Can I also humbly suggest - for anyone that can afford - to register for a charity you love? We did that and it honestly brings me the most joy out of all things
So. I got married over 30 years ago on a beach in Benin. Not a single person bought us something off the registry (There was no Internet then. I had things like formal Wedgwood china and David Mellor silver on the list at department stores) I bought all of my own cookware (Chantal, from Williams Sonoma) I still use it and have only added a Cruset dutch oven and a copper skillet. I have plates and platters and bowls from Venice and Morocco and Deruta and Positano and Harare and Cape Town. My silver is a mishmash of Tiffany and Rhodesia railroad. My glasses are from Murano and Monoprix in Paris.
My two cents. Make sure a registry has a request for funds for an adventure somewhere and start collecting some treasures that you choose. Your dinner table will tell your story.
My husband insisted on some fancy but fun electronics: Philips Hue light bulbs and Sonos speakers. I thought they were kind of silly (or not "traditional"?), but they were some of the first things purchased off our registry and we use them on a daily basis. Just expensive enough, too, that I'm grateful we put them on.
A gift card to the local plant nursery was off-registry but actually very nice! We could guiltlessly splurge on fancier, locally-made pots and some mature plants.
I would have registered for East Fork dishes had I known about the company when I got married! I love their ethos. We registered for camping equipment and while we haven't used it near as much as I thought we would, the headlamps have come in handy MANY occasions!
One more thing -- I made our wedding photo book for our first anniversary ("paper") gift. It was time consuming, but so worth it! Now my toddler looks through the photos at all of our friends and family and says "I was in your tummy then!" (in theory, yes... lol) 🥹
I second registering for camping equipment!!! We also don’t use it as much as we should, but it’s still nice to have the essentials that will get you by if you go on a quick trip with friends for the weekend or something. Also totally agree about the head lamps!
getting married next month so this is very timely!! we are having a big wedding (invited 250 guests) and there was a lot of pressure from the crate & barrel people at their in-store registry event to add one gift per guest (!), which I didn't do. I'm into cooking so I really just added a lot of kitchen equipment I've been dreaming about (le creuset dutch oven & braiser, all clad pans, vitamix blender) and some serving dishes. it's basically all been purchased for my bridal shower - it feels so overwhelming to be receiving so many generous gifts all at once! I'm already loving those items and know I'll have them (and think of the people who gifted them to us!) for a long time :)
I second the Shun knives! And Williams-Sonoma Apilco plates--not one has broken in 20 years of marriage! Same for my All-Clad stainless pans and my Le Crueset dutch oven that I cook with most nights. I highly recommend thinking about things that really last--kitchenware vs. towels/bedding. When I chose I had no idea, so whatever worked was just luck.
While I would probably source from more independent stores/brands and makers if I were to redo my registry now, I loved registering with Food52. At the time (2020), I could register for a lot of practical kitchen/home goods but still find items that had some character, interesting design and at various price points. It felt way less generic and I could still source from independent makers to some extent. I still love and cherish a lot that I got from there, whether I use it daily or for special occasions.
I would also add that while it was not on our registry, we used a cash gift to buy a dyson vacuum and it could not be a more prized and used item in our home!
i deeply regret not registering for nice silverware! i received all my beautiful ginori china but when i finally went to set my table my old west elm silverware looked SOOOOOO sad! last night i placed a $500 order on Sabre. i can’t wait for them to complete my table but the last thing you want to buy yourself is FORKS!!!!
Bougie as hell sheets and towels!!! My husband thought I was insane for wanting to spend that much on sheets, but every time we get into any bed that’s not ours he now complains about how the sheets aren’t as soft 😂 the best luxury!
Maybe not a wedding registry suggestion (I guess you could register for a credit to have this done) but a 1st wedding anniversary idea is I had my husband and I’s wedding portrait sent to an artist to paint. I used the online service “paint your life” and had the painting professionally framed. It’s quite luxurious to have our painted portrait prominently displayed. :)
OMG! I'm moving and trying to lean into the "fewer finer" and "buy nice or buy twice" but man some of these items def require some mulling over. Fewer quickly becomes many which in turn makes buy nice a bit too shocking and painful all at once. I also whole-heartedly agree with not buying sets (of stainless steel pots, of cast iron skillets, of knives, even cutlery) not just bc of cost but because I try to think long and hard about which shapes I truly reach for.
Thanks so much for the Album Hunt rec! I had been looking for a place to order an album for a first anniversary gift for my husband. It just came in and is so gorgeous! Perfect recommendation.
Can I also humbly suggest - for anyone that can afford - to register for a charity you love? We did that and it honestly brings me the most joy out of all things
Loved this! Thank you! Would also love one for a baby registry, if your time allows!
Warmly,
Ani
definitely more baby content in the pipeline!!
So. I got married over 30 years ago on a beach in Benin. Not a single person bought us something off the registry (There was no Internet then. I had things like formal Wedgwood china and David Mellor silver on the list at department stores) I bought all of my own cookware (Chantal, from Williams Sonoma) I still use it and have only added a Cruset dutch oven and a copper skillet. I have plates and platters and bowls from Venice and Morocco and Deruta and Positano and Harare and Cape Town. My silver is a mishmash of Tiffany and Rhodesia railroad. My glasses are from Murano and Monoprix in Paris.
My two cents. Make sure a registry has a request for funds for an adventure somewhere and start collecting some treasures that you choose. Your dinner table will tell your story.
My husband insisted on some fancy but fun electronics: Philips Hue light bulbs and Sonos speakers. I thought they were kind of silly (or not "traditional"?), but they were some of the first things purchased off our registry and we use them on a daily basis. Just expensive enough, too, that I'm grateful we put them on.
A gift card to the local plant nursery was off-registry but actually very nice! We could guiltlessly splurge on fancier, locally-made pots and some mature plants.
the plant GC is such a smart idea
I would have registered for East Fork dishes had I known about the company when I got married! I love their ethos. We registered for camping equipment and while we haven't used it near as much as I thought we would, the headlamps have come in handy MANY occasions!
One more thing -- I made our wedding photo book for our first anniversary ("paper") gift. It was time consuming, but so worth it! Now my toddler looks through the photos at all of our friends and family and says "I was in your tummy then!" (in theory, yes... lol) 🥹
I second registering for camping equipment!!! We also don’t use it as much as we should, but it’s still nice to have the essentials that will get you by if you go on a quick trip with friends for the weekend or something. Also totally agree about the head lamps!
I registered for a couple of framed prints from the MoMA store and would 100% do that again
getting married next month so this is very timely!! we are having a big wedding (invited 250 guests) and there was a lot of pressure from the crate & barrel people at their in-store registry event to add one gift per guest (!), which I didn't do. I'm into cooking so I really just added a lot of kitchen equipment I've been dreaming about (le creuset dutch oven & braiser, all clad pans, vitamix blender) and some serving dishes. it's basically all been purchased for my bridal shower - it feels so overwhelming to be receiving so many generous gifts all at once! I'm already loving those items and know I'll have them (and think of the people who gifted them to us!) for a long time :)
I second the Shun knives! And Williams-Sonoma Apilco plates--not one has broken in 20 years of marriage! Same for my All-Clad stainless pans and my Le Crueset dutch oven that I cook with most nights. I highly recommend thinking about things that really last--kitchenware vs. towels/bedding. When I chose I had no idea, so whatever worked was just luck.
While I would probably source from more independent stores/brands and makers if I were to redo my registry now, I loved registering with Food52. At the time (2020), I could register for a lot of practical kitchen/home goods but still find items that had some character, interesting design and at various price points. It felt way less generic and I could still source from independent makers to some extent. I still love and cherish a lot that I got from there, whether I use it daily or for special occasions.
I would also add that while it was not on our registry, we used a cash gift to buy a dyson vacuum and it could not be a more prized and used item in our home!
i deeply regret not registering for nice silverware! i received all my beautiful ginori china but when i finally went to set my table my old west elm silverware looked SOOOOOO sad! last night i placed a $500 order on Sabre. i can’t wait for them to complete my table but the last thing you want to buy yourself is FORKS!!!!
SAMEEEEE. This is a great suggestion.
Bougie as hell sheets and towels!!! My husband thought I was insane for wanting to spend that much on sheets, but every time we get into any bed that’s not ours he now complains about how the sheets aren’t as soft 😂 the best luxury!
Maybe not a wedding registry suggestion (I guess you could register for a credit to have this done) but a 1st wedding anniversary idea is I had my husband and I’s wedding portrait sent to an artist to paint. I used the online service “paint your life” and had the painting professionally framed. It’s quite luxurious to have our painted portrait prominently displayed. :)
i've never heard of paint your life! what a cool idea
OMG! I'm moving and trying to lean into the "fewer finer" and "buy nice or buy twice" but man some of these items def require some mulling over. Fewer quickly becomes many which in turn makes buy nice a bit too shocking and painful all at once. I also whole-heartedly agree with not buying sets (of stainless steel pots, of cast iron skillets, of knives, even cutlery) not just bc of cost but because I try to think long and hard about which shapes I truly reach for.
Anyways, home things I've been eyeing:
--these kitchen tea towels https://www.bostongeneralstore.com/products/redecker-kitchen-cloth?variant=1005874940
--this Shun knife https://cutleryandmore.com/products/shun-premier-santoku-knife-25171?variant=42438030950654
--these pot holders https://www.janedomestic.com/janedomesticshop/suede-mitt-burnt-orange
--this clothes drying rack https://woodenclothesdryingrack.com/
--this robe (no logo please) https://www.ritzcarltonshops.com/product.aspx?Pique-Kimono-Robe
--flatware that doesn't remind me of inflight meals https://libertytabletop.com/product/chesapeake/
little bowls have my heart
Harling at your suggestion I registered for the Estelle Blue glass wine glasses, and I love them!
adore those
Thanks so much for the Album Hunt rec! I had been looking for a place to order an album for a first anniversary gift for my husband. It just came in and is so gorgeous! Perfect recommendation.
yay so happy to hear that!!!!