Hiya! If you’re searching for a comprehensive checklist of wedding registry must-haves, look no further. Given that I had almost three years to add to and edit our registry (thanks cov*d), I spent a good bit of time perfecting it. Obviously there will be other items you’ll want to add- or not add- to make your registry reflect your own personal style; and if you already have some of these items, there is NO NEED to register for them just because you can! You want your registry to help fill gaps of items you don’t already have, and also to include items that you wouldn’t necessarily purchase for yourself but that you know you would enjoy and use (like a nice dutch oven). This list of wedding registry must-haves can serve as a good starting point if you’re not sure what you will actually use or what your guests will be excited to purchase. Also, if you haven’t chosen a wedding website vendor yet, read this post about why we love Zola (more than The Knot or other options out there)!

Wedding Registry Must-Haves: Kitchen

• GARLIC PRESS: It’s in all caps because it’s that good. Trust me. Just do it.
• Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven: This is the perfect kind of item to add to your registry because it’s definitely a splurge- but it will also quickly become a staple in your house. I chose the 5.5 quart, which is still quite large for a family of two (hello, leftovers). Another more affordable option that I’ve heard great things about is Caraway Home. Whatever dutch oven you choose, just make sure it’s either cast iron or enameled cast iron (rather than ceramic or stainless steel), and make sure if it’s enameled that the enamel is safe (both Le Creuset and Caraway Home are good to go!).

• Meat turner: This is another moment when I’m asking you to just trust me. It’s so much better than jabbing your ground chicken with a wooden spoon over and over again. 
• Vitamix blender: A more pricey gift but absolutely worth it. We use our blender almost daily – it’s super easy to clean and doesn’t take up much countertop space.
• A great set of flatware: If you already have a set you love- perhaps passed down from a family member- then ignore this. If you’re looking for a great set, this and this are well rated options. We put these on our registry for everyday use and asked for these as our nicer set for special occasions. I can attest that the gold plating has not come off in the dishwasher after 2+ years of use!
• Jar spatula: Because who doesn’t want to get every last bit of PB out of the bin?!
• Salad spinner: We already had one of these, but if you don’t have one you need it! It takes the aggravation and hassle out of cleaning your lettuce. 
• Air Fryer: I’ve been using mine a ton lately and it is GREAT! Pro tip: definitely put either parchment paper or tin foil on top of the grill insert to save on both cleaning and the fire alarm (the oil/fat dripping down to the bottom of the air fryer was making a lot of smoke and setting off the fire alarm every time I used it – oops!).
• Glass food storage: Step 1: if you’re still using any plastic, ditch it (in the recycling bin, that is! Check that the items are listed as a 1, 2, or 5 on the bottom and they should be good to go. Rubbermaid also has its own recycling program if your local area won’t take it)! Step 2: put all manner of glass food containers on your registry. It’s affordable for guests and it’s super practical! We put these, these, and these on our registry and use a combination of them almost daily. I even use them to take to work in my lunchbox, because again, plast*c is so 2002 (I don’t really know- I just picked a random year)!
• Napkins + napkin rings: I added two sets of napkins and napkin rings which coordinate beautifully with our fancy dishes and it brings the whole table together (see the top photo for reference).
• Dishes: This is probably super obvious, but don’t forget to add your plates and bowls! Also add serving platters that match. We love ours from Crate and Barrel, but this is an area where you want to do some searching to find the set that speaks to you and your partner’s personality (note: if your other half is like mine, you will select items that speak to your personality because they absolutely do not care 😂). 
• Fancy dishes: This is a toss-up. Assuming you’ve already registered for or purchased your everyday dishes, having a second set for special occasions is obviously not vital to your survival (a garlic press is, though). Rather than a classic set of china, I fell in love with a beautiful set of Vietri dishes that are bright, fun, and mismatched to create a really unique tablescape. Our beautiful china-like dishes ended up being one of the most popular items on our registry.
• A dope set of knives: This was a very popular registry item, and for good reason- nice knives can be pricey, but they will be your kitchen pals for life. Rather than adding a giant $500 set on your registry, I recommend adding knives individually to make them more accessible for guests. The basic knives any kitchen needs are a chef’s knife, bread knife, Santoku knife, paring knife, and utility knife. Don’t forget to add either a knife block or a drawer organizer, too (we use a draw organizer to keep our countertops free of stuff – you could also use a magnetic strip to keep knives off the counter and store them in a visually interesting way).
• Pretty glassware: Estelle Colored Glasses are AMAZING and I want them so bad. Moscow Mule mugs, stemmed and stemless wine glasses, and whiskey glasses are also a great idea to add.
• Waffle maker: Saturday morning breakfast with your new spouse, anyone?! It’s the best.
• Pretty spoon rest: If you still have an old Target one from college like I do, it’s time to switch it up with something a little more grown up.
• Mixing bowls: This set from Crate & Barrel is a go-to for holding my giant lunch salads, preparing veggies, etc. I use them almost every day and I love that they’re dishwasher safe.
• Nice tea kettle: We loved our Fellow tea kettle, until Jake used our toilet brush to clean it after heating milk in it to make hot chocolate (yes, that is a true story and no, I did not break up with him for that 😆)
• Compost bin: If you’re not composting yet, now is the time!!! This sits under our sink so you don’t see it.
• Stasher bags: More food storage! Jake takes a Stasher bag to work with him with his sandwich, and they’re also perfect for storing avocados. A no-brainer!

Wedding Registry Must-Haves: Bed/Bath

• Boll & Branch Sheets: We also asked for Brooklinen sheets are were gifted one set of each. Jake and I both agree that Boll & Branch is WAY better. They’re silky, soft, smooth, and- most importantly- cool! 
• Bath and hand towels (not washcloths, though): I go back and forth on this one. They’re certainly something you need, but they’re not a “fun” gift. They’re cheap to get on your own, too.
  • Side note: Washcloths are gross and if you’re still using them swap them out for these body scrubbers ASAP (like, right now) and thank me later (Boie is a sustainable US brand that makes way more hygienic alternatives to washcloths/loofahs- plus they’re top rack dishwasher safe!). 
• Decor items: I chose a gorgeous lumbar pillow for our bed from The Citizenry and a large basket from Serena & Lily for our laundry. These are fun but also practical gifts to give!
• Weighted blanket: This was one of our first gifts given and it’s been an absolute staple in our home ever since. I LOVE this weighted blanket and keep it between the top sheet and comforter.

Wedding Registry Must-Haves: Household/Cleaning

• Wool dryer balls: I talk all the time about how terrible dryer sheets are, so if you haven’t made this swap then your registry is the perfect time! I use and love these from Dropps (and you can get a discount with this code!). 
• Branch Basics starter kit: we had this long before we made a registry- I’ve used Branch Basics for years- but if you haven’t ditched your Clorox wipes yet, take this as a sign that it’s time to swap and add this kit right now! The concentrate is amazingly powerful yet clean, and with the starter kit you’ll get glass + surface cleaner, laundry detergent, and a large bottle of the concentrate (ours lasted for 6+ months- does that tell you how much I like to clean or does that tell you it’s a big bottle? Lol.)
• Handheld vacuum: You’ll use it more than you think (like cleaning your car seats). 
• Dyson cordless vacuum: Is this annoying because you’ve heard about it 934831 times already? Well, there’s a reason for that- it’s a must-have, so go add it!
• Steamer: I’d like to thank God for bringing along someone with the brains to invent this gadget. Whoever they are, I love them. I’d also like to think there’s a special place in h*ll for whoever invented the iron, but mostly the heavy a** METAL ironing boards that went along with them. Whoever they are, I do NOT love them. Anyway, upgrade your ironing life with a sweet little steamer (which also allows you to ditch the ironing board).
• Dish towels: A “boring” gift, but make it fun. This is my favorite brand for all things dish towel (and other stuff, too!).
• Reusable paper towels: Build some sustainable practices into that newlywed life! It takes adjusting, but it’s worth it. Plus how much fun is a paper towel with lemons on it?!
• Air purifier: Air purifiers are surprisingly helpful… it’s crazy what comes out of those things, especially in a place with tough air quality like Colorado. We use ours every single day. This is a great gift because it’s practical, and the one we have is super aesthetically pleasing as well.

Wedding Registry Must-Haves: Fun Items + Experiences

A brief preface: don’t skimp on this category!! The highest percentage of all our gifts given came from this area. Why? Because your loved ones want to give y’all something memorable and fun! When you’re on your honeymoon, you’ll talk about the friends who purchased you that nice dinner and smile when you think of them. We certainly did!

• Dinner experiences: On Zola, you can add specific experiences like “dinner in Costa Rica” and set the dollar amount. Then you can withdraw it as cash to spend toward that experience.
• Honeymoon experiences: You can add virtually anything- snorkeling, sunset catamaran cruise, ski rentals, couples massage- you name it!
• Cooking classes: They’re so fun, and you can send a photo to the guests who purchased it for you as a fun thank you!
• Wine club subscription: Guests can purchase a certain amount toward your membership. We’ve used NakedWines for 2+ years now and LOVE it!
• Airbnb/airline gift cards: Another great opportunity to send a photo to the guests who purchase these as a way to thank them.
• Photo frames: You’ll want to choose frames that you might use for wedding photos or other special memories, but people love to gift these!
• Bridal bouquet preservation gift card: If you aren’t already planning to have your bouquet preserved, you should be 😉 I used the amazing Bonnie’s Blooms and can’t recommend her enough (especially if you’re local to Raleigh- but she ships nationwide!).
• Photo album gift card: We used Artifact Uprising’s Layflat Wedding Album (we also made a honeymoon album) and love this brand! If you’re a Coloradan- they’re a local brand! 
• Hypervolt Go: This is a hit in our family!! We bring it on every ski trip and use it all the time after workouts. I’m not kidding when I say it was Jake’s one and only registry request… so I’m very thankful to our buddy who got this one! 

Phew! I know that might seem like a lot (and it is!), but it’s great to have lots of options for your guests to choose from. If you don’t have enough on your registry, your guests will be flying blind – so it’s better to have too much than too little! And, another great perk with Zola is that you get a post-wedding 20% discount on everything you put on your registry for 6 months after your wedding. So if guests bought 2 out of the 3 sets of dinner plates you need, you can purchase the final set yourself!

Is there anything I forgot? Leave a comment with your thoughts!!