The kitchen reigns as the place in the house most registered for wedding gifts.
And it’s about more than gadgets.
A well-selected registry can lay an economical and elegant foundation for a kitchen, says Maria McBride-Mellinger, wedding style editor for Brides magazine.
She is the author of several bridal books and the creator of “Wisdom for the Newlywed Kitchen,” available at kitchen registry.com.
She advises couples to first select several stores across the retail landscape, including discount stores like Target and pricer retailers.
McBride-Mellinger also advises couples to visit each store more than once. The first time, get an idea what’s available, meet the staff and find out how the selection process works.
Since the majority of engagements happen in November and December, some stores like Crate & Barrel even host special registry events in February and March. Or, at Sur La Table, staff encourages couples to handle and even use items in the store to make sure, for example, that the knife feels comfortable in the hand or that the pans aren’t too heavy. Retailers say Sunday is a good day to drop by.
After the initial visit, inventory what you have at home, what you need and what you want. McBride-Mellinger developed a kitchen fundamentals checklist as a starting point.
“I think that you can really save a lot of money if you invest time in your experience because if you can be more thoughtful about your choices, you’ll waste less money.”
While it’s important to choose items in a variety of price ranges, don’t settle for lower-quality items based only on cost.
“If you can get a lot of use out of something, and it’s going to be a great workhorse, it’s actually going to end up costing you less in the long run” she says of selecting well-made items.
It’s also tempting to flood your registry with this year’s hot kitchen items – pod coffee makers, chocolate fountains, all things silicon, or themed things – but McBride-Mellinger recommends choosing more classic pieces than novelty items.
“You’re going to have the ability to add to your collection of possessions throughout your lifetime,” she says. “So use this opportunity with the registry and your wedding to put the building blocks in place.”
At the same time, she says, “I think it makes sense to be practically driven, but I also think it makes sense to buy what makes your heart sing or request gifts that are going to make you happy, and have fun.”
