Tonight: the case for eschewing a wedding registry in favor of bridal shower goodies. Plus …
My fiancé and I met on the job (not this one!) eight years ago, when I was in editorial and he was in IT. Accordingly, he has an appreciation for things that don’t rust, warp, or otherwise glitch out. When we moved in together a few years back, there was an onslaught of packages at the doorstep. A loyal Wirecutter reader, my fiancé was stocking up on picks: There were the Nordic Ware baking sheets for roasting veggies, Tramontina pots and pans for pasta, and a cast-iron skillet that makes the best sauteed salmon. One of my favorites is the pre-seasoned wok where we stir-fry Filipino garlic rice almost as good as my future mother-in-law’s. All happen to be Wirecutter wedding registry go-tos. You might see where this is going. When we got engaged this past winter, the questions (and advice) started rolling in. Where are you getting married? You should hire a wedding planner. Of all the interrogations, the registry question was an easy no. We simply didn’t need more stuff — especially since our storage closet is also our shared office. I’m not eschewing registries altogether. When my sisters — and future maids of honor — decided to throw me a bridal shower, I had a different idea. Haunted by visions of ill-fitting lingerie and cheesy tank tops emblazoned with “Mrs.”, I decided to make a bridal shower registry. In some ways, weddings, registries, and the very idea that couples don’t have their own lives (and Cuisinarts) are outdated. But a registry can serve as the gift of clarity for a certain type of guest. The idea is that I’ll guide my friends and family to the things I need to enjoy the wedding and honeymoon, with a few extra items for the life we plan to build ahead. It’s a compromise between an old way of doing things and my own preferences, which, I hear, is what marriage is all about. Here’s how I’m hoping to celebrate one of the biggest days of my life — and some inspiration if you know a bride (or anyone!) embarking on a next chapter without all of the traditional milestones or gifting occasions.
Lastly, l do have a few housewares on the bridal registry for wedding guests who insist. I would love this gorgeous azurite and lapis bread knife. I also would cherish these brass candle holders that we could break out for special occasions or just romantic dinners at home — some guiding lights for our next chapter. More bridal shower gifts we adore→
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My 64-year-old brother is marrying a high school classmate he met (re-met?) at a reunion. It is a first marriage for both. The wedding is in Salzburg, Austria. They have plenty of stuff, and the destination wedding is a wonderful experience. I am at a loss for a memorable gift. — M.G.M. From gifting expert Hannah Morrill: How wonderful. As a way to build their new history, what about this couple’s journal, which prompts a one-sentence answer to a daily question over three years? It’s a lovely, living document of a relationship’s evolution. I once gave a friend a tea towel calendar with a heart stitched around their wedding day, and it’s still cherished — I’m thinking this tea towel printed with their wedding invite or this portrait of the cosmos from any given date or time could hit the same note. As an homage to their reunion, a sweatshirt with the name of their shared hometown could also be fun. Finally, call me a traditionalist, but I love the idea of this heirloom pewter frame engraved with their wedding date — a perfect home for their favorite photo from Salzburg.
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