Our biggest advice to couples creating a wedding registry is to decide the purpose behind the registry.  For many couples, the goal of your wedding registry will be to get all the basics needed to start your home together.  Getting the basics is a great goal to have for your registry if you are just starting out and don't already own a lot of household items. 

Here are our tips for deciding what to register for if you need the basics:

1 – Know what you don't want to register for.

Before deciding what items to register for your wedding, we suggest that you discuss what you don't need or want on your registry.  Tradition (and maybe some family members) may suggest that you register for china, crystal, or expensive picture frames.  No matter how traditional an item may be, if you don't love it or know it will be useful you do not need to add it to your wedding registry.  Knowing what you don't want to register for will free up some space on your wedding registry for what you really need.

2 – Create an imaginary wedding registry budget.

Many couples go crazy with the registry scanner gun in hand.  They register for anything pretty or shiny that they see without noticing the cost – after all, someone else is buying.  The truth is that a limited number of guests will attend your wedding and guests will spend a limited amount of money on your gift.  If the goal of your registry is to get the basics needed for your home, you should be wise about your choices.  Treat your wedding registry as if it has a budget.  Splurge on some items, but be picky about what items you register for. 

3 – Register for sets when possible.

When you are registering with the goal of receiving the basics for your home, we suggest that you register for reasonably-priced sets when possible.  Items that are in sets are typically less expensive than items in open stock.  Also, when you register for a set, you are more likely to receive the items you need from your registry and less likely to have to spend your own money on household items after your wedding.  Just make sure that you truly want all the items in the set – for example, don't register for a 15-piece cookware set if you are only going to use seven of those pieces.

4 – Register for basics first.

We urge every couple to register for what they really want and need first, and then add more items to their registry as things get purchased.  This advice is especially useful for couples wanting to receive the basics.  For more information on how many items to register for, read our article “How Many Items Should I Add to My Wedding Registry.” 

5 – Register at stores with a wide selection of products and a great return policy.

Many couples choose to register for the basics so that they won't have to spend much money on purchases for their home after the wedding.  If you need to use your cash to add to savings or pay off debt, you should try to register at stores with a wide selection of products and a great return policy.  No matter how attentive you are to your registry, you will receive duplicate items.  Consider registering at stores that will allow you to make smart purchases with any store credit you receive from returns.


We know compiling a list of what to register for your wedding if you want “the basics” is relative.  What you consider to be a basic may be a luxury to someone else and vice versa.  However, if you want a general guideline we've provided a checklist of basic items for your wedding registry. 





Determining what to register for if you need the basics may take some time, but it will be time well spent registering wisely for your goal.

What basic items are on your must-have list?