Wedding Registry

Registering for wedding gifts can be a daunting experience--especially when it comes to the kitchen. Fortunately, Khalil has been through the process before and shares his advise below.

By Khalil Hymore

You know something is wrong when you go to buy an engagement present for friends and the only options on their registry are a $400 decanter or $6.99 coffee mugs (true story!). Obviously, registering for wedding gifts can be an extremely daunting activity--I mean, where does one even begin? Scott and I were so lost when we first registered. We'd just head to Bloomingdale's, grab a scanner gun, and go crazy, registering away! When Scott and I disagreed over items, two different toasters, for example, we'd register for both. Then, we'd edit the list online at home, once we had thought it through. At one point we ended up with 3 sets of china, because we couldn't commit.

Scott's cousin Melissa pointed out that there is a strategy to registering. She advised us to register heavy on the sentimental items such as vases, picture frames, and other tschotskes--things that people want to give you, because let's face it, no one WANTS to buy you that salad spinner (incidentally, I was desperate for someone to buy me the salad spinner off our registry, but I ended up having to buy it myself). She also advised us to register for open stock items, like cookware, as well as sets. She explained that someone might actually get you the set, which is often cheaper than buying the pieces separately, or a few guests might get you a piece here and there which can be exchanged for the larger set.

Anyway, A couple of weeks ago I told you about my favorite kitchen helper--the French oven (you definitely want to register for one of those), but there are other kitchen must haves for the newlyweds out there. The list below consists of some items that I use the most in my kitchen (being a newlywed, with a new house myself).

Everyday China - Gold plated formal dinnerware is out! These days many brides and grooms opt for a good quality set of everyday china, that can be dressed up or down, rather than multiple sets. For maximum flexibility, choose white (restaurants do) as food always looks best on a white plate. When Scott and I got married, we chose Calvin Klein's Grid pattern--fancy enough for an upscale dinner party, yet casual enough for a bowl of cereal.

Lovely Serving Spoons - I own a lot of serving spoons, and I use them all...a lot. Always register for more serving spoons than you think you need. Trust me, they'll come in handy. It's a huge disappointment to slave over a stove all evening, plate your food beautifully, to then only to serve it with a crusty cooking spatula.

Food Processor - Of all my kitchen appliances I probably use my food processor the most. I use it to make pie dough, grind breadcrumbs, and shred potatoes. It's also great for blending sauces or puréeing soups--or vegetables for homemade baby food (oh please, your parents are going to start bugging you for grandchildren the minute you say "I do!"). I wouldn't be caught dead without my Cuisinart.

Kitchen Mixer - Nothing beats a KitchenAid stand mixer, especially since they come in every color under the sun, and at about $300 a pop they're an excellent choice for your registry. I use mine every time I bake. I even use it to whip mashed potatoes! That being said, they are quite a luxury, and all you really need is a good hand mixer. Fortunately, KitchenAid makes those too!

Gift Cards - Don't forget to register for gift cards. Scott and I were fortunate enough to receive a slue of gift cards for our wedding and they have proven invaluable, especially so after our move. Our favorite gift cards? Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, and West Elm. Why? Because they can be used interchangeably between stores. We furnished half of our new apartment from West Elm and Pottery Barn with Williams-Sonoma gift cards.