There’s no denying that planning a wedding involves a bit of sticker shock. From venue rates to floral costs to catering fees, it’s easy to rack up quite the bill to host your family and friends to witness and celebrate your upcoming marriage. One tradition to help offset that investment in your big day? The wedding registry.
Essentially, the wedding registry is a shoppable wish list of all the things you and your partner need (and want) as you begin your married life together—as well as a helpful tool for your guests to find a wedding gift that you’ll actually appreciate writing a thank-you note for. Purchasing a gift is an expected courtesy in exchange for hosting them at your wedding, so registering for items makes the gifting process seamless and easy on both ends.
Ready to start building out that wish list? Ahead, learn more about how to dive into creating a registry and curating the best selection for post-wedded bliss.
What to Include in a Registry
While registries of yesteryear often were based on a list based at one store, today, they can encompass everything from niche designer goods to honeymoon funds to relationship counseling gift cards. “Your registry is a really personal thing, and should be tailored to whatever is important to you as a couple, and where you are in your life together. Don’t be afraid to make your registry your own, and don’t feel pressured to add things that you don’t have interest in,” says Allison Cullman, Vice President of Brand Marketing & Strategy at wedding website and registry company Zola.
Items to build your home together are some of the most common items found on a registry. Traditionally, many couples would move in together after marriage and needed items to fill their new space. As more couples cohabitate before marriage, registries allow them to enhance their existing interiors. “Cookware is a staple for all registries—whether couples are starting their kitchen basics with Le Creuset or foodies upgrading to chef favorite pieces from Hestan,” shares Diana Clontz, director of The Registry at Bloomingdale’s. “For entertaining, whether couples aspire to more formal dining or prefer something more casual and trend-driven, our concierges love helping couples mix and match to add versatility to tablescapes for any occasion. Adding color, personality, and craftsmanship to the dining table is becoming increasingly popular with colored glassware from brands like Estelle Glass and bold patterns from brands like Ginori and Le Double J.” Other home essentials frequently found on registry lists include bedding, espresso machines, and a few “luxury splurge items,” she notes.
“My one piece of advice is: Knowing what I know now, if I could go back in time, I would register for more settings,” advises Vogue contributing editor and Over The Moon founder Alexandra Macon. “When you’re younger, it feels like you’ll never be in a situation where you might have 14 people over for dinner, but then suddenly, years later, you have three kids, and having 14 people over for dinner isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”