Note: This post is in partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond, a brand I love. All opinions here are my own.
When Macey and I first got engaged, I admit: We knew nothing about wedding registries, at least not our own. I’d never put much thought into what we’d ask our guests for and since we’re both such big readers, I joked, “Couldn’t we just ask everyone to buy us a book in lieu of presents?”
So when we began the registry process with Bed Bath & Beyond, we didn’t know what to expect. Macey’s more of a chef than I am (I prefer ordering sushi or reheating pizza in the oven) so she was immediately excited about the potential for new kitchen supplies. We’ve had the same basic utensils, knives and plates since we shared an apartment with our friends in college.
Macey and I went for an in-person registry appointment at our local Bed Bath & Beyond store in Braintree, Massachusetts, where we met with our registry consultant, Maria. We were excited and a little bit nervous. After touring venues, talking to photographers and a couple of visits to wedding dress shops, this was one of the first wedding-related outings we planned. Whenever Macey and I had been to Bed Bath & Beyond before, whether it was to update our bedding or stock up on towels, I’ve always felt overwhelmed by how many great things there are to choose from.
And then we met Maria, our wedding registry consultant. Maria was incredibly welcoming, and she was happy to help us figure out exactly what we should look at and where to start with our registry. We’ve never been on an intentional, dedicated trip for home goods like this. When we moved into our first post-grad apartment, we were recent graduates on a budget—everything that we could keep from college or get as a hand-me-down, we did. Our registry appointment with Maria was all about determining our priorities and deciding what we’d like to update, like the forks we’ve had since junior year of college or the motley pan set we created from our parents’ spares.
Registry consultants like Maria are perfect if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for or want a second opinion. She guided us toward a pot and pan set that will last us years and helped us find colorful, patterned dishes because neither of us was too thrilled about the idea of plain white dinner plates. When we found a dinner plate we loved, Maria made the process easier by adding everything from the collection to our registry.
What I really loved was how streamlined the process is. We downloaded the Bed Bath & Beyond app right while we were in the store, and we were even able to use it to scan barcodes in the store (so if we’re out shopping months from now and we see an item we want to add, it’s super simple). The interactive checklist also helped us see if we were missing anything—and reminded us that we could add some items for our cats, Blue and Gansey. It’s also great that you can also make more than one appointment with a registry consultant and you can start the process in the store or online and pick up where you left off the next time you’re ready to add items to the list. Bed Bath & Beyond also hosts Rock Your Registry events for engaged couples with free food, drinks and gifts, making the experience even more magical.
Macey and I went through the store keeping in mind what we most needed to upgrade in our own home. Here’s what made the top of our list:
We fell in love with the ClassicFlame® Clarion Electric Fireplace and TV Stand in Grey immediately. Macey and I have been eyeing a fireplace TV stand for over a year. Our last apartment had one thing we loved that our current one doesn’t, an electric fireplace. It was the centerpiece of our living room decor and we’ve been talking about updating our boring black glass TV stand with a fireplace stand since we moved in August 2017. This was by far the best choice we’ve made in our living room in a long time. It’s sturdier, holds more in the side compartments and offers a lot more space for crafty winter decorations and picture frames than our previous stand.
We’ve been raving about our Therapedic® Reversible Weighted Blanket to everyone we know. Weighted blankets have been everywhere in the last year and for good reason: It’s comfortable and helps us both get a great night’s sleep in less-than-ideal conditions. It helped me stay cozy and take a refreshing afternoon nap when I was sick with the worst winter cold. I’m always using it to snuggle up with a good read while our cat Blue climbs into my lap to remind me to pay attention to her.
We also got a few more living and bedroom items we love:
Therapedic® Silky Plush Warming Blanket
Therapedic® TruCool® Memory Foam Side Sleeper Pillow
UGG® Classic Sherpa Backrest Pillow
Wamsutta® 625-Thread Count PimaCott® Sheet Set
kate spade new york Simply Sparkling 4-Inch x 6-Inch Glitter Picture Frame
We were really thrilled to update our existing tea collection with a kate spade new york All in Good Taste 2.5 qt. Tea Kettle and kate spade new york Bridal Party “Love.” & “Love You More” Mugs (Set of 2). When we saw these mugs in the store, Macey teased that we absolutely needed them because we’re always fighting over who loves the other more. We drink a lot of tea, especially when we’re curled up reading, so these are now staples in our home.
We refreshed our kitchen with a few more incredible finds:
J.A. Henckels International® Statement 15-Piece Knife Block Set
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Energy 10-Piece Nonstick Ceramic-Coated Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Ginkgo Lafayette 45-Piece Flatware Set
CorningWare® French White® 8-Piece Bakeware Set
Olivia & Oliver “Mrs” and “Mrs” Toasting Flutes in Gold (Set of 2)
Cuisinart® 7-Speed Electric Hand Mixer in Brushed Chrome with Storage Case
OXO Good Grips® 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer
OXO Good Grips® Smart Seal 12-Piece Container Set in Clear/Blue
kate spade new york Larabee Road™ Gold Dinner Plate
kate spade new york Larabee Road™ Gold 13-Inch Oval Platter
Mikasa® Cheers 15.75 oz. White Wine Glasses (Set of 8)
Rubbermaid Freshworks Countertop Small Produce Containers with Lids in Grey/Clear (Set of 4)
We couldn’t forget our cats, Blue and Gansey, who we adopted from the animal shelter shortly after we moved in together. Our new Litter Genie™ Cat Litter Disposal System in Grey is fantastic at keeping in smells and giving us both a break between taking out a new set of litter every two days. The cats are also loving their new PETMAKER Cat Scratching Post Tree in Brown/White and their SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post.
Get more wedding gift inspiration at Bed Bath & Beyond
We loved partnering with Bed Bath & Beyond on this post about registering for wedding gifts! For more wedding gift inspiration, head here.
