A little Monday honesty for you… registering for wedding gifts is much harder than I thought it would be. I’m having a tidbit of anxiety over picking patterns and colors, drinking glasses and tumblers, teakettles and even down to the dutch ovens!
I have a list of things that I’ve never purchased for myself – even though I’ve come very close many times – because I knew I would be able to put them on my wedding registry one day. Plus if the dutch oven comes from an aunt or family friend, every time I use it I will think of them instead of forgetting where it came from because I bought it on a random trip to Sur La Table. As I sit here in write this post, I can hear myself in 10 years saying, “Oh, Aunt & Uncle ___ gave this to us for a shower gift. I think we’ve used it a million times in the last 10 years.” That makes me smile!
- All-Clad Stainless Steel Pots Cookware
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven
- KitchenAid Professional 610 Mixer
- *I’m sure you know the list.
We’ve been registering little by little. We prefer online registering to the in-store gun method. Seriously, I’ve seen couples in stores numerous times registering and they are just blasting the bar codes like it’s their full time job. We’ve tried it and it’s not our thing.
Side story: Just a couple of months ago, I was in Bed Bath & Beyond looking for {insert random kitchen item that I can’t even remember now, obviously a crucial item} and I saw two young people both dressed in black from head-to-toe with a clip board and a scanner so I asked them to please direct me to the {random item}. You guessed it, they were not Bed Bath & Beyond employees, they were registering for wedding gifts. My immediate reaction was something on the lines of this “Oh my gosh, I’m SO sorry. Congratulations! What an exciting time!! Get the stainless steel verses the non-stick, trust me. Have a great night. Congratulations again!” So on top of being the crazy lady that thought they worked at Bed Bath & Beyond, I was also the nut that told them what they should register for!
And, ironically I’m now asking you for tips on registering! Funny how life plays out, isn’t it?
Here’s where I get stuck… Let’s use the dutch oven as an example. There are five different sizes, two or three different shapes and a ton of different incredible colors. How do you decide? I’m leaning towards the red, even though the blue reminds me of my first Marc Jacobs! 
Or, do you register for a tea kettle even though you don’t drink a lot of tea? A tea kettle is not just for tea, right?
I would love to hear your tips on registering. What is your favorite(s) item you registered for? What is your least favorite(s)/most useless item? Any items you didn’t register for that you wish you had now?
I’m anxious to read your responses… this is going to be F U N! Happy Monday!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Sooooo glad you posted this! I am struggling with the SAME thing so I will be waiting patiently with excellent advice from your readers, Nina
Hope your planning is going well! xoxo
.-= Nina´s last blog ..Cupcakes Make Me Blush =-.
You already have my absolute favorite registry item on your list – the Kitchen Aid standmixer. If you bake often, you may want to register for an additional bowl. I find it comes in handy, particularly when you’re making a cake or cupcakes. One bowl for batter and another for icing – you don’t have to stop to wash dishes inbetween. I also registered for a large stainless steel beverage tub, which I love. Great for parties. Things I never use – the steamer mop for our hardwood floors (useless), the beer steins my husband just had to have and hasn’t used once and the world’s largest wooden salad bowl – looks great but impractical when it’s usually just two of us. Hope some of that is helpful.
.-= melissa´s last blog ..anthro lovelies =-.
I have a few pieces of Le Creuset and I love love love it! I just go the dutch oven for Christmas this past year. My husband ordered a round 5qt (I think, it was) but Julia Child reccomends a larger one and an oval for the reason that a) you can make a big pot of soup in it, and b) the oval will hold a chicken, etc. better. I traded it for the 6 3/4 oval in flame. I LOVE it! Made Julia’s chicken soup recipe in it the other night. Wonderful.
I would definitely get the teapot. You have to boil water for much more than just tea, right? It looks so cute on the stovetop, too,
Have fun!! Can’t wait to see what else you select.
P.S. I’m celebrating my 15th wedding anniversary this week, and it’s so fun to take a walk down memory lane while reading your blog.
So, I have been reading your blog for awhile now and I just had to post on this topic. My husband and I got married in January. Registering was definately my most difficult task; I changed my mind a bazillion times. Here are a few of my favorites:
-Everyday dishes: Juliska Pewter Stoneware. They have it at Neimans and fine china stores (http://www.juliska.com/our-collections/ceramics/pewter-stoneware/dinnerware/). This stuff is amazing and it has so many serving pieces and such to go with it. And the pewter color matches with pretty much anything
- KitchenAid Mixer: enough said!
- Bake and Carry Set by Wilton: it has all kinds of baking pans inside a neat carrier. Its more geared towards muffins and cupcakes but its super easy for storing because everything fits inside the carrier.
-Crystal storage cases: these things are amazing. I also got a matching set for my china.
Those are just a few of my favorites. Don’t stress too much; you can always get online and change your mind or exchange it once you receive it!
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..Getting Crafty… =-.
Good luck. We did not register for a tea kettle because Mr. Guru drinks tea 24-7 so we had to buy that before the wedding!
When we registered for a dutch oven, I did a lot of reading about the sizes to figure out which one to get. Since there are just two of us, we went with the 5 qt and figured we would get a bigger one when our family expands (which is quite a bit away). I changed the color of our dutch oven about 5 times; so I’m of no help!
Some of our favorite things we registered for included a grill/griddle combo, a panini maker, and I loved the rose bowls we received because I love flowers. My advice would be to not hesitate to add a couple of fun things on there. You can always delete them if you change your mind!
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..When In Doubt… =-.
Ahhh registering, so-much-fun! I went the same way you did, online registering! It is stress free, you can take your time, and really see the items better I think. A motto I had while registering was if I can buy this at homegoods for half the price I didn’t register for it. So basically I didn’t register for any kitchen gadgets or towels because I thought it was a waste. ( I bought the towels later with BB&B gift certificates.) I did on the other hand make sure I had a wide variety of items of different price points so people would be comfortable and not feel like they had to spend more than they intended to if they wanted to buy me a gift.
We registered at Pottery Barn for dishes, glasses, etc. (the Emma pattern) A lot of that is extremely affordable, which was the point because I knew i’d break a ton of it! oops!
I also made sure to register for a very nice china pattern with all the serving pieces, crystal and sterling silver. I was quite surprised how many people went that route. I think people really want to give you something you will treasure and use for years, especially if buying a set of potholders is no biggie for you. Not that those aren’t fun to get! haha
For the le creuset, DEFINATELY register for the tea kettle. Even if you aren’t a tea drinker, or have a keurig, it looks sooo pretty sitting on the stove. I consider it part of our decor. Also the dutch oven size I would recommend is the 7quart. It is the perfect size for about 6 people. I wouldn’t go smaller because then once you start a family it may be too small, but if you go much bigger it’s humongoooo and hard to store, and lift frankly!
Good luck and have fun!
I really wish I could go back and register for a Le Cruset dutch oven! Either I was oblivious at the time, or they just weren’t as popular in 2006 when I got married. The large oval one is currently on my wish list.
One of our favorite things is our Henckels knive block set. We decided to splurge and put them on our registry and low and behold a sweet family member bought them for us. We use them on a daily basis and it’s something we probably never would have bought ourselves. We also registered for 2 different sets of everyday dinnerware and we love having different options every night! One set is classic white and the other is a fun bright color.
Good luck and enjoy this time!
Oh and you have to register for a tea kettle, it will come in handy one day and if not, it looks pretty on the stove-top!
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..You can’t beat Seattle on a sunny and clear day =-.
Instead of registering for crystal, we opted for cheap wine glasses from Crate & Barrel. They were only $2.95 and I wouldn’t feel any guilt if someone broke one! I stick them in the dishwasher and don’t think twice.
.-= Brittany´s last blog ..found in my reader =-.
Definitely register for the tea kettle! You will honestly be surprised at how often you can use it – even if you don’t drink tea! Other than that, my most favorite gift registry items were: electric skillet, slow cooker, a good knife set and a set of various-sized mixing bowls. Things I received but hardly use: juicer, smoothie-maker, and more margarita glasses than I know what to do with! Things I wish I would have registered for: KitchenAid mixer, waffle iron and Le Creuset dutch oven. Good luck!!
.-= Krista´s last blog ..A Little Of This, A Little Of That =-.
I have the exact cherry red le crueset you posted and a tea kettle and yes you need one. Here is the deal when you are wife you entertain more and more. and when people come to your house they ask specifically for things as though you’ve been a house wife all your life. “May I have some tea instead of coffee for dessert?” You will hear it. And you will be wishing you had that tea kettle. mine gets used all the time. I love the cherry in le crueset. ANd my love don’t put pressure on yourself. register away bc once you are settled in your house you can return all of this stuff. I returned things and got more of my le crueset bc I realized how much I loved it once I started using it. have fun baby sister xoxo
I actually found registering pretty stressful as well. I think I was so concerned with picking things I would still love years from now which is tough. Picking our china pattern definitely gave me the most anxiety. Our Kitchen Aid mixer and Le Crueset dutch oven were by far my favorite items! We got the round 71/4 blue dutch oven and use it all of the time. It seemed huge at first but we use it for stews, chili, roast, you name it and the size allows us to make enough for leftovers. Also, make things you love the priority. For example, my husband and I love wine so we registered for high quality wine accessories that we get tons of use out of-Reidel Wine Glasses and decanter, Nambe wine chiller, etc. Good luck and enjoy the constant flow of packages and gifts
.-= Christina´s last blog ..Never a Dull Moment in Labor & Delivery =-.
Registering is so fun! I’m a recent newlywed, so here is my two cents on the topic. I agree with Katie on registering for things at different price points, you never know what people want to spend on a gift. I registered for fine china and glassware to go with it as well as a set of every day dishes (Pottery Barn Emma) and am really happy I did. I also decided to register for some nice new small appliances (coffee maker, waffle iron, food processor and blender) as well as the big Kitchen Aid mixer. At the advice of the lady at Macy’s who helped with my registry there, I added some “pretty” things. Beautiful silver picture frames, crystal candlesticks some other heirloom type pieces. I also put a bunch of different barware on there and we got a lot of it.
I made a list for each store before we registered then went back over it to make sure it wasn’t overkill. I also am happy that the stores I picked (Williams-Sonoma, Macy’s and Pottery Barn) offered completion discounts. The WS and PB completion discounts last for 6 months after your wedding, which is really nice and offers a chance to pick up some of the things you did not receive. Hope this helps and enjoy!
oops! Also forgot to mention that I put a bunch of basic white serving pieces on our registry for parties and such. I entertain a lot so I know I would get a lot of use out of them. I also registered for some nice towels and bedding.
My hubby loved registering for gifts. He got a hold of the little scanner gun thing and off he went. I’m not ashamed to say that he picked out both our crystal and china patterns (and not in a she-married-a-metro kind of way)- he spotted what he liked and I liked it too.
I think that is the ONLY reason I was sane during registering. I didn’t enjoy it that much, but registering for baby was way, way worse because Dr. Hubs didn’t care much about that registry.
I would advise getting a tea kettle. I know a lot of people who don’t drink tea, but still use them regularly. One of my girlfriends uses hers to quick-sterilize her baby bottles, another uses hers to boil water for easy wallpaper removal- how’s that for two completely non-tea related uses?
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..formspring =-.
i’m a le creuset addict (dijon is my color of choice). i have every piece imaginable, and i love it all. i registered for Emma dishes at PB. We’re not really ‘china people’. Have fun!
.-= Tam´s last blog ..Bach Parties! =-.
Our top three have been
-Shun Knife set (a splurge but SO worth it!)
-KitchenAid Mixer (Would suggest a matte/eggshell finish- no fingerprints!)
-Keurig coffee maker (So easy to keep multiple things on hand- coffee, tea, cocoa- for entertaining)
I really wish I had registered for a tea kettle. Now I just have to find one in a color I love!
Happy registering
.-= MiMiMagnolia´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Registering; a necessary evil of the wedding planning! Here’s my advice:
Favorite things:
- allclad stainless steel cookware. We went with individual pieces instead of a set and we received many more because the individual price point is much more affordable.
- Basic bedding. We went with neutral colors (chocolate brown/ivory) because even if our taste in comforters/duvets change we will always have basics for sheets.
- Gas Grill: This was a higher price point, but a few relatives went in together and got it for us. We use it everyday in the summer and it’s a nicer model than the one we would have picked out if we paid for it ourselves!
Least Important: Crystal pieces. When we entertain we use serving pieces but the crystal pieces we received are sitting in a cabinet and have never been touched. Interestingly enough we didn’t register for any of this, yet some guests purchased it anyway. I think it’s just a classic gift people like to give.
Good luck!
.-= Real Housewife in MN´s last blog .."The Bachelor" finale: tonight! =-.
Oh Nina, I can’t wait to see which china and crystal pattern you choose! I definitely registered for some splurge type items – all clad pots and pans, Le Creuset, Kitchenaid, Cuisinart, Wedgwood & Bernardaud china, Waterford crystal, etc. I am so glad we did! I worried about the amount of big ticket items on our registry, but in the end I just went with what I wanted. People were extremely generous and we felt so blessed to receive so many thoughtful gifts.
I registered for three sets of china. Formal china (Imperial Scroll, wedgwood), white wedgwood china for everyday, and Christmas china (Bernardaud Grenadiers). I was concerned about registering for so much, but I am so glad I did! I use our china all the time. I was concerned about the cost, but in the end I decided to register for what I loved and we received the vast majority of it.
My only piece of advice to you is to register for what you love. I really wanted the teapot, sugar, and creamer to match our everyday wedgwood. I registered for it and received it as a gift from some of my dear friends. Now whenever I look at it I think of them and smile. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth. Ha ha!
Best of luck to you!
.-= Lauren @ Adventures of a Southern Newlywed´s last blog ..Herb Garden =-.
PS – I have the Le Creuset tea kettle and I love it!
.-= Lauren @ Adventures of a Southern Newlywed´s last blog ..Herb Garden =-.
Your dutch oven and your KitchenAid are probably the two best things we got from our registry. I can’t tell you enough how much I love ours. And I really do think of J’s aunt and uncle every time I mix things!
Additionally, so must haves for me, were nice bedding and serving dishes. Prior to being married, I had a few pyrex dishes, but nothing else. I now have dozens of nice, everyday serving pieces. At the time I registered for them, because I figured they’d be nice to have. I am so glad I did. They’ve been really nice to have when we are serving a crowd.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..welcome march =-.
You have such great advice already! We did the same things are many of the other commenters: We bought good everyday stuff that could be used, dishwasher-ed and replaced if need be; We registered for things at ALL price points (think Dyson Animal all the way down to our 2.95 wine glasses at Crate & Barrel); We also made sure to register in different locations. We live in one city, but our families and the wedding was in another so we actually walked into the local versions of the stores and we were surprised to see the difference in availability.
Also on-line was a perfect way for us (read: me) to monitor what was left so I could update before the big day and showers, but some of the things we liked were only in stores too. Good Luck!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Saint Lucia… =-.
this is so exciting! i think i’m enjoying reading the responses as much as you must be. definitely the kitchenaid mixer and definitely in a fun color — if it’s going to be out on the counter all the time, it might as well look good doing it, right? i just found your blog and can’t wait to see what you decide.
.-= Design Darling´s last blog ..desk[top] du jour =-.
I have the Le Creuset in blue and I just love it! I also debated between red and blue and decided if I was going to keep the kettle or Dutch Oven on the stove, the blue was the color for me.
Good luck registering!
.-= DayOldNews´s last blog ..Mommy and Me: Brit Brit and Boys =-.
To be honest – as lame as this may seem – one of my most favorite wedding gifts was our Caribbean Blue Le Creuset tea kettle. We use it for tea, yes, and hot cocoa too.
.-= Mrs. Smith´s last blog ..Menu Monday. =-.
When I registered I enjoyed cooking but didn’t do NEARLY as much as I do now so there are a couple tools that I’ve gotten since that I wished I had registered for. For example: an immersion blender, a large capacity food prossesor (I had a smaller 4 cup model but wish I had a bigger one), a citus reamer, really awesome knives (I had an OK set when we got married but I’m so smitten with the Wustoff set I got later) and a regular toaster (we registered for/got a toaster oven and I hated it because the one thing it sucked at doing was making TOAST haha. My favorite source for deciding on kitchen items is americastestkitchen.com, they have an entire section devoted to product reviews and they have been spot on every time for me. They give you top choice AND budget options also. Have so much fun registering!
I found that every little thing I registered for thinking this would be nice to have if everything else is purchased were the first things I received. I did a lot of exchanging after the wedding to make sure I really got what I wanted and would use for years rather than little things that would need replacing.
The best thing I did though was to get a set of china that can go in the dishwasher. It’s the white pearl from C&B and can be mixed with any color or theme I choose since it’s all white. Realistically I would never use ours if I had to wash and dry everything we used after the guests left.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Shoes, shoes, shoes =-.
I absolutely love our dutch oven (which is blue!), but as far as the favorite item I registered for? I would have to say that my favorites – and don’t laugh – are our board games! We love to pull them out when we have friends over and I look at them and think about the people who bought them for us, mostly my really close friends and brothers and sisters. Like I said, don’t laugh! We did most of our registering online, too, and I would totally be guilty of going up to people and congratulating them like a complete nerd and then giving them advice
.-= Jenny @ Practically Perfect…´s last blog ..Old Shoes for New =-.
We registered for a 3.5 qt Le Creuset round dutch oven (in red). It was great for when my hubby and I were cooking just for ourselves. However when we wanted to have friends over, it was useless. So we just bought a 7.5 quart Le Creuset in Cobalt (discontinued color, close to Azure). It was quite the deal at Tuesday Morning–it wasn’t a second choice model either, it’s the real deal!! And it was 100 bucks cheaper because if the discontinued color.
So I recommend getting Le Creuset that is bigger than you think you need