker for lazy dinners, especially in the fall and winter. Anyone can use a slow cooker and you can’t beat the convenience! We went with the All-Clad 6.5qt Slow Cooker because of the ceramic insert, which was surprisingly hard to find. Most other brands offer non-stick options, where you run the risk of having the coating (and chemicals) peel off and get in your food. Go with the ceramic for a healthier option.

4. COOKWARE

Cooking is one of our favorite things to do together. Whether for ourselves or for our friends and family, we love coming up with new concoctions in the kitchen. Deciding on cookware was one of the most difficult decisions we made. The best advice we got was to diversify. Rather than buying a full stainless set or a full cast-iron set, we got a few pieces from each. To meet the demands of everyday cooking, we chose our pots and pans from the All-Clad d5 Stainless Steel line. This included basic saucepans, fry pans, sauté pans and stock pots. We also added a few non-stick fry pans, steamer and over-sized sauté pan (my favoritre!)

When it came to adding a few additional pieces to our cookware collection, we decided to go with the Le Creuset brand. Some food just begs to be cooked in a cast iron pot or skillet! Our favorite items from this collection were the large round skillet,  round Dutch oven, baking pan and square grill pan & press set. It seemed like these three items could handle the majority of our cast iron cooking needs. We decided to go with the red enamel because (as many of you already know) red is my favorite color! I would suggest choosing a color that Le Creuset makes consistently so that you can add to your collection down the road.

5. CUTLERY

James took charge in the cutlery department. He previously owned a Global Classic Chef Knife that we both loved. We decided to stick with this brand based on ease of use and great results. I never understood the significance of quality knives until actually owning Global cutlery. I highly recommend you invest in this brand if you are serious about cooking! To have knives that cut smoothly and cleanly makes all the difference in the world. We registered for several more knife styles including the utility knife, slicing knife, bread knife, vegetable knife and smaller chef’s knife.

6. MIXING BOWLS

This may seem like an insignificant thing to register for, but I insisted on including these mixing bowls in my post because I use them every day and love them so much! We chose a Non-Skid Mixing Bowls from the Martha Stewart Collection. Not only do they feature a silicone base to prevent skidding on the countertop, they also have measurement markings labeled inside the bowl and pour spouts. They’re also super easy to clean!

7. KITCHENAID MIXER

It seems to be a staple on everyone’s registry, but the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a kitchen must have for all bakers! I went back and forth between the Standard 5 Qt. and the Professional 7 Qt. mixers (I linked both options below.) After speaking with friends and reading reviews, I decided that the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 7-Quart Mixer was the way to go. It seemed to be more durable and better equipped for a larger range of baking needs. For smaller mixing jobs, we opted for the KitchenAid Pro Immersion Blender. Some cool features include its cordless design and slew of interchangeable attachments allowing you to mix, blend, whisk, beat, froth, shred, chop, liquefy and crush all with this one device! It’s a great option for when you don’t feel like lugging out the professional mixer.

8. BAKEWEAR

For our bakeware, I chose the Williams Sonoma Goldtouch series. Upon first discovering this line, I was immediately attracted to the color. I also researched that its unique Goldtouch dual-layer nonstick coating offered excellent performance and easy cleaning! The reviews for this bakeware were through the roof. All things considered, choosing this brand was an easy decision for me. Assuming it will last me forever, I purchased at least one of every item I could think of – cupcake trays, pie pan, cake pans, loaf pans, spring form pan, cookie sheets, drying racks, etc.

9. DRINKING GLASSES

For everyday drinking glasses, we wanted something large and sturdy. We found the perfect option at Crate & Barrel. The Dylan Highball is a 17 oz. clear drinking glass. Its thick walls make it hefty yet attractive choice. Pretty sure it would take a lot to break or put a chip these! This style comes in a smaller version too!

10. DINNERWARE

James and I absolutely LOVE to entertain but I’ve never been interested in investing in fine china. While some patterns are stunning, it just doesn’t seem practical to spend so much money on such lavish dinnerware. I chose to keep things simple and instead invested in quality whiteware. Whiteware is flexible and versatile; It’s casual enough for everyday meals but can be easily dressed up for special occasions. I also love serving meals on a crisp, clean, white plate – it’s the best way to present food in my opinion. We decided to register for the The Cellar Square Collection Dining Set and The Cellar Round Collection Dining Set. We registered for almost all the serving dishes in this collection, as well as the Pasta/Soup Bowls! The best thing about The Cellar dinnerware is its durability. I’ve had these plates for 5 years and have never chipped or cracked one. They are by far the most heavy-duty plates I’ve ever seen and are prefect for everyday use.

11. OVER-SIZED MUGS

Why register for bowls when you can register for oversized mugs?! These huge mugs are perfectly sized to accommodate anything you would normally use a bowl for (we actually use them more than our bowls!) The best part is these have a handle that makes them the perfect option for any type of hot meal, particularly soups. They’re also great for lattes and cappuccinos!

12. STEMWARE

Our first thought for stemware was to go with Riedel, but we weren’t wild about any of the styles they had to offer. Thankfully, we ended up stumbling upon Williams Sonoma Reserve Stemware. They have the most beautiful long slender stems on their wine and champagne glasses – the longest I’ve ever seen. Their stunning silhouette looks amazing on a set table! Every time I go to grab one out of our pantry I comment on how pretty are. When it comes to drinking wine, James and I typically prefer Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet so we grabbed those three styles. We chose WS Reserve brand for our Champagne Flutes as well.

13. ROASTING PAN

This may not be on your mind when registering, but if you have any plans of hosting holidays (Thanksgiving in particular!) make you sure invest in a good roasting pan! We chose the All-Cad Extra-Large Flared Roaster. The size is perfect and is large enough to accommodate a full rack of ribs or a very large turkey on Thanksgiving. This All-Clad roaster is made to last a lifetime!

14. NESPRESSO

Espresso is an essential part of our everyday routine, thanks to our Nespresso Deluxe Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine with Aeroccino. This product brews delicious tasting coffee and espresso in less than 30 seconds. Its small and sleek design is unobtrusive, not taking up much counter space. The perfect accompaniment to this brewer is the Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother. With the touch of a button, this machine will froth milk to be used in your cappuccinos and lattes. Aside from daily use, these two products allow us to offer our company a variety of caffeinated beverages when entertaining. Think cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, etc.

15. ELECTRIC TEA KETTLE

Electric tea kettles are the way to go! They’re safer and more efficient than standard tea kettles. Whether you’re a tea drinker or not, having a device that will boil water in less than 30 seconds is pretty awesome. They also shut off automatically once the water comes to a boil. We registered for the Chantal Mia Ekettle Electric Tea Kettle in brushed stainless steel. The best feature of this tea kettle is its stainless steel structure, making it BPA free. Many electric tea kettles heat the water in a plastic receptacle – even if the outside of the kettle appears to be a different material. Beware of this when you’re shopping!

That’s a wrap! I hope that you find this Wedding Registry Guide helpful when creating your own.