Ad in partnership with The Home Depot — Where Doers Get More Done.
If you’re currently in the process of planning your wedding, let me be the first to wish you congratulations! While prepping for your big day includes a lot of exciting moments (finding your perfect wedding dress, cake tasting, and celebrating with those you love), there can also be some stressful moments woven in as well. As a bride-to-be, I know.
That’s why I tapped my own personal wedding planner, Laura Gardner, owner of Love, Laura, to give us some tips and tricks to make building out your registry with The Home Depot the one part of the process that will run smoothly.
“Wedding registries have changed since they began in the 20th century, when couples hadn’t necessarily lived together (or even on their own) before getting married” says Laura. “Now, couples are now getting married at an older age and most likely have acquired some items either collectively and individually.”
Instead of using your registry as a list of starter home items, Laura suggests using it to upgrade items that have worn out — or to requests things you and your partner wouldn’t normally buy for yourself. Think of it as curating special pieces, not collecting any old thing.
Laura’s Registry Tips
- Laura suggests including a broad range of items at different price points on your registry. Think both big ticket items and more affordable items around $50-$100.
- She also says that products can get purchased or sell out fast, so it’s worth checking in on your registry frequently to make sure it’s filled with a variety of options in the months leading up to your big day.
- Finally, Laura says to be specific on your website or stationery about how you want to receive gifts (shipped versus bought) to things arrive exactly where they need to.
Laura’s Registry Picks From The Home Depot
Laura recognizes that one size does not fit all when it comes to building your registry, which is why she broke up her favorite picks from The Home Depot by the couple’s potential interests. Scroll on to see what you should be adding to your list.
For the Couple Who Loves to Entertain
“Rather than going out to eat, I’m noticing a lot of couples throwing a really nice dinner party lately,” says Laura. “People want quality time with the people they love at home, which is why I love the idea of adding some unexpected entertaining items to your list to make your next gathering truly special.”
Hamilton Beach Hot Oil Popcorn Popper
Take your movie night up a notch with an old-fashioned style popcorn maker. This under-$50 find makes 24 cups of popcorn per batch, so you’ll have plenty of snacks to go around. It also comes with a butter well to amp up the flavor. Don’t worry, the nonstick plate keeps the light and fluffy popcorn from sticking to the machine, even with the added butter. Best of all, the clear lid doubles as a serving bowl!
Price: $48
DeLonghi Roto Fry Cool Touch Low Oil Deep Fryer
Forget the air fryer, when you really want to impress your guests (or just prep a mouthwatering meal for each other), you need a deep fryer. This electric air fryer has a tilted rotating basket to help you achieve the perfect golden, crispy creations every time. It has a condensation seal to keep oil from spilling or spraying and a cool touch handle for added safety. Customers also love that it’s easy to clean, easy to use and virtually odorless.
Price: $100
SodaStream Fizzi 1-Touch Electric Soda Machine
Enjoy fresh, fizzy and delicious soda or seltzer whenever you want with your very own soda machine. This soda stream turns regular water into carbonated water with just a push of a button — you can even choose between three carbonation levels. We love that it’s slim enough to keep on your countertop, without taking up precious space.
Price: $129
For the Couple Who’s Outdoor Space Deserves a Refresh
“Now more than ever, couples are really taking advantage of their outdoor spaces, no matter how big or small they might be,” says Laura. “It’s worth asking for some timeless pieces, like a nice planter or even a shed, that could take your backyard to the next level.”
Tierra Verde Slate Rubber Self-Watering Planter
“People never seem to splurge on their planters, which is why I love the idea of adding a really timeless and stylish one to your registry,” says Laura.
The Tierra Verde planter is made of 100% recycled materials that are so strong, it can be kept out all year and withstand the elements. It’s also self-watering with reservoir and built-in wicking basket that helps to prevent root rot, so you don’t need a green thumb to keep your plants looking gorgeous.
Price: $65
Suncast Stow-Away Resin Horizontal Storage Shed
Stash away trash cans, garden tools, backyard games and more in this convenient storage shed. It can fit up to 70 cubic feet of storage and tucks neatly below a 4-foot fence line. Writer’s note: My fiancé and I actually added a shed to our own registry and it’s been our favorite gift to date! We’re renters and having a portable shed that cleans up our current backyard, but can also be transferred to our forever home later on, is a life saver.
Price: $469
Hampton Bay Piedmont Steel Fire Pit
Even couples who have tiny patio decks can benefit from this top-rated fire pit. It’s only 30-inches wide, but is still large enough to keep you warm on chilly summer nights. It comes with a mesh cover to keep the embers in the fire, a poker for keeping the flames going and even a mesh cooking grate, so it can double as a grill.
Price: $115
For the Couple Who’s Always Trying New Recipes
If you’re constantly in the kitchen, your pots, pans and accessories are probably getting a lot of wear and tear. Laura suggesting using your registry to update worn-out items and to invest in some cool, new gadgets.
Braun Multi-Quick 21-Speed Immersion Hand Blender
Experiment with creating new smoothies, dips, soups, juices and more thanks to this hand-held immersion blender. It comes with a 400-watt motor and 21 settings, so you can blend, whip, puree, chop or whisk your ingredients with ease. The bell-shape blades were created to eliminate splashing, so you won’t be left with a messy kitchen once you’re done cooking.
Price: $48
Large Prep End Grain Cutting Board
A cutting board is bound to get, well, cut up — which is why Laura suggests adding one to your registry. Opt for something heavy duty that will really protect your counters, like this wood cutting board. It’s made from sustainably harvested and hand-crafted acacai wood, and it has a channel that holds up to 10 ounces of juice to prevent mess.
Price: $83
Henckels Graphite 20-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set
Dull knives are a home chef’s worst enemy — but you can ensure your knives stay sharper for longer with this 20-piece self-sharpening knife set. The chip-resistant, dishwasher-safe knives are made with carbon steel for longevity and do not require any special cleaning to keep them like new. The set comes with a boning knife, steak knife, carving knife, vegetable knife, fruit knife and more — that all store conveniently in the included butcher’s block.
Price: $279
More About Laura
Laura of Love, Laura has been in the wedding industry for as long as she can remember. Growing up, her grandma owned a wedding venue that Laura worked at in high school and during summers in college. After graduating college and working in the corporate world for a few years, she found her way back to events, and has spent the past five years working with couples to create weddings that are as unique as the love that they share. She works with couples getting married in New York City, upstate New York and along the east coast.
The post What To Add to Your Wedding Registry, According to an Expert appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
