Note: This post is in partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond, a brand I love. All opinions here are my own.
When Maria and I were planning our wedding in 2009, we realized quite a few things: 1) We were probably going to make some major mistakes and not do it “perfectly,” 2) the wedding industry wasn’t prepared for people who look like us, 3) registering for a wedding can be a draining and overwhelming experience if you’re not prepared.
Those were huge lessons for us and we’re grateful because we got to learn so much and it led to launching Equally Wed.
When Maria and I registered for wedding gifts, I thought we’d show up to the store and scan a few items, and be done. Wrong! It was not an actual nightmare but it came close with the stress of decisions (there are so many to make!).
Had we used Bed Bath & Beyond’s wedding registry, it would have gone a lot smoother. Luckily for us, we recently got to partner with Bed Bath & Beyond to pick out our registry favorites, and the process was a dream!
First, Maria and I headed to our local Bed Bath & Beyond in Atlanta, Georgia, where we met with our wedding registry consultant, Amy Petersen. Like any gay couple, we’re never sure how we’re going to be treated by someone in the wedding industry. We have good reason to be hesitant after all: wedding inequality is a huge problem. But not at Bed Bath & Beyond. We were welcomed wholeheartedly, and we truly were impressed with how inclusive the language was. Amy used equality-minded terms that we love, like wedding party instead of bridal party.
Registry consultants like Amy are there to help couples like me and Maria to do some of the hard thinking and reducing the stress. Multiple appointments can be made so you don’t have to do all your registering on the same day. And if you find something you like, perhaps a plate or a bowl, your consultant can do the extra work of adding everything in that collection to your registry, saving you time and stress. I was pleasantly surprised to learn from Amy that anyone shopping off your Bed Bath & Beyond registry gets free shipping on your gifts-with no weight limit! Also, you can return any unused gift from your registry with no hassle. Some of our favorite things that Bed, Bath & Beyond wedding registry offers are the wedding registry books, where you can scan some of the most frequently registered-for items right from the catalog without even walking around the store. It’s a great way to get a running start. Amy told us, “Creating a registry is like creating your home.” So Maria and I took our scanner gun and headed into the store to think about what we’d like in our own home. Here’s what we fell in love with:
The Breville® The Barista Express™ Espresso Machine was the crown jewel of our registry. When I was in college, I worked at Starbucks (shout out to another great company that supports marriage equality!). And not only did I get to drink vanilla lattes all day (boing, boing), I got really good at making them. And obsessed with pulling the perfect shot. I’ve been a Starbucks drive-thru addict ever since. But not anymore. Sorry, cute green mermaid, I’m now an at-home barista with this super-easy-to-use espresso machine and not only am I saving $5 a day (which is marriage-saving, really), I’m saving time and getting to DIY one of my favorite treats!
Our rescued golden retriever Barley gets embarrassed when he gets sick, but luckily, even at 13 years young, it’s still rare. And now when he does, cleaning up the messes will be super easy with BISSELL® SpotBot® Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner in Disco Teal. It’s great for muddy footprints made by our kids too!
Maria and I used to be out in the city a lot but now that we’re moms to twin boys, we spend a lot more time at home. And one of our favorite places to be is in bed relaxing and watching movies. We decided to give our bed an adult makeover with our registry with pillows that actually provide better sleep (not kidding!) and super soft sheets that feel like a tranquil breeze on the skin.
Therapedic® TruCool® King Memory Foam Back/Stomach Sleeper Pillow
Eucalyptus Origins™ Tencel® Lyocell King Sheet Set in Platinum Stripe
Eucalyptus Origins™ Tencel® Lyocell Standard Pillowcases in Platinum (Set of 2)
Bedding Essentials™ Ultra Soft European Square Pillow
For our kitchen, we needed some new knives and felt like we won the lottery with the seriously sharp and extra lightweight Wusthof® Gourmet 18-Piece Promo Acacia Knife Block Set.
Maria and I cook nightly meals and are baking up a storm with our boys on the weekends, so we also took our family into consideration for choosing our favorite registry items, including:
Wilton® Advance Select Premium Nonstick™ 10-Inch Fluted Tube Pan in Gunmetal
Microplane® Premium Series Zester/Grater in Green
Ateco® 3-Piece Pastry Decorating Set
Cannoli forms (for my Italian spouse!)
OXO Good Grips® Medium Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop
SodaStream® Power Electric Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit
We were excited to update our home with some of the newest technology! We had to scan the Ring doorbell and floodlight cameras, and an app-controlled thermostat from Nest.
Adding to our cozy home vibes is our fireplace where we gather to cuddle, read and catch up. But safety first for our kids and pup. We’ve got added peace of mind with UniFlame® Large Fireplace Screen in Single Panel with Doors in Black Wrought Iron.
Get more wedding gift inspiration at Bed Bath & Beyond
As moms, we’ve got a serious collection of school and candid pictures and our boys are still young!
Real Simple® 2-Photo 5-Inch x 7-Inch Wood Portrait Frame in Grey Wash with White Double Mat
Real Simple® 10-Inch x 13-Inch Wood Portrait Frame in Grey Wash with White Double Mat
Gallery Perfect 7-Piece Frame Set
And last but not least, I have to tell you that I have a minor obsession with jewelry. I’ve been amassing a rather large collection of chunky rings, beaded necklaces, studs upon studs and stackable bracelets since high school. I even had my own jewelry line once upon a time. And all of these pieces have been living everywhere. Under my bed, in drawers, little bags and treasure boxes…it was an out-of-control mess. But I finally wizened up and registered for Lori Greiner® Deluxe Wood Jewelry Organizer in Walnut and it’s been LIFE CHANGING. Honestly, I didn’t think I could fit everything I owned in here but I have. This is one of the best gifts to myself but also for my detail-oriented neat freak wife, who is now so much saner with our clutter-free dresser. So pretty much this jewelry organizer is a marriage saver and everyone needs one.
We loved partnering with Bed Bath & Beyond on this post about registering for wedding gifts! For more wedding gift inspiration, head here.
