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You are likely not going to forget the big-ticket items when crafting your wedding registry. If you’ve had your eye on a Le Creuset Dutch oven or Vitamix—for good reason, they’re the best in the biz at what they do—chances are they were among the first additions to your list, alongside other higher price-point items like saucepans, wine glasses, and dish sets. But there are plenty of kitchen and dining-related things to add to your wish list that won’t break the bank for your guests. Rounding out your registry—whether it’s on Zola or Amazon or somewhere else—with a number of picks for under $50 provides options and ensures you’re ending up with an actually functional kitchen.
When adding home cooking basics to your wedding registry, there are some things to keep in mind. For the tools you’ll be getting a lot of day-to-day use out of, selecting the best doesn’t always mean the most expensive option; a ton of Epi’s product review winners retail for less than $50, and our rigorous testing ensures you’re getting a lot of bang for your (or your guests’) buck. For more decorative accessories, wedding gifts are the place to level up a bit, opting for the gorgeous (and top-performing!) hand-carved rolling pin and luxe linen napkin set instead of the things you might have bought yourself. And don’t forget to add a book or two to the list—you’re going to want to put that well-stocked kitchen to work. The same rules apply when picking titles as selecting anything else you’d add to your registry: Make sure it all reflects the way you really cook, so you can celebrate your wedding by actually using your gifts for years to come.
Product review–winning tools
Sure, a sheet pan is a kitchen basic, but if you’re building out your home cooking arsenal from the ground up, you should absolutely have one (or four) on your list. Snag a set from Nordic Ware, which won our sheet pan product review, along with our top-performing cast-iron skillet, favorite kitchen scale, and the best spice grinder you can buy. And a kitchen thermometer is always a good idea; we love the ThermoPop for its easy-to-read digital face and lightning speed.
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Accessories, leveled up
Why put plain measuring cups on your wedding registry when you could add the extra-chic wood and gold set instead? Outfit your kitchen with all of the must-have accessories you need, in styles that easily qualify for the “gift-worthy” category. This means a handmade teak spoon set, a bottle opener you’ll want to show off whenever you have company, and a set of stylish cocktail napkins that are reason enough to entertain. You’ll think of your happy day every time you pull them out.
Countertop appeal
Candles and candleholders, vases and trays—these are the perfect things to add to your registry to refresh your kitchen and dining space, particularly if you’ve been living in your home for a while and you’re looking to change up the decor. Just remember that form doesn’t have to outweigh function; this stunning fruit bowl can live out on the counter full-time, and a gold cookbook stand will practically beg to display your latest must-cook recipe (for book inspiration, keep scrolling).
Cookbooks to inspire
Once your kitchen is full of tools and cookware, you’ll probably need some culinary inspiration. Light the spark by including a few cookbooks on your registry; we recommend an assortment of modern classic titles like Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat and exciting new titles like Hetty McKinnon’s To Asia, With Love. Don’t forget to check preorder lists as well to see whether a great-looking cookbook will be published by the time you say, “I do.”
