Weddings can be a wonderful time, but planning can also stress the couple. Many other detailed tasks need to be completed between planning the reception and the ceremony. But setting up a practical wedding registry should not be difficult.
When going to the wedding registry store, like Amazon.com(affiliate), Macy's, Bloomingdales, or Neiman Marcus, you will find everything you would ever want in your home. But not everything needs to be added to the wedding registry. This week, we will provide you with a complete list of items to add to your practical wedding registry.
Jump to:
Tip: Be sure to register right after you get engaged, so there is plenty of time for guests to get the right item for you.
Let’s first start with the kitchen. This room has a lot of stuff and can easily be added to your wedding registry. Before you add all those items, let’s figure out what you actually need.
Questions to ask before adding kitchen stuff to the registry.
As you answer these questions, write down your answers on a piece of paper.
What small appliances (affiliate) do I need for starting out with my significant other? Are they really important?
Do I need daily supplies like plates, utensils (affiliate), and glasses? How many sets do I need?
Do I need Fine china? Is it necessary? Will I use it at least twice or three times a year? Do I have the space to store it?
Do I need wine glasses, beer mugs, or coffee mugs? How much do I need? Will I have visitors where I would need more than two of each of these types of items?
How many pots and pans will I actually use in my kitchen? Do I think we will be cooking often?
Do I like to bake more than cook? How many cooking supplies do I need?
How many cutting boards should I have? Which knives do I need?
Are there any small tools (affiliate), like can openers and bottle openers, that I may need in the kitchen for daily use?
While most of the registry gift items are from the kitchen, there are other items in the rest of the home that you may want to add to this list. But, before you do this, answer these questions.
Questions to ask before adding the rest of the stuff to the Wedding registry.
Artwork: Do I need artwork for my home? What do I want to hang on the wall? How many of these items do I have space for on the walls?
Bathroom towels: Do I need more than four sets of towels? Do I prefer to use a robe or towel or both? Will I need towels for visitors?
Bathroom accessories: Do I need new rugs (affiliate)? Do I need another mirror in the bathroom? Is a new shower curtain necessary for my home? Do I need a scale, hamper, drawer or cabinet organizers and a wastebasket for the bathroom? Do I have room for these items?
Outdoor items: Do I need that grill? BBQ tools (affiliate) are useful, but do I need all the parts? Do I actually need outdoor furniture (affiliate)? What size would I need?
Home care items: Do I need a new vacuum (affiliate)? How about the iron or ironing board? Or do I need a garment steamer?
Now that you have some ideas of the items you need in your practical wedding registry, let’s show you the list of the items below you can choose from.
How do you make a practical wedding registry?
Now, you are ready actually to make the practical wedding registry. Visit the different areas below to gather items for your practical wedding registry. I included handy posts from this blog to give you more information. Feel free to click through and read it. The images below are from Amazon (affiliate) (affiliate).
Kitchen:
- Bakeware set: pie plate, 9x11 pan, round cake pan, muffin tin, cooling rack. Visit our post here about other supplies you can add to the registry: HOW TO CREATE A BAKING ZONE WITH A BAKING TOOLS LIST
- Blender
- Cabinet shelf organizer
- Cast iron skillet
- Coffee maker
- Cookware
- Cutting board (affiliate): wood or plastic
- Dinnerware set
- Dutch Oven (affiliate)
- Flatware set
- Mixer (affiliate): Self-standing or handheld
- Mixing bowl (affiliate) set
- Oven mitts
- Platters (affiliate) (serving utensils (affiliate))
- Table linens
- Tea kettle
- Tea or Coffee Box organizer
- Tea towels
- Trivets
- Vase
- Wine glasses
Remember that if you don't need some of these items, you don't need to buy them. Starting without some of these items is OK.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield KSM150PS,Aqua Sky
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Bedroom:
- 400 thread count sheets 100% bamboo
- Comfortable set or Duvet set
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Mattress cover
- Pillow shams
- Pillowcases
- Pillows
Living Room:
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → (affiliate)
Bathroom:
- Bath soaps
- Cotton bath towels, hand towels, washcloths
- Makeup organizers (affiliate)
- Shower curtain
- Curtain rings for shower curtain
- Shower liner
- Small trash can (affiliate)
- Soap holder or dispenser
- Toothbrush holders
- Vanity organizers
![Image of Shower Caddy, Shower Shelves [5-Pack], Adhesive Shower Organizer](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51oZAzTWI-L._SL500_.jpg)
Shower Caddy, Shower Shelves [5-Pack], Adhesive Shower Organizer
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Traveling Items:
It is OK if you want to add a few unique items that you may have always wanted. But, too many of these items will take up lots of room and result in unused stored items. I have had clients go through their stuff and realize that some of the bins were from their weddings. They had NEVER opened them because they were items they either never wanted or something they put on the register and received too many of them.
Other gift ideas to add to the Wedding Registry:
Other items you can add to a wedding registry that can be pretty practical are cash, gift cards, travel gift cards(affiliate), airline ticket gift cards(affiliate), and experience gift cards.
Below are some additional practical wedding registry items websites I found to help you decide on the wedding registry list.
Wedding Registry Checklist: Kitchen, Dining, Bed and Bath Essentials
Where to Register: The 44 Best Wedding Registry Sites & Stores
I hope this post helps you create the most practical wedding registry ever. No one will judge you for what you put on the registry. Be true to yourselves and pick the items you do need and not only the ones you want. Starting your married life with stuff you do not want will just clutter the space.
Visit our other gift ideas posts!
Janet Schiesl says
I'm going to save this. It's been so long since I've dealt with a wedding registry. It's no longer all the formal stuff I received. Much more practical and I like that.
Sheri Steed says
This is great! In the past few months I've had a reason to look at several wedding registries, and I'm often struck by how sparse or impractical they are. You're considerations are excellent and I will share this with brides to be in the future.
Ronni says
I love your guides and you don’t miss a thing.
I remember when my daughter was getting married her husband wanted to help with the selections and decisions. I thought to myself, wonderful! It’s a new generation. In my day the task belonged to the bride and her mother.
It’s truly lovely how today young couples partner with each other and it does create more harmony. They’re off to a good start!
Melanie says
My sister in law is getting married next month and this detail has been very overwhelming to her. They were originally going to ask for funds for a European honeymoon. Since that's not happening we're all kind of clueless about what they need/want. This is PERFECT! I'm going to pass along your list to her this week. Thanks for sharing.
Sabrina Quairoli says
So sorry that your sister in law needs to deal with this right now with everything else going on these days. I hope this helps her.
Linda Samuels says
What a timely article! I love your lists and suggestions. Our youngest daughter is getting married this fall. Between the pandemic and having to reimagine the wedding, it has been stressful for all of us. But the kids have handled it so well. Like many young couples, they set up a wedding website using Zola.com. Their unique wedding site, a lot of information including a description about the "day of," things to do in the area, photos of the adorable couple, and the REGISTRY. The registry links directly to the items for easy purchasing and gifting. Aside from the typical things like wine glasses, dinnerware, and knife set, they have gifts like contribute to "Our first home down payment," or "Our Honeymoon Fund." Since Cassie and Matthew lived in their own apartments and have been living together for almost two years, they don't need a lot of things. I'm guessing that might be the same for many couples. So having non-thing gifts (like Honeymoon and down payment) are useful.
Sabrina Quairoli says
It's so lovely to see that the happy couple is so flexible. I love the idea of a honeymoon fund and first home down payment fund. That's great!
Diane N. Quintana says
I love the questions you pose, Sabrina. It's important for those filling out a registry to answer honestly. Sometimes they get so caught up in the shopping that they forget to think about actually using or storing some of the items. Great advise.
Seana Turner says
Well this is just so practical and helpful! I remember my fiance and I were overwhelmed by the whole process, and honestly were not very practical in what we picked out. I had no idea what I really needed. I wish I would do it all over again 🙂 Definitely sharing!