When we first started planning our wedding, Jeffery and I were both adamant that we didn’t need a registry. Why would we make a list of things when we already had so many things? It’s obviously not like ye olde times when the bride and groom are just moving in together for the first time—we’ve been living in sin together for 3+ years now, and acquired a lot of stuff during that time.

We also just really wanted to make a cash bucket to recoup our drained bank accounts and afford a honeymoon, you know? But when I started thinking about a bridal shower, I realized that friends and family (particularly older generations) like buying physical gifts, and if someone is set on ordering and wrapping something, I might as well provide a list of ideas, right? That way, we hopefully won’t end up with a pile of stuff we might not use, which is my actual nightmare.

And uh… once I started poking around, I realized that there are, in fact, lots of things I’d love to own, and the list kept growing. That said, all of the below items are “nice-to-haves,” and there’s a reason we don’t own them yet: Buying these things just hasn’t been mission critical. Sure, I’d love a KitchenAid stand mixer, but do I need one? No, not really. But I would love it! And yet I don’t need it… but?

So, with that, hopefully this registry is helpful if you’re building one out too, or maybe you just want to buy us a gift for our nuptials, idk. If you do, just be sure to use this link so we can keep track. (I’m joking—just enjoy snooping, xo.)

Cookware & Such

All Clad Sauce Pans & Stock Pot

I’m in my throw-all-my-bad-old-cookware-away-and-replace-it-with-stainless-steel era, okay? I use my Made In stainless steel skillet liiiiiterally every day, but I want to be an All Clad girlie, too. Added a small saucepan, skillet, and stock pot for pretty much every application possible.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

I already have a medium and small Dutch oven, but I cannot deny the allure of a gorgeous red Le Creuset sitting on the stove. I use my Dutch oven constantly for soups, chili, pasta, etc. and not only is Le Creuset classic and chic, it’s also a Wirecutter pick.

A Wiggly Wooden Spoon

Idk, how friggin’ cute is this? I put this in my list of things I’d buy my loved ones for Christmas, but I want one myself too!

John Boos Butcher Board

I just want to be like one of the chef girls and keep my wooden butcher block out on the counter at all times. I’m always chop chop chopping and wood is meant to be gentler on knives than plastic or glass. I also love the warm cherry wood version of this classic Boos block, but the maple and walnut are gorg too!

Victorinox Boning Knife

When thinking about what knives I’m missing in my arsenal, I realized I didn’t have a slithery little boning knife for carving roast chicken and the odd piece of fish. Did some Googling and added this Victorinox one to the registry.

MAC 6.5” Nakiri Knife

Have you ever chopped vegetables with a Nakiri knife?? It’s soooo smooth and satisfying, and after slicing up some stray celery in the kitchen at my friend Celeste’s with the Nakiri she brought back from Japan, I simply had to have one.

Global Knife Set

Okay, yeah, more knives! My chef’s knife is from the brand Global (also Anthony Bourdain’s fave, fun fact), and I’d love to have their paring, Santoku, and leeeetle 5in chef’s knife, because my chubby little hands can only handle so much. (I’m not addressing how this sounds, deal with it.)

Fredericks and Mae Cutting Board

I’ve seen these cutting boards in the homes of every cool girl around, and also on display at every self-respecting shoppy shop in town, so it’s only right that I have one too. I always reach for a smaller cutting board for cutting up fruit or meat separate from veg, and this one can double as a serving tray.

Material Kitchen Salt Sphere

I have a perfectly fine salt cellar for my Diamond Crystal kosher salt (IYKYK), but how chic is this one??? The round top part can hold most-used kosher salt, and the bottom bit has room for finishing flaky salt. Genius.

Pyrex Measuring Cups

Nothing fancy, just need some more measuring cups!

Ferm Living Tea Towels

I’m obsessed with every textile pattern from Ferm Living, but I whittled it down to these three tea towels for slinging over the oven door handle.

Great Jones Cooling Racks

In need of some cooling/baking racks, and why not get these beautiful blue ones from Great Jones? I do not own any Great Jones cookware, but I couldn’t resist the color on these.

Kitchen Appliances

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer, Duh

Girl… it’s time. I’m not a baker, but I bake enough that yanking my handheld KitchenAid mixer from under the cabinet is wearing me down. Do we have counter space for this bad boy? Not really, but I might become a bread maker with easy access to a dough hook, so… a win!

Attachments for the Vitamix

In my former life at Food52, I got the Vitamix A3500 blender as a work perk (I know, right?), and I use it very often for making smoothies. Vitamix sells a smoothie cup attachment, though, which is a game changer, so I don’t have to clean the big honking container every time I just want a quick breakfast. I was also contemplating getting a separate food processor, but realized I could just get that attachment for my blender, too! If you know me you know I hate unnecessary kitchen gadgets, so I love this 3-in-1 idea.

Smeg 2-Slice Toaster in Chrome

Our shitty little Amazon toaster is doing just fine, thank you. But wouldn’t it be cool if someone bought us this space age chrome one?

Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker

Another Wirecutter pick! I am sick and tired of gloopy, stuck-to-the-bottom stovetop rice, and I hate to admit that a rice cooker is really the only way out of there.

Serveware

Sabre Paris Bistrot Set in Ivory

I’ve been lusting after this flatware for soooo long. I actually bought some knockoff made-in-China versions that looked really good until they melted and cracked in the dishwasher, so I truly am in the market for the real thing. I’ve always wanted the ivory colorway to start, but hopefully one day I can add more colors to the collection.

Splatterware Trays

For roasting, baking, serving, and even storage around the house. I’m obsessed with splatterware (if you didn’t already know) and I’m taking it upon myself to start a collection this year. Maybe it’ll end up like my other started-and-stopped collections or fixations, but for now, I collect.

Splatterware Bowls, Too

Pls see above. I do really really love the cream and navy / olive green splatters on these bowls, though.

Opinel Bon Apetit Steak Knives

Currently, the only steak knives we have are Omaha Steaks branded ones that I got in an old PR mailer. We don’t often use them, but when we do make steak at home, I’d love to have a very classy French set of steak knives (with olive wood handles, obvs).

Cookbooks

I’m embarassed to admit I don’t already own some of these, but in an ideal world, the kitchen would be FILLED with all the below cookbooks from chefs I’ve already long-loved (I just usually get their recipes on the interwebs).

• Pass the Plate by Carolina Gelen

• Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat

• The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook by Meredith Hayden 

• Cook Beautiful by Athena Calderone

• Korean American by Eric Kim

• Cook This Book and More is More by Molly Baz

• Essentials of Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

• The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

• By Heart by Hailee Catalano

• The Farm Table by Julius Roberts

• Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi

• Dining In by Alison Roman

Decor

A Scalloped Marble Tray

I’ve had this calacutta marble tray favorited on Amazon for years, but never pulled the trigger because I couldn’t justify almost $100 on a tray. But on a wedding registry? Sure!

Coffee Table Books

I already have a disturbingly large collection of coffee table books (given the size of our apartment) but what’s a few more? I added How to Live with Objects (an interior design book about just collecting stuff you love), Japanese Interiors (self friggin’ explanatory), John Derian Picture Book (I love John Derian, who is an artist and collector of vintage illustrations, and this book compiles some of his most popular ones), After All Is Said and Done (a chronicling of live concert recordings of The Grateful Dead).

Malin + Goetz Candles

I’m generally not an expensive candle buyer—I suppose that’s just one area where I remain frugal. But again, if we’re talking nice-to-haves, it sure would be nice to have some Malin + Goetz candles.

Piglet in Bed Wool Blanket

I have yet to try anything from Piglet in Bed, but their extremely English countryside linens really appeal to me. Plus, I love anything made from natural fibers (like this wool blanket), and I simply can’t get enough gingham in my life. (JK IT’S OUT OF STOCK UGH.)

Noguchi Akari 45A

The paper lamp in our dining/living room from IKEA was always meant to be a placeholder for the day I finally splurged on a real Noguchi shade. It’s simple, and it’s been bootlegged to all hell, but I still want to own one of the originals, okay?

Schoolhouse Stillwater Floral Quilt

Harkening back to my Food52 days again (they acquired Schoolhouse several years ago)—this quilt is sort of a cult classic (now that you’ve seen I can almost guarantee you’ll start seeing it everywhere), and I really want one for the bed or for cuddling on the couch.

Quince European Linen Gingham Sheets

Another bedding brand I have yet to try (gone are the days of PR samples now that I work at Wirecutter!) is Quince. I have a cashmere sweater from them that’s pretty good, and I’ve been told their linen sheets are cozy, so might as well give ‘em a shot. Gingham, obvs.

Piglet in Bed Duvet Cover

More Piglet in bed! This time a duvet cover. We currently only have one white duvet cover and a striped one that doesn’t really go with our other bedding, so it would be nice to have another one in the mix. And yeah, it’s gingham, Luann.

Harry Barker Dog Bed

Oswald loves his little $40 bed from Amazon, but imagine how regal he’d look perched on this striped beauty?

Samsung Frame Bezel

We’ve had a frame TV for almost three years but we’ve never actually invested in one of the Samsung-manufactured bezels because they’re annoyingly expensive. I’m also just not as pressed about disguising the TV these days, but a lovely walnut-finish frame would still be nice!

A Block Print Table Cloth

Cute round tablecloths are low key hard to find, but this one is block printed in India and I think would nicely break up all the mid century and English cottage vibes going on in our apartment.

The Ceremony Club Photo Album Bundle

I just think these are soooo cute. I love the idea of actually printing photos from different wedding events without it being a tacky photo book, and these would look great on our shelves.

Travel

Honeymoon Fund $$$$$$

We want to go to Japan, and getting to Japan ain’t cheap. Period.

Away - The Bigger Carry On

Urrrrrrrgh. I really really want the bigger carryon in aluminum, but it’s currently out of stock, and I have no idea when it will come back. In the meantime, I added the original bigger carry on in “Salt White (gloss)” (also a Wirecutter pick!) because it’s my second favorite, looks-wise.

Need a gift suggestion for your mother-in-law’s birthday? Stuck on how to rearrange the furniture in your living room? Want to know what to do with a jar of marinated artichokes? Come to mama. Hit me up with your questions, and I'll answer them in an upcoming letter.