You said yes! Now comes the hard part (only second to planning the actual wedding): the wedding registry. If you're not familiar with registry etiquette, we've got you covered. Shop TODAY went straight to the experts to learn about all of the registry do's and don'ts.
If you're already familiar with wedding registry etiquette and are just looking for inspiration, we've got you covered there, too! Whether you need kitchen essentials or have your eye on some more creative gifts, this editor- and expert-approved list has something for everyone.
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What is a wedding registry?
Event planner Sara Landon describes a wedding registry as a list of items a couple asks their family and friends for to help them create a home. “When a couple is getting married, oftentimes/traditionally this was their first time really creating a home together,” she says.
Zola registry and wedding etiquette expert Allison Cullman describes a wedding registry as the "ultimate wish list" with everything you and your partner want "as you take the next step in your journey together. It allows you to communicate your gift preferences to guests who want to celebrate you — taking the guesswork out of the gift-giving process.”
What should you add to your wedding registry?
Landon and event planner James Abel both say many couples look back on their registries and regret not adding a monetary fund, which Abel attributes to negative social connotations. “Sometimes people come in and they go ‘Do you think it’s tacky? My parents really think it’s inappropriate to put that on there,’” he says.
Landon adds that she sees couples regret not using their registry as an opportunity to upgrade everyday items. "Many couples think, 'We don’t need a toaster, we have a toaster.' Well, you have had that toaster for 10 years, since you were 20 years old.”
Even though you may not need large serving sets, Abel says he always recommends adding some nice, high-end kitchenware to your registry. “What people do ask for — and I always encourage them to do, whether you’re a big cook or not — is have nice kitchen equipment and let other people buy that for you,” he says. “It’s expensive, but why not have it?”
Whether you're putting together your own registry or shopping for the happy couple (who might be registry-less), here are some expert- and editor-recommended picks that are sure to please.
Best kitchen gifts for your wedding registry
Nespresso Vertuo Sweet Vanilla Pods
Landon recommends putting a year’s worth of Nespresso pods on your registry, so you can have a delicious start to every morning. With flavor choices like Colombia, Stormio and Odacio, you there’s something for everyone.
If they prefer something a little sweeter, you can't go wrong with this vanilla flavor that, according to its description, boasts notes of sweet biscuit, candy and cereal.
Nespresso Vertuo Next
Landon knows how coffee-obsessed recent generations are and recommends adding a Nespresso to your registry if you're looking for an everyday coffee machine.
“If you know that you drink espresso every day and you will use that machine, then register for a bougie espresso machine. But if it’s not and all you want is really good coffee every day, get yourself a Nespresso,” she says.
Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven
This Ninja air fryer is more than just a one-trick pony. It touts roast, broil, bake, dehydrate, warm, toast and bagel settings. It's also the number one thing Landon recommends to couples she works with because of how practical it is and how much she loves this kitchen essential herself.
“It flips down and is a toaster oven, an air fryer and a dehydrator; it’s the greatest thing,” she says.
Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven
Abel recommends adding this Dutch oven to your registry because, while it's a splurge to buy yourself, its also a kitchen essential for home cooks and professional chefs alike that can last decades with its lifetime warranty.
Senior editor Jess Bender says she bought this Dutch oven straight out of college and it has been with her for every significant milestone since. “I pretty much cook the vast majority of my ambitious Sunday dinners with this since its enameled cast-iron material and generous heat distribution does a beautiful job braising, caramelizing, roasting, frying and just about everything else in between.”
Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set
This sleek 12-piece cookware set comes with everything you need to bring your favorite meals to life and keep your kitchen organized afterward. Inside, you’ll find a sauté pan, Dutch oven, fry pan, sauce pan, a pan organizer and a canvas lid holder. Plus, both Cullman and Hanlon give it their stamp of approval.
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
A KitchenAid stand mixer is a beautiful, revered and iconic way to elevate your kitchen. With countless colors to choose from, this countertop appliance fits in perfectly with every aesthetic.
You can also add special attachments for the mixer to your registry from pasta rollers and cutters for Italian-themed date nights to an ice cream maker for sweltering summer days.
Sarah Hanlon, editor at The Knot, says this mixer is a great item to ask for because it makes cooking a breeze. “It is on the pricier side, so if you’ve been wanting to add it to your kitchen but haven’t been able to make the splurge, adding it to your registry is such a great idea.”
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
If making the perfect cup of joe in the morning is a sacred experience for you, then Abel recommends adding a more advanced espresso machine to your registry. “If coffee’s something that’s really important to you and you love that experience — going in and getting your cappuccino or your latte — that would be something you would want to put on your registry; a way to do that at home.”
This espresso machine takes your favorite beans and grinds them just before brewing a fresh cup. It even has a built-in frother and an accompanying stainless steel cup to add your favorite milk on top of your latest creation.
Best home items for your wedding registry
Williams Sonoma Dahlia Green Napkins
A simple way to elevate your table setting is a beautiful fabric napkin and this classic dahlia green print is great for dinner parties, picnics and potlucks. They are made from linen, are machine-washable and are an easy way to dress things up.
Even though Abel says most people getting married now have stepped away from intricate and detailed hosting, he always recommends adding nice fabric napkins to your registry. “There are little things that you can do that just sort of elevate everything just a touch,” he adds.
Pottery Barn 400 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet Set
Abel recommends adding soft, high-end bedding to your registry because it can be expensive but is so nice to have. Make your bed feel like you're on an endless vacation at a 5-star hotel with these 400 thread count sheets made with organic cotton percale. They come in five colors and the brand promises they'll help you stay cool throughout the night.
Dyson V8 Origin Cordless Vacuum
A Dyson vacuum is usually an owner's most prized possession. They boast powerful suction, lightweight handling and cordless designs. This model touts 43 hair removal vanes which detangles hair as it sucks it up (perfect for pet owners or those with long, luxurious locks) and a fully-sealed filtration system to trap small particles.
“This is one of those adult products that people get really excited about," says Hanlon. "You don’t realize the power of a good vacuum until you get it.”
Best hosting gifts for your wedding registry
Crate and Barrel Large Stone Molcajete
If you are a couple that loves to host dinner parties or happy hours, this traditional Mexican kitchen tool is a perfect addition to your registry. You can use a molcajete to grind spices or prepare fresh salsa and guacamole.
Senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil recommends this tool that she put on her own registry: “My husband and I entertain a lot, so I registered for a bunch of functional yet stylish hosting essentials like this molcajete for preparing and serving homemade guacamole. I love pulling it out when friends come over or even for weeknight dinners when it’s just us two."
Murray's Cheese Globetrotter's Cheese Club
To pair with a cheese board or to level up a charcuterie connoisseur's cheese collection, a cheese subscription is a great way to try new flavors regularly. Each delivery comes with three 1/2-pound blocks of cheese from iconic cheesemaking regions of the world.
Wine Enthusiasts Swivel Cheeseboard Set
Who doesn’t love a charcuterie board? Salty salami paired with sharp cheddar is the best way to catch up with your friends or wind down after a long week. This cheese board set comes complete with cheese knives, forks, bowls and food safe chalk.
Hanlon recommends having a charcuterie board on your registry because she says it's an easy way to make hosting more fun and ensure that your house becomes the go-to spot for holidays and happy hours.
Sonos Roam 2 Speaker
Dancing doesn't have to end at the reception! This lightweight and waterproof speaker is perfect to bring the tunes anywhere you go. It boasts 10 hours of battery life, voice-enabled commands and an IP67 rating (which means it's protected tightly from dust and against temporary immersion in water — so it's safe to keep poolside).
“Sonos speakers are a great way to bring your lives together because you can both connect to the device and add to them as your space grows. What couple hasn’t bonded over music?” Landon says. “You’re going to use your Sonos speakers infinitely more than a bread maker.”
Most unique wedding registry gifts
Airbnb Gift Card
If you are looking for ways to travel as newlyweds, an Airbnb gift card is a great way to let your guests know where their “cash-centered” gift is going and is something you'll actually use!
Hanlon says this (and other) gift cards are great additions to your registry so friends and family know how their contributions are being used.
Crate & Barrel Scrabble Deluxe Edition
With its sleek design and lazy Susan turning mechanism, this deluxe version of a classic game will look great on your coffee table and make play time even smoother.
As someone who got proposed to during a game of Scrabble, Cocchi Zabloudil says Scrabble Deluxe was one of her favorite gifts she received from her wedding registry. “I appreciate the chic colorways, the built-in turntable and the hidden storage,” she says. “It’s a splurge, for sure, but would make a great gift for someone who loves the game and may not treat themselves to such an elegant version.”
Ooni Karu 12G Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
Who needs to go all the way to Italy when you can create the same vibes right in your own backyard? Running on wood, charcoal or gas, this pizza oven can cook one 12-inch pie at a time and it's even portable, so you can pack it up and take it anywhere.
Hanlon likes this as a fun way to level up home entertaining. "Talk about bringing date night home to you," she laughs.
Frequently asked questions
Hanlon says people in your life want to celebrate your engagement and marriage, so you'll want a registry for two reasons: 1) to ensure you don’t receive duplicates of the same items and 2) so you can pick gifts that you will use in your everyday lives.
“Not only is it fun, it really is the perfect way to start married life on the right foot and register for items that really mean the most to you,” she says.
Abel recommends the platform Zola for your wedding registry because he considers it the most intuitive option available. "On the Zola registry page, you list all the things you want and as people purchase them, it shows any other guests when they're looking to buy something, that's something [that's] already purchased," he explains. He adds that Zola offers discounted prices to couples after the wedding if items on their registry were not purchased.
If you prefer a one store approach, Landon says you can individually register at your favorite stores and recommends people to choose places they regularly shop. “And all of these different places, from Target to Bloomingdale’s and Amazon, all have their own wedding registry,” she says.
Here are a few places where you can sign up for a wedding registry:
Landon recommends getting started on your wedding registry as early as possible. “If you rush your registry, you're asking for impulse purchases,” she says. You want to make sure you actually want and need everything on your registry so you don’t end up with items that just take up space.
Hanlon echoes similar sentiments and also suggests getting creative. “Registries really are so transformative and it can be really fun, so make it an exciting wedding planning activity,” she says. “Sit down with your partner, really think about what you want and get creative, because that's going to make your life so much easier.”
According to the United States Census Bureau, the average median age at first marriage has consistently increased over the years with the highest average median age occurring in 2023 — 30 for men, 28 for women.
Abel says this trend of people getting married later has shifted what couples include on their registries as there is less of a need for household items they may already own.
“The desire to have a lot of physical things is not as great as a desire to travel to many people,” he says. “The number one thing on their list is a honeymoon fund or a ‘help us get together our new house’ fund.”
Hanlon says cash is now the most popular gift to add to a wedding registry and according to The Knot, 74% of couples registered on their site asked for cash in 2023. “Times are changing and we’re also seeing a rise in non-physical items like cash, gift cards, even date night experiences,” she says.
Abel notes that travel and adventure are big priorities in recent generations’ lives, shifting registries towards travel funds and travel-oriented gifts like nice luggage sets.
On the other hand, he notes that recent generations do not host as much as past ones did, so there is less of a need for fine serving dishes and intricate china sets.
Despite the trends or what you and your partner want, there's always going to be a few people who prefer to buy you a physical gift. In that case, Abel recommends creating a registry at a department store like Bloomingdales: "If you do that, you can put on there some glassware, but you can always just exchange it for shoes or whatever you want.”
Meet the experts
- Allison Cullman is a registry and wedding etiquette expert at Zola, a website dedicated to helping couples through their wedding planning experience.
- Sara Landon is a New York City-based event planner with 20 years of experience in high-end events.
- James Abel is an event designer and planner with over 30 years of experience in the industry.
- Sarah Hanlon is the entertainment and celebrity editor at The Knot, a company that provides everything you need to plan and prepare for your wedding.
