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Maybe Williams-Sonoma, we registered there because we like high-end kitchen stuff and they are like a fairytale world full of it. If people think it's too expensive or impractical they won't buy it, but you can still wish for it :o)
Williams Sonoma is a good choice, but Bed Bath and Beyond and Macys have good stuff--you'll find pro baking sheets at macys and w-s, for example, and all-clad at all three, etc.
Good luck!
I'm a williams-sonoma fanatic, we have an outlet around the corner from my house it is HEAVEN. I am just afraid that no one would even look at it, no one in my extended family or friends are very well off, and I don't want to seem like I'm setting too high of an expectation, I have been really blessed to be able to buy these things for myself.
One thing I do need is a dining room table set - would it be weird to ask people to contribute towards getting that?
My FI is a cook snob, but he had similar concerns. The people who know you probably know you want nice things. For a serious cook, there is no shame in it.
First: don't worry so much. Pick a few things that you would like that you would buy for yourself, and register. Do it. People go in together on gifts all the time. There is nothing wrong with it. Not that it sounds like an issue for you, but don't register for everything you want, but get register for a few.
Second, how are you doing on smaller ticket kitchen items? Good cutting boards? Paring knives? An awesome whisk? If you haven't thought about these things, think about it.
Third, you didn't mention serving items. How are you there? China? Glasses? Silverware?
Fourth, household items? A vacuum? Hand vac? Iron? Clothing steamer (greatest thing I own)? Also luggage?
Fifth, if household stuff doesn't work, maybe more decorative or entertainment things will? I've known people to register for lamps, picture frames, vases. I've also seen DVD sets, a blue ray player, speakers, etc. Registering for outdoor gear is also popular now.
I guess, bottom line, registering is just nicely asking, think about what you might need in the home or want to upgrade.
Try sites like Wedding Republic, which let you create a "puzzle piece" registry, which lets guests chip in for more expensive items.
I say go for the Williams Sonoma registry, because even if people don't get you stuff, you still get a registry completion discount. Make sure you put all denominations of gift cards on your registry as well, so guests can get those too.
Honestly, I'm not sure if this would even work, but I say you register for the few things you do want at Target. And when your guests see that everything is fulfilled, they may opt to just give you cash, which is ideal. And also, if you do want another store to register with, consider some stuff that you may want to replace or have more of. Maybe you can register at Macy's for more linens and electrons (small ones, like a digital picture frame or an ihome kinda thing). Do you own a home? Home Depot would be a great idea, since everyone has a project that's been sitting on their to-do list for too long.
If you want the money to buy things for yourself, I would register for just a few smaller things but try and get the word out that you would prefer cash. That is what we did and we got mostly cash and no one was offended.
Oh, I had another idea--you can register for all your cleaning supplies at BBB and target, but I second what some other bees have said--perhaps just make a small registry and ask for cash.
I did Bloomingdales, Sur La Table, and Crate and Barrel (for everyday dishes)
@Monitajb: Thank you sooo much, lots of helpful suggestions. I like to think I've thought of everything...
(look at my ridiculously organized google spreadsheet...and alllll the tabs at the bottom!)
But the truth of the matter is, there's no way I could think of everything. And, in my defense, I'm a culinary arts instructor on the weekends, so I do have good reason to be a snob! *laugh* I hadn't thought about registering for an iron, etc. though. Great ideas! I have all the little kitchen stuff, for the most part, and the stuff I don't have are...again...expensive (Wüsthof knives, etc.) I do not have dishes or silverware, which is something we had planned on registering for from Target.
I love love love the idea for registering for media stuff, though...we're both huge film geeks (he's a filmmaker) and artists, so we would definitely benefit from stuff like that. What I would really love is for people to get us books. Can you register for books? I love classic litearture...
Wow...lots of other great suggestions while I was typing the last post! I love Sur La Table, but most people in my family would be like "wha-?" I will definitely register for cleaning supplies at Target, hadn't even considered that! I had a cousin who registered for 6 cases of red bull...
I was really sad when Crate & Barrel discontinued the Kona Black line, because those are the dishes I wanted. :(
Be pround of being a kitchen snob! People just don't understand how nice it is to cook in a good pot.
Register with Amazon's Universal Registry. Obviously you can find all the basics on Amazon, plus you can add absolutely anything with the universal registry. One stop shopping for you and guests!
I wish I knew about Wedding Republic when we registered! We went to B,B & B, Macys and Target. I didn't want to register for china but parents insisted so we went with a basic one. Then we got warm sheets & down comforter for our move to MI and went wild with all the fun kitchen stuff we want but can't afford. We are hoping for cash and if we don't get everything off our registry we will use the completion discount to get it =)
An online registry service is great. We are registered at MyRegistry.com and it's worked out pretty well so far. We had a couple of technical issues, but the service people were wonderful and fixed it quickly. Someone above suggested Amazon.com also which I've heard is good. But we also registered at a store for those guests who are not so internet savvy! :-)
I hope by cleaning supplies you mean things like vacuum cleaners and clothing steamers... I'm not sure what I would think if I saw someone registered for ziplock bags and pine-sol...
We registered at Target, Williams SOnoma and Crate and Barrel and between the 3 I feel like we have everything we want and need. I think we covered all the bases!!
Oooh I highly recommend that you don't ask for gifts that you think people would want to get you and then exchange it. People really want to buy you things that you need and want, and I think it'd be hurtful to tell them that you want these things and then go get rid of all of them.
If you want more high end kitchen stuff, you could register at Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Sur la Table, Crate and Barrel...
If you want other stuff, then what about Amazon? Through the Universal Wish List, you can register from any online shop. What about a honeymoon registry? Also, you could use alternative registry to list whatever you want! You could make up some things like "office supply package", "cleaning supply package" and list off some of the things that you'd like to receive.
I would just register for what you want and need. If it's out of a particular guests budget, then won't get it for you. And also think about what you would want to give as a guest - I would feel akward coming to a wedding with $100 worth of cleaning products, but I've seen showers where they asked guests to help stock the couple with those types of essential items.
We registered at BBB and W-S, some items (like Le Crueset) is available at both, so we went with BBB thinking if someone were nice enough to buy it, they could use a 20% off coupon. Anything that was exclusive to W-S, we registered for there.
Most people want to give gifts at weddings (actual items or cash), and I, personally, would feel better about going in on one really nice knife, or one pot (or dining table) that is kind of expensive with friends/ other family members than giving cleaning supplies.
Confession:
I, too, am a kitchen snob.
I, too, have been building up my own little collection however I can - Ebay, Craigslist, Williams Sonoma, etc.
So jealous that you worked at a Le Creuset outlet, by the way! That is one discount I'd love to have.
Anyway, we do have more cookware to register for, but we have the KitchenAid Artisan, we have all our mixing/baking things, and we're building up more cookware each year! So we're just planning on registering for upgrades and little things - our food processor isn't as large as I'd like, I almost broke it with a tart crust. I'm not quite satisfied with that arrangement, because I know some people will be upset, but we will be registering at Pottery Barn for non-kitchen items, as well, and can get more mid price range items in that way.
By the way, for a true orgasmic (sorry!) kitchen experience, go to Sur La Table... drool...
Yeah, I'm about an hour away from Tyson's Corner (third largest mall in the US) and they have an enormous Sur La Table...it's just unbelievable.
Thank you for all of the suggestions, everyone. As far as what I would like to give as a guest, I probably would give cleaning supplies if the person had registered for it. I haven't been to a lot of weddings, but I probably would have fun finding a cool caddy and colored sponges, hand knitting a bunch of cotton kitchen towels, and it's useful, it's something that will get used right away. i do appreciating you girls being honest in telling me it's weird, though, I don't want to make guests uncomfortable.
Did any of you register at Pier 1? I was just thinking about that this morning, I LOVE their stuff and can always find stuff I want/need there that is non-kitchen stuff.
An online registry is also a great option. Now I've gotta figure out how to condense all this informatioin to present it to FI! :P
You know your guests best. If they would be okay with cleaning supplies and you need them - but all means register for them. I know my guests are more traditional and probably wouldn't buy those items. Have fun registering!
If you register at Bed Bath & Beyond you can return items after for cash no questions asked.
I like Bed, Bath, and Beyond - but I cannot go in that store, because I always, inevidibly break out in hives. I'm not sure what it is that they have that sets me off, but I can't ever seem to go in there, at least not for a long time. :P
Honestly, we are not counting on getting a ton from our registry, because we only have about 40 guests, coming, and probably 20-ish parties. (We already recieved one very generous cash gift way in advance, from a girl-friend of mine who knew we were buying our household stuff starting now, and wanted to help out.)
My friends/family do know I'm pretty non-traditional, I doubt they'd be surprised if I registered for cleaning stuff, or books or art supplies - but I won't. :P
I begged my FDIL to register at Macys and Williams Sonoma in addition to her Target and BB&B registry. Well, the first gift that was purchased for her was a full set of Calphalon at WS, and she was VERY happy. I stopped at Target yesterday, thinking I would pick up some of their less expensive odds and ends, and I saw I had to wait in a freaking long customer service line just to get the registry (I didn't have a print out). I would love to get them a clothes basket filled with odds and ends (sheets, towels, etc.) for the shower, but I will probably do that at Macy's where I can get some personal help. Don't be intimidated by the pricier stores brides. Many of the older ladies frequent these stores and will know exactly when to "hit". Several of my FDIL's picks have already gone on sale, like 600 count sheets, etc. I have been married 33 years and still use some of my gifts from the 70's. I polished a copper fondue and chafer set the other night (couldn't sleep) that was a gift from my grandmother.
@FMILady: Thank you! I think I have decided to register at Target, WS, Sur La Table, and then use the Amazon Universal Registry for other odds and ends, and for some of our internet-saavy younger friends who won't have a large gift budget.
Thank you all for being so helpful! (and convincing me out of registering for Windex and Pine Sol)
Let us know how you like Sur la Table. I wanted to register there also, but ended up just doing W-S, since I thought their online registry was not user friendly and we did all our registering online to avoid the salespeople.
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Okay...here's the issue, I'm a kitchen snob. I am not proud of this, at all... but nevertheless I have been "collecting" foreign, high-end cookware for several years now. (I had the unique opportunity to work at a Le Creuset outlet for a while and stocked up.) I am in no way "set" as far as kitchen stuff goes, I have a huge set of cast iron, and a professional kitchenaid, but no other electrics. I don't feel comfortable asking for other people to buy the same electrics I'd buy myself, though!
I have all the sheets and towels I need...so while there are a few things I've found to register at Target for (to give people an inexpensive option), I'm not sure where else to register.
I'm almost tempted to ask people for grocery store gift cards, and "practical" stuff that we wouldn't think to stock up on: post-it's, scotch tape, postal stamps, pens, a stapler, a cordless phone, a caddy of cleaning supplies. Would that be a weird thing to do? I would be thrilled not to have to go and stand for 45 minutes weighing the pros and cons of 10 different types of windex two weeks after my wedding. :P
Should I just register for "normal" stuff and exchange it after?