Wedding Registry Guide
One of the questions I’m most frequently asked is how to create a wedding registry! It can be overwhelming to have so many options to choose from before you are sure what you’ll use. Below, I’m sharing my comprehensive thoughts on everything I’m thankful I registered for and tips I recommend to wedding clients!
General Advice:
I recommend registering for service for 12-16. Think about, realistically, how many you can expect to serve on holidays or family gatherings - for example, both my husband and I come from families of five, so I wanted service for each of our families, as well as spouses and children that eventually come along! If you have a smaller family, you could adjust this number, but I would highly recommend registering for service for 12, just to be safe! It’s much harder to add place settings of china/flatware that may be discontinued down the line than to start with plenty!
Someone gave me wonderful advice while I was registering for my wedding - don’t worry about registering for fine china that will work for every single holiday! Many patterns are challenging to make work for every season or holiday. That being said, keep an eye out as you are registering for salad/dessert plates and linens that can be added to make a floral pattern work for the fall, or a blue pattern even work for Christmas!
I also always recommend for brides to over-register! Your community will be so excited to celebrate you that they may even gift you a couple of things throughout your engagement, and I’ve known several brides to under-register and then be stumped when people asked what to get them because their registry was full! You’d always rather fill up a registry and not receive everything than have people uncertain of what to gift when your registry is completed.
Make sure to include a variety of price points on your registry! It’s always nice to see a registry that has plenty of options in the $15-$25 range as well as higher price points.
One thing I always hear from brides is “I/my fiancé have already lived on our own for a couple of years, I already have a lot!” However, your wedding is a time to register for long-lasting items that you will use every day. The set of dishes you bought in college is probably cute and functional, but less likely to last for many years! I highly recommend starting fresh with your registry and registering for high-quality items that will last you for years!
Where to Register:
I recommend registering at a big box store for many of your essentials (Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Macy’s, Crate and Barrel, or Target) as well as a local specialty gift store for fine china, higher quality linens, flatware, silver, and any home decor.
One note, stores like Macy’s/Target/Amazon tend to carry the same products as Pottery Barn brands, but usually are less expensive and run more frequent sales! This can be a good way to make more items on your registry accessible to a variety of budgets.
If you’re local to Nashville, I cannot recommend Corzine & Co., Epergne, and Ash Blue highly enough! Each are local gift shops with a selection of fine china, tableware, linens, and classic home decor that will last you a lifetime. However, most cities will have stores like this - ask friends who have recently gotten married near you for their recommendations!
Everyday Dishes: register for a set of 12-16
I recommend registering for a set of white or neutral dishware for everyday use (Ina Garten always says food looks best on white dishes!). I love Lenox French Perle Bead or Juliska Berry & Thread for classic but interesting options that will last you years!
I use my melamine set of dishes all the time for outdoor dinners. If you anticipate having an outdoor space, this is a must! Some of my favorites linked here: Juliska, white ruffled melamine. These can also serve as great non-breakable plates for kids one day!
Cookware:
I’m sure I will miss things in this category! My biggest advice is to go through the drawers of someone who cooks similarly to you - for instance, my mom is a wonderful baker and cook, so as I registered, I took note of what she had and was using regularly, as well as what she recommended!
Kitchen tools: a small citrus juicer, microplane grater, small tongs, plenty of wooden and rubber spatulas, can opener, salt cellar, plenty of cutting boards (I recommend 3-5 of various sizes), meat thermometer, glass prep bowls, stainless steel prep bowls (I use both these and glass!), measuring spoons and cups, silicone baking mats, Pyrex measuring cups, utensil crock for holding utensils, soup ladle, my favorite spatula
Appliances: We use our Vitamix every day and it is truly such better quality than other blenders we have used!, our Kitchen Aid stand mixer (great for baking, shredding meat quickly), a good coffee maker, slow cooker (great for busy weeknights), immersion blender, rice cooker (perfect rice/grains every time without worrying about them burning!), food processor, air fryerCooking dishes: Dutch oven, tea kettle (electric or stove top, we love our stove top one!), non-stick skillet, colander, set of sheet pans, set of pots
Fine China: register for service for 12-16
If you know my style, you know I love all things beautiful, classic, and traditional! I absolutely do not think fine china has gone out of style and HIGHLY recommend registering for it. It’s a big investment, so it’s great to ask for individual pieces as a gift - you will likely never want to spend the amount to buy service for 12 on your own!
Pick what you love! Don’t worry too much about different holidays, etc. If you don’t choose something you love, you’ll never use it!
I also recommend registering for nice chargers. I love my Annieglass ruffle ones! Herend makes beautiful fine china chargers as well. Pick one that coordinates with your fine china amd get the same number. I love using my Annieglass because it works with my everyday dishes as well.
Serving Dishes + Utensils: register for 4-6 platters, baking dishes, and enough serving utensils to go with each dish
Mrs. Southern Social shared advice I love - “Having everything in white unifies your collection even if one dish is round, one is square, one has a scalloped edge, etc” - which I think is wonderful advice! I recommend a set of 4-6 platters, as well as a couple of coordinating baking dishes that you don’t mind company seeing.
Make sure to get enough serving utensils for all of these dishes! Most serving utensil lines will have several different utensils (vegetable forks, lasagna server, spoons, slotted spoons) - get one of everything!
Don’t forget a pretty cake stand for serving desserts or appetizers!
I also love my Annieglass chips and dip bowl! Elevates store bought chips and salsa 😉
Table Linens: register for 2-3 sets of 8-12 cloth napkins and 1-2 sets of placemats, as well as 1-2 runners or tableclothes
I love table linens so am always adding to my collection. Don’t feel like you have to register for every table linen you’ll ever have!
To start, I recommend a set of hemstitch linen monogrammed napkins. These are gorgeous and instantly make even a casual table feel elevated! I also love having a set of casual everyday cloth napkins in a darker color or print so you aren’t as worried about stains. I would recommend to add 2-3 sets of 8-12 cloth napkins to a registry that coordinate with your dinnerware and fine china, and you can build from there!
I leave my table set every day, because our breakfast table/formal dining table are the same, so it’s nice to have everyday placemats that are easy to clean but dress the table up a bit! I love using paper placemats from Hester & Cook for different occasions, or switching out chargers, so don’t feel like you need a ton of placemats! 1-2 sets that will account for the size of your dining table should be plenty to start.
Glassware: register for a set of 12 everyday, as well as your preference for wine glasses, coupes, etc.
My advice here is to think through what you and your fiancé like to drink and will use! If you love wine, get both red and white wine glasses! If you always serve martinis or champagne, make sure to get a set of coupes! I love having a set of durable everyday water glasses, as well as an elevated set of water glasses or goblets for company. Register for a set of 12+ of each!
Flatware/Silver: register for a set of 12 + steak knives
Silver: I didn’t register for silver, because my flatware was beautiful and nice enough for everyday as well as special occasions, and I was worried silver wouldn’t be worth it! However, my mother in law graciously gifted me a set of the PATTERN silver, and I’ve fallen in love! Silverware is so special to use and not too difficult to store and clean! That being said, you can find beautiful silver options at antique stores and estate sales, so if you aren’t sure whether you will use it, you can always wait and find some later!
I’m obsessed with my flatware pattern! It feels very substantial and I’ve never seen another pattern like it! I recommend definitely registering for 12 settings (or the same amount as your dinnerware/fine china), but it’s always nice to have a few extra sets in case some accidentally get left in a lunchbox or lost in the dishes!
Don’t forget a nice set of steak knives!
Other:
Tissue box covers! These cover a Kleenex box and provide a more elevated look in your home.
Bath linens - I would register at minimum for 4 bath towels, 4 hand towels, and 6 washcloths, but it is nice to have extras! I love these from Matouk.
Food storage - both for your pantry and Tupperware for lunches and leftovers. I love the Oxo brand for pantry storage!
Pitchers (I love having an acrylic for everyday and a glass one for nicer occasions or to use as a vase)
Pretty hand soap dispensers
Bedding: I recommend registering for 2 sets of nice sheets for your master bedroom and a pair for any additional bedrooms you have.
Cocktail napkin holder
Guest towel holder: I am a big believer in providing paper napkins in guest bathrooms, so that guests aren’t sharing the same hand towel! This towel holder is a great price and fun to change out the towels for the season.
Vases: I love mine from Vietri!
Picture frames: I love displaying our wedding photos in my Tizo acrylic frames
Napkin rings: register for as many rings as you have place settings (ie, if you register for fine china service for 12, register for 2-3 sets of 12 napkins rings)
Gravy boat
Cheese knives
Ramekins: not everyone knows what these are, but I love them for food prep, casual topping bowls or chocolate lava cakes!
Decorative trays - can be used for bed in breakfast, home styling, or serving drinks!
Trivets: I have this and this from Michael Aram and love them both!
I hope this guide is informative as you register for your wedding! Remember, you have a lifetime to add as you learn what you need, but I hope this guide provides a helpful place to begin. Happy registering!
xo Lauren