Once my fiance and I finally chose a wedding date, we knew the next step was registering, but we had no idea what types of kitchen and homeware we would actually need. We weren’t even exactly sure where to register. WeddingWire has a super helpful registry tab which showed us some great options, including West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and Bed, Bath, & Beyond. As I feel a lot of couples do, we started with Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

Bed, Bath, & Beyond offers a really helpful checklist of what to register for, but I just want to highlight the 10 products I got most excited about and the ones I never thought I needed before I got engaged.

1. Gold Flatware.
   I have wanted gold flatware since the first time I saw it existed, but I never felt the need to buy expensive cutlery while still living with roommates. There is no time like the beginning of a marriage to invest in beautiful items you want to enjoy for years to come.
2. A Fun Spoon Holder.
   Not everything you register for has to be a basic necessity, so if there’s a piece you just love, even if you could probably benefit from something else more, treat yourself. I thought this Kate Spade Utensil Crock was adorable, so I forgot about the cutting boards we actually needed for a second, and put it on the registry. Funnily enough, it was the second present we received.
3. A Microwave.
   Every apartment I’ve ever lived in has come with a microwave, so I was super surprised to see that the apartment my fiance and I fell in love with doesn’t have one. Not to worry, because we just added it to the registry.
4. A Dutch Oven.
   I’m still unsure exactly what it’s used for and why it’s so amazing, but apparently food cooked in a dutch oven tastes better. It’s also on the pricier side, so better to register for one now than realize you want one later in life and have to pay to replace the pots you originally chose.
5. A Splatter Screen.
   I sautee a lot of mushrooms and onions, and the last thing I want are oil burns (or to ruin the adorable apron I received as a bridal shower gift), so a splatter screen is a definite necessity.
6. A Nespresso Machine.
   Aside from the fact that my fiance and I started a tradition where we go to Nespresso every weekend, we are both coffee lovers. There are plenty of good coffee makers on the market, but we’re all about getting our dream one now, so we won’t feel the need to trade up in the future.
7. A Bag Holder.
   Once I saw this stainless steel bag holder online, I regretted not buying myself one years ago. The cabinet under my kitchen sink is always packed with plastic bags, so I couldn’t be happier to have found a solution for the disarray.
8. A Vacuum.
   I honestly didn’t even know vacuums were a normal item to register for, but our Bed, Bath, & Beyond registry specialist assured us it’s pretty common. My fiance and I went through the options and opted for the Dyson, which is top of the line, compact, and good for carpet and wood floors. After spending the last 10 years using nothing but a broom, I am so excited to become a vacuum owner.
9. An Automatic Bread Maker.
   I plan on making a lot of bread and a lot of pizza dough. With an automatic bread maker, it’s as easy as dumping the ingredients into the machine.
10. Food Storage Containers.
    If living in New York City taught me anything, it’s to keep your food in sealed containers. There’s nothing worse than finding bugs in your flour. Enough said.

*Thank you WeddingWire for sponsoring this post!

xx Esther