Creating your wedding registry is a lot like Pinterest…
It’s a dark hole that is easy to slip into and get lost once you get started. One minute you’re registering for towels, and the next you’re 56 pages into Amazon looking at table lamps that look like hedge hogs. Trust me, I’ve been there.
I’ll be the first to tell you that when I got engaged, I was super excited to make our registry. Who doesn’t like getting presents that you basically got to pick out for other people to buy? I pretty much registered for everything that I could have ever wanted when it came to putting together my dream home with Rob. I channeled my inner Joanna Gaines spirit animal and sat for hours online looking through Macy’s and Bed Bath & Beyond for anything we could have possibly needed.
Build a registry that is best for you and the lifestyle that you have.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, it’s important to remember that you need to build a registry that is best for you and the lifestyle that you have. Rob and I love to cook and host together in our home, so we registered for a lot of kitchen and dining items.
Regardless of your lifestyle, ultimately you want to build a registry with a lot of options for your guests. There’s nothing worse than trying to buy a gift for someone off their registry and you’re forced to get them a gift card or a check because either all their gifts have been bought or all their gifts were at one price point. (P.S. Most wedding guests hate just giving money!) Your friends and family want to spoil you for your big day! Having plenty of options on your registry will give them the opportunity to do so.
I had an idea of what I wanted my dream home to look like and what we needed to make it happen. Rob and I each lived on our own before getting married, so we pretty much had almost everything between the two of us. However, we viewed building our wedding registry as a way to fill in the gaps while also upgrading our ‘college-kid items’. At the same time, though, we knew there are certain things to skip on when it comes to your registry. (And, there are certain things I learned after-the-fact that probably could’ve been!) It’s important to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your home together. Be realistic when you build your wedding registry. Some things should wait until your hubby and you have found your forever home.
So what should you skip on your registry?
Decent Items You May Already Have
Getting the chance to upgrade your items is a great thing when they desperately are needed. If you do get the chance to upgrade things, make sure you have a plan with what you will do with the old when you bring in the new. If you’re like me, you may find yourself reluctant to get rid of ‘okay’ old items, and space will quickly become limited. Instead of throwing away items you replaced, consider donating them to help families in need. (You’ll feel much better about purging those items in the end!)
Fine China, Tea Sets, and Real Silver
I hear so many times from people that they never use their China, or they have only used it twice in the past 20 years. It’s great in theory, I give you that. But, if you’re like me you’re probably scared to use it. It’s expensive, one of a kind, and you don’t want it to break! If this is the case, you may want to opt for something more casual or considered ‘every-day’ china. We registered for the Lenox French Pearle White Dinnerware to be our ‘China’, and I am absolutely in love. I bring it out for guests and special occasions, and we continue to use the sturdy, white dishes I had in my prior home as our every-day dishes.
Linen Napkins and Napkin Rings
Let’s face it, they are a beautiful and fancy touch for your dining room table, but you’ll never use them because you hate washing them and they always seem to get ruined. (and the readers said Amen!) I ended up getting a set from Rob’s grandmother ‘for special occasions’ and have yet to use them. They’re too pretty to risk getting ruined!
Curtains
This may sound like a strange one, but unless you’re moving straight into your forever home I’d suggest holding off on purchasing curtains right away. Every home is different when it comes to how many windows it has and their actual size. (Plus, different stylings and size of curtains work best in different spaces – regardless of window size!) You don’t want to be stuck buying all new curtains in a few months because the ones you got from your registry don’t actually work in your new space. (or because you need more but they discontinued the line that all your guests bought you!) Wait until you’re moved in, and see how you can best dress your space to fit your home style.
Decorative Towels
Let’s be honest, who even likes using these when you go to your grandma’s house? (Sorry, grandma!)
Wall Art
For the same reason as curtains – wait to see what works best with your decor and space!
Furniture
For the same reason as wall art and curtains – that is, unless you know for sure you need that coffee table, dresser, or cabinet storage. (and it actually fits in your space!) I had the bright idea that I wanted certain furniture, but it sat at my parent’s house in Texas because we didn’t have room for it in our tiny one bedroom apartment!
Kitchen Gadgets like a Waffle Maker, Panini Press, or Popcorn Maker
I’ll be honest, my mom bought me a George Forman Grill, and I still have yet to use it. (Sorry, Mom!) Unless you’re making waffles, fresh popcorn, and a panini multiple times a week, how often will you actually use these gadgets? They will most likely end up taking way too much counter space and collect dust. If you are using these items often in your home, I’ll be needing a weekly invite to your house please. (This girl loves her some chicken and waffles!)
More Kitchen Gadgets like an Espresso Machine
Even this caffeine addicted woman over here would, in reality, find it hard to find time to use an espresso machine as much as I would want to. (and I work from home!) Most people I know even struggle to make coffee from their Keurig before work in the morning. Don’t get me wrong, the espresso machine is still on my Christmas wish list.
More Kitchen Gadgets like Kitchen Aid Mixers and Cake Decorating Sets
You probably get what I am trying to say with the gadgets. How often would you really use them?
I’ll be honest, though. I registered for a Kitchen Aid Mixer, and I am so glad I did! I also got a cake decorating set from my husband’s aunt. It was so fun helping her bake for her little girl’s birthday parties. I also wanted to be like my mom when I had kids! She always made / decorated the cutest birthday cakes for us growing up. I remember having teddy bear, Barney, and Barbie dress cakes. (I have to start practicing now if I want to be that good!)
Needless to say, my husband always gives me the hardest time because I hardly use them. (Excuse me, sir, hashtag diet probs!) But, that complaining stops once he gets to taste the sweet treats I do make! I got to use it a lot around the holidays with hosting company for two weeks. Now, I love to use it for the healthier sweet treats you see on the blog!
Bar Glasses Sets
Unless your hosting in your home like we are (or just like to party a lot), there’s probably no reason to have sets of regular wine glasses, stemless wine glasses, plastic stemless wine glasses, rocks glasses, and beer mugs when you’re just going to use your favorite, trusty celebrated-those-college-years glass.
Some things are easier to skip than others when it comes to building your wedding registry. It all sounds good in theory, but often times you may not necessarily have the space for them if you’re moving into that one bedroom apartment together. Building your home together is an exciting time. But remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Before you go off and start scanning everything in the store with that magic clicker, make a list of your must-have items and a separate list of your ‘wish list’ items. Also, It’s okay to admit you really have no use for a certain item like you thought you did. They may seem nice to have, but it’s certainly not worth receiving those items over what you really need to build your home.
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