Wedding essentials: important household items for your gift registry

With so many details invading a bride-to-be's daily life, it's easy to put off setting up a gift registry. This is your one chance to set up and publish a wish list, something that people actually consult before buying a gift for you.

Your guests want you to be delighted with your wedding gift, and you can help them to select an appropriate gift by setting up a comprehensive gift registry. Include a wide variety of gift choices in all price ranges, set up gift registries at several national chain stores, and search the Internet to find an all-in-one online gift registry for those who prefer to shop online.

Even if you're a first-time bride, you probably have many of the household items that you need. We've provided a generic checklist of household items below. Your first step is to take a mental room-by-room inventory and remove the items you don't need from the lists below. Add your own special category. Guests love to give unique gifts. If there's something that you want, but can't justify the splurge, add it to this special category. When you receive duplicate gifts (and you will), you can exchange those gifts for your special splurges.

After you remove items from the lists below, add items to their proper categories, and finish your wish list of splurges. All that remains is for you to define the specifics, and enter them into your gift registries. You no longer need to visit most stores to set up your gift registries. Most of the national chain department stores offer online gift registry registration.

Checklist for Setting Up Your Gift Registry

• Register early in the wedding-planning cycle.

• Tell your wedding guests where you've registered. If they don't know that you're registered, they can't view your registry. If you set up a wedding Website, list your gift registry details there.

• Include gifts in all price ranges.

• Register at a variety of stores, and include some national department chain stores.

• Register online.

• Build a comprehensive list. Some stores extend a discount on your registered items for a year after your wedding. If it's not on the list, it doesn't qualify for the discount.

• Register gifts that you want, not gifts that your well-meaning friends and relatives want for you.

Checklist for Household Items to Include in Your Gift Registry

To set up your registry:

1. Go through your home room by room, and cross off any items that you already have or don't want.

2. For each remaining item, list pertinent details, such as manufacturer, brand, style, material, color, size, and model number.

3. Beside the specific items, note the store that carries the item.

4. Register with the stores or online registries that carry your gift choices.

Room-by-room Wedding Registry Checklist

Print this checklist and take it with you as you inventory each room.

Dining Room

China or Formal Dinnerware (8 or more place settings)

• Place settings

• Dinner plates

• Salad plates

• Cups

• Saucers

• Bread plates

• Soup bowls

• Dessert plates

• Dessert bowls

• Accent plates

• Large serving bowls

• Medium serving bowls

• Covered soup bowl

• Covered casserole dish

• Large serving platters

• Medium serving platters

• Cake plate and server

• Gravy boat and plate

• Sugar bowl

• Creamer

• Covered butter dish

• Salt and pepper shakers

Crystal (8 or more place settings)

• Water goblets

• Red wine glasses

• White wine glasses

• Champagne flutes

• Liquor glasses

• Iced tea glasses

• Highball glasses

• Martini glasses

• Beer mugs

Silver or Formal Flatware (8 or more place settings)

• Place settings

• Dinner forks

• Spoons

• Knives

• Salad forks

• Soup spoons

• Grapefruit spoons

• Iced tea spoons

• Butter knives

• Serving forks

• Lobster forks

• Serving spoons

• Carving knife

• Serving dishes

• Coffee and tea service

Formal Table Linens

• Tablecloths

• Placemats

• Runner

• Napkins

• Napkin rings

Kitchen

Everyday Dinnerware (8 or more place settings)

• Place settings

• Dinner plates

• Salad plates

• Cereal bowls

• Cups

• Saucers

• Mugs

• Bread plates

• Soup bowls

• Dessert plates

• Dessert bowls

• Canisters

• Trivets

• Spoon rest

• Large serving bowls

• Medium serving bowls

• Covered soup bowl

• Covered casserole dish

• Large serving platters

• Medium serving platters

• Cake plate and server

• Gravy boat and plate

• Sugar bowl

• Creamer

• Covered butter dish

• Salt and pepper shakers

Everyday Flatware (8 or more place settings)

• Place settings

• Dinner forks

• Spoons

• Knives

• Salad forks

• Soup spoons

• Grapefruit spoons

• Iced tea spoons

• Butter knives

• Serving forks

• Lobster forks

Everyday Glassware (8 or more place settings)

• Tall beverage glasses

• Short beverage glasses

• Juice glasses

• Wine glasses

Small Kitchen Appliances

• Microwave oven

• Convection oven

• Toaster oven

• Coffeemaker

• Espresso machine

• Cappuccino machine

• Coffee grinder

• Toaster

• Food processor

• Small food processor

• Miniature chopper

• Juicer

• Stand mixer

• Hand mixer

• Blender

• Hand blender

• Bread maker

• Waffle iron

• Electric griddle

• Electric frying pan

• Electric grill

• Crockpot or slow cooker

• Rice maker

• Pasta maker

• Steamer

• Ice cream maker

• Yogurt maker

• Electric wok

• Corn popper

• Warming trays

• Electric knife

• Electric can opener

• Electric bottle and jar opener

• Serving trays

Kitchen Bakeware and Cookware

• Frying pans

• Sauté pans

• Sauce pans

• Omelet pan

• Crepe pan

• Stovetop griddle

• Wok

• Steamer

• Teapot

• Double boiler

• Roasting pans

• Au Gratin pans

• Lasagna pan

• Covered casserole dishes

• 1-quart baking dishes

• 2-quart baking dishes

• Large covered pots

• Small covered pots

• Baking sheets

• Cookie sheets

• Cooling rack

• Pizza pan

• Muffin pans

• Cake pans

• Pie dishes

• Bread pans

• Bundt pan

Cutlery

• Chef's knife

• Paring knife

• Slicing knife

• Serrated bread knife

• Carving knife

• Cleaver

• Filet knife

• Steak knife set

• Sharpening steel or stone

Kitchen Gadgets and Miscellaneous

• Cutting board

• Cheese board

• Can opener

• Spice rack

• Oil and vinegar set

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Spatulas and scrapers

• Mixing spoons

• Whisks

• Mixing bowls

• Hot pads

• Oven mitts

• Canisters

• Lazy Susan

• Graters

• Serving forks and spoons

• Slotted spoons

• Sifter

• Colander

• Strainers

• Small ingredient bowls

• Kitchen wall clock

Kitchen Linens

• Tablecloths

• Placemats

• Napkins

• Napkin rings

• Dishtowels

• Dishrags

Bathrooms

• Bath rugs

• Shower curtain

• Shower liners

• Shower curtain rings

• Bath sheets

• Bath towels

• Hand towels

• Washcloths

• Wastebasket

• Countertop accessories

Bedrooms

• Sheet sets

• Extra pillowcases

• Pillow shams

• Comforters

• Bedskirts

• Mattress pads

• Pillows

• Blankets

• Other matching accessories