annoying registry survey

[Deleted]

Am I obnoxious yet? I really appreciate you guys answering all my questions- I don't have any friends that are married so it's helpful to have some real world advice (AKA not the knot).

Anyway...please name one item you recommend registering for and one thing you recommend passing on.

[Deleted]

recommend: table linens. they're so expensive! and you only need maybe one or two nice tablecloths for life.

recommend: kitchen aid stand mixer. i don't even cook and i know that shit is the bomb.

recommend: nice, solid everyday dishes. they can be expensive, and you'll use them more than fancy crap anyway.

do not: small appliances, other than a kitchen aid stand mixer. you never know if you're going to move and if they'll fit and stuff. and, really, it's true, you'll make ice cream/waffles/freeze dried beef jerky ONCE and then you'll never do it again.

do not: any glasses other than maybe fancy wine/scotch/etc. glasses. we don't even like our regular glasses anymore, and they break too much so we're just using plastic cups we got for free most of the damn time.

[karmasabiotch]

My rice steamer and heat shaped casserole dish are still in the box 7 years later. I wish I had gotten more towels.

[fuckyourcouch]

yes: kitchen aid mixer, food processor if you don't have one, good silverware, nice dishes (i love good stoneware that will hold up, like fiestaware)

no: glasses (i hate the ones we registered for now and we don't use them)

[rupertpenny]

I would recommend registering for a large food processor, preferably a 14 cup Cuisinart. I use mine all the time and it is super versatile. I rarely use other appliances because I love my food processor so much.

What I didn't register for was any decor. Tastes change and I'd rather buy my own picture frames and vases and stuff like that.

[walterismydog]

I totally ditto cville on the small appliances. Nobody needs any of that crap, except maybe a good hand mixer and food processor. I love my kitchenaid, but the mother is HUGE and now that I live in a tiny place, she takes up most of my kitchen.
I would register for quality pots and pans if you don't already have them.
Linens/towels/etc - good stuff. Nice price point for your guests, too.

I would also register for more "fun" items - board games, camping stuff, decorations/knicknacks, etc. Stuff that would actually be seen and used.

[ECB]

When we registered, we registered as if we were hosting Thanksgiving. Whether you really do host or not (we actually do, though!) - by registering w/ Thanksgiving in mind, we really covered a LOT of basis. Serving dishes, cookware (a roasting pan, for example), platters, # of place settings (we didn't do formal china, though), table linens, knives, etc.

We're pretty much set for any social event we host!

[Deleted]

oh, and not that you asked, but i roll my eyes at people who register for a shitton of monogrammed crap. like a monogrammed galvanized tin tub for keeping sodas and beer cool at outdoor parties. puh-leeze.

if you register for towels, i'd go for white/cream. yeah, right now teal would look SO GREAT in your hall bath, but your tastes will change and you'll move. white never goes out of style. and looks great for longer because even if you bleach the hell out of it, it still doesn't fade.

[VeryViolet]

I don't have too much to add that others haven't but I did want to second the kitchen aid food processor. I didn't register for one because I have my moms from when she got married and that thing is still amazing. I seriously don't know what I did without it. Also, be careful I registered at Macy's and crate & barrel and I duplicate registered some items. I now have two wood cutting boards because I was too lazy to return them. It is nice having two for thanksgiving, apps in the kitchen and living room lol.

Also, I may be flamed for being tacky but at the last minute I added a lot of things to my registry that I thought I may want. The registry completion discounts and coupons I got were amazing. Those and gift cards we got a ton of amazing stuff and seriously stocked our new house for a few hundred dollars out of pocket.

[nomad100]

Yes to KA mixer, stick blender, food processor, everyday dishes/silverware, coffee maker, towels, toaster oven, nice pots and pans.

No to frames, decor items, most single use appliances. Though we have enjoyed our wafflemaker and use it a couple of times a year.

For us china and crystal was a yes along with matching flatware but we host monthly family dinners where we use it. So it made sense. Plus, I like a fancy set table.

We registered for knives too but didn't get any because there was some sort of superstition about giving knives as wedding gifts being bad luck. So we just used some of our wedding money to get a nice set.

Some stuff we registered for, like our nice stemmed glassware, we don't use much anymore because they don't fit well in our current dishwasher. And it is a pain to handwash them all the time.

Other than some frames and decor stuff that now lives in the basement, I can't really think of anything we got that we don't use regularly.

[discogranny]

Yes: Kitchenaid mixer, larger food processor - I registered for a smaller one and regret it. A good blender. Everyday dishes in a pattern or color you won't get sick of, every day wine glasses, if you bake a lot, a good food scale. Another really good one is good cook wear, it's expensive and you will definitely use it. Good measuring cups and spoons. Casserole dishes - Le Cruset Poterie is good quality at a decent price point. A Le Cruset dutch oven if you think you will use it. The Corkcicle. If you host a lot: Serving platters - I have this one and use it every time we host people, it stores flat. For hosting, I also have a triple crockpot and triple warmer -- only ONE will suffice. I don't know what I was thinking.

No: Ice cream maker, waffle maker, etc. My DH does use the panini press daily, but that's a recent thing, it sat for a year and a half. China, expensive stemware. Specialty dishes like egg dishes, butter dishes, mini trifle bowls. They are awesome when you need them but mostly just take up space.

[leeann]

I love my mandolin - I'd register for a really kick-ass mandolin

[discogranny]

Apr 2, 2013 9:37:32 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

Apr 2, 2013 9:17:39 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

I would also register for more "fun" items - board games, camping stuff, decorations/knicknacks, etc. Stuff that would actually be seen and used.

 This. It might be weirdo, but I am SO glad we registered for a tent, camping chairs, bocce ball, etc. We use that stuff all the time.

I really wish we would have registered for stuff like this. I got so much kitchen stuff, which we appreciated but this kind of stuff would have been more practical for real, non-Martha Stewart life.

[katie80]

Apr 2, 2013 9:23:48 GMT -5 ECB said:

When we registered, we registered as if we were hosting Thanksgiving. Whether you really do host or not (we actually do, though!) - by registering w/ Thanksgiving in mind, we really covered a LOT of basis. Serving dishes, cookware (a roasting pan, for example), platters, # of place settings (we didn't do formal china, though), table linens, knives, etc.

We're pretty much set for any social event we host!

This is a really smart way to do it, and I wish I'd thought of that! We have plenty of plates and flatware, but basically no serving dishes. Oops.

Ditto on the food processor and KitchenAid. 

I would have registered for about half of the glasses that we ended up putting on our list. My grandma had already passed down her crystal to me, so I wasn't planning on choosing a pattern of my own but she guilted me into it for some reason. We have a gorgeous set of crystal stemware (flutes, iced beverage glasses, wine glasses, etc) that I almost never use and have moved at least 4 times since the wedding. 

We also forgot to eat lunch before doing our registry at some fancy kitchen store, and ended up registering for (and getting) most of the cookbooks in the building because we were starving and everything looked delicious. I love cookbooks so it worked out, but don't do that. 

[winnied]

YES: Kitchenaid Mixer, large food processor - I got a 4 cup one (or so) and it's not big enough, good knives (like Wustof), everyday dishes in a simple, classic style, good silverware, coffee item of your choice (french press? Nespresso? Keurig?)

PASS: Waffle irons, specialty items like mortar and pestle, 10 different kinds of alcohol glasses (excluding wine and champagne classes, IMO), bedding, and china.

[janiejones]

I agree with the PPs about everday glasswear (no), KA mixer (yes), table linens (yes), small appliances (no- except I love our waffle iron hard).

We did denby white for dishes, we use them everyday, and I have been able to add to our original 6 place settings. They fancy up well.


We registered for like 16 or more towels, but we got more than that because people bought off registry. I'd suggest not being as crazy as us there. (Though at 7 years in we are starting to get rid of some now).

[janiejones]

Oh, serving platters... we registered for 3 ceramic ones that we use all the time. We also got another couple that we use.

[agnes]

Register for things you think you'll actually use (or things that needs to be replaced). I thought I was doing that, but some things I thought wrong.

Things we use: Kitchen Aid stand mixer, rice cooker, utensils (cooking and eating), every day plates and glassware, pot holders, towels (kitchen & bath), bedding

Things we don't use: blender, crock pot, food processor, cake display (that doubles as a platter), nice napkins & linens, china

[Deleted]

Yes:
KA mixer
Cuisinart Griddler--It has removable plates, so you can use it as a griddle, panini press, grill pan, waffle iron, etc. We use it four or five times each week, and it takes up very little room in our itty bitty kitchen.
white towels

No:
picture frames
random kitchen gadgets

[livinitup]

YES: SimpleHuman Garbage Can

PASS: Crystal.


I WISH: I had aggressively returned most of my gifts and then kept the gift cards to slowly buy things as I needed them. I loved all the gifts I got and stored most of them in my basement with the intention of using every single thing. I had visions of baking bread with my bread machine along side of roasting chickens in my rotisserie oven. Five years later, I used my bread machine for the first time and have never used the rotisserie. I really wish I put NOTHING in storage and just bought the bread machine years later when I actually got motivated to use it. Styles change, prices fall, it would have been so much better.

[Deleted]

I am very happy that I registered for and received the household items that I'd probably never go out and buy myself because of price -- All-Clad pots and pans, Wustoff knives, china, silver, crystal, very nice everyday plates and flatware, KA mixer, etc.

Most wasteful for us was a pasta maker that we've never used, and a cheese grater thing that we've never used. Not huge deals though.

Most used things are wine glasses, rabbit wine opener, and wine cooler sleeve thing.

However, I do regret registering for wine glasses that were $18 each because I haven't been happy when I've had to replace them. So I'd say if you're registering for things you'll use a lot that are breakable, register for items that are at prices you can swallow when you have to pay for them yourself, that won't be discontinued quickly, and that are easy for you to buy replacements of.

[RoxMonster]

Recommend: Keurig (though most people who like coffee already have a coffee maker but we didn't)
        Really nice, high quality towels
        Ditto nice, high quality sheets
        a Dutch oven (we use it all the time)
        high quality vacuum

Pass on:
panini maker (never used)
really expensive blender (only used a handful of times so far)

[Deleted]

Thanks for the advice guys- especially about the everyday glasses. We don't have enough storage for a bunch of random kitchen appliances, so we'll be avoiding those for sure.

[UnderProtest]

Apr 2, 2013 9:13:07 GMT -5 jjwritergirl said:

I agree with all of Cville's recommendations. However, a small appliance I use multiple times a week is a small food processor. I love it and if you enjoy cooking, would recommend it.

Also, if you plan to have several kids in the future, or entertain a lot, register for two sets of silverware. We only registered for one and discovered that 8 place settings isn't enough for us. Unfortunately the design isn't sold anymore and we are stuck.

Www.replacements.com

You can find all kinds of discounted, antique and current silverware at that site. 

[auntie]

Apr 2, 2013 9:16:47 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

I would recommend registering for a large food processor, preferably a 14 cup Cuisinart. I use mine all the time and it is super versatile. I rarely use other appliances because I love my food processor so much.

What I didn't register for was any decor. Tastes change and I'd rather buy my own picture frames and vases and stuff like that.

I use my large Cuisinart Processor way more often that my stand mixer (I have a 5 qt KitchenAid). I make pizza dough about once a week in it.

I also love my electric kettle and my stick blender. 

Other nice things to have in addition to table top linens-
towels, down comforters, wool blankets, nice stainless flatware, a cast iron dutch oven and skillet, a copper sauce pan, copper mixing bowl.

[TemperanceBrennan]

For our wedding we got a set of Corelle plates. We use them everyday. They have held up very well. We didn't get fancy plates, but I have some that were my great grandma's and I never use the fancy ones. We also got a baking dish (9x13 or whatever the common size is) I use it all the time. I still have some cooking utensils that we got from our wedding that I use all the time. We also got a pizza oven. It is the best thing we got. Frozen pizza is pretty common in our house and it is great to put certain leftovers or frozen foods in to warm up (we use it instead of a toaster oven).

We registered for some knick knacks and frames. More than we should have. I thought we were giving people some options, but instead, EVERYONE bought one. We got so many that we don't really have room for all of them. I think I am actually going to go through them and get rid of some of them. Also, most of the small appliances we got we don't use or never really did.

We got a couple table cloths and napkins, but we've never really used them. They don't really fit our lifestyle, I guess.

I also agree with everyone about the glasses. We don't have any that we got from our wedding.

I think just register for what actually fits your lifestyle/needs and things that you have but want replaced.

[Deleted]

Ditto Cville! We got all these fun funky rolly shot glasses that have sat in boxes now for years. Also skip the espresso maker unless you are a die hard fan. We got one, we used it like 3x and now we can't get it to work anymore and my really nice expensive espresso cups are currently being used by DS in the play kitchen.

I also agree that you should skip the china. You won't eat on it every day and get your dishes in a nice white color or a color that you can commit to for years. I got green and creme dishes, I really, really want new ones as I am so over green and creme!! Make sure you get everything in white to match, serving platters, gravy boat, etc.. This way you are set for years to come.

When you are picking your linens try to get colors that are muted and not too loud. Nothing crazy or silk. I got these wonderful red silk placemats and a table runner. I hardly ever use them as they stain easily and getting them drycleaned is a pain, make sure you get something you can toss in the washer.

[Deleted]

Ditto baking dishes, pie plates, mixing bowls, etc..

Also make sure your plates aren't too big. My BFF registered for these huge square plates that don't fit in her cabinets now that she moved to a smaller house.

[livinitup]

Apr 2, 2013 14:06:21 GMT -5 @amoosed said:

Thanks for the advice guys- especially about the everyday glasses. We don't have enough storage for a bunch of random kitchen appliances, so we'll be avoiding those for sure.

This may be a bit much as a strategy - but, lots of people like giving random appliances as wedding gifts and they have a nice range of price points for all sort of budgets. So, it may be smart to register for a few of those items, thank the giver graciously, and then return them. Many stores will let you return the item without a receipt if it is on your registry. Just be damn sure you return it quickly and don't store it in a closet.