It may have been over 15 years since I created my wedding registry, but I like to think that in that time I have had the ability to reflect and learn about what all you need to start a home and what you can probably leave on the shelves at store.  That is why I was so excited when west elm reached out to me help them promote the re-launch of their wedding registry program.  Why did they not have this 15 years ago???  WAHHH!  west elm is one of my absolute favorite stores for home accessories and home goods. Today I am going to share with you the three things I think you need to keep in mind when creating a successful wedding registry.

This post was also a fun treat for me because I got to collaborate with my sweet friend and fellow blogger, Hunter, who is getting married in September.  Hunter is my dear friend Melissa, from Parlour 3’s daughter, and I have so enjoyed getting to know her over the past few years.  If you have not been to her blog and IG account then you better scoot over there as soon as you are done here.  She is definitely a must follow!  She is so beautiful, both inside and out, and has the most gorgeous boho style like her outfit here, and her imagery is so dreamy.  Anyways, I missed her wedding shower, so I arranged to meet up with her at one of our favorites, Caviar and Bananas, for a little brunch and gift exchange.

Now, on to those tips that I promised you guys.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU REALLY USE

One of the things that has really changed in the 15 years since I got married, was the philosophy that you had to “copy your mom’s registry”.  What I mean by that is that you had to register for certain things that your mom put on her registry, regardless of whether you will ever use them or not.  I am talking about things like china, crystal, and silver.  While I do tend to use these things on special occasions, many people I know have never even taken their china out of the box it came in.  It is silly to register for something that you aren’t going to use just because you think it is something you should be registering for.  I say pick a really beautiful everyday dinner set like this one and then you can mix and match fancier pieces with it.  One of the great things about registering at west elm is that you can register for both your housewares and home accessories, in addition to larger pieces that you will need to create your first home together.  Go ahead and add that sofa you have been dying for or a new headboard for your master bedroom.  You get a 15% off registry completion discount on any items off your registry, plus anything else you might want to add, so you can save up your gift cards and then get a good deal on that large piece you really wanted.

TIMELESS IS BEST

I know that one day you guys are just going to quit listening to me because I say this so much, but stick with simple, classic pieces for your main items.  Go for a timeless set of dishes, solid color bath towels and bed linens, and simple glasses.  Then you can add in fun accent pieces that bring life to the space.  Just because you like zebra stripes and polka dots right now, it doesn’t mean you are going to like zebra stripes and polka dots in 10, 15, or 20 years.  And yes, that sounds crazy that you will be using some of these things still in 10, 15, or 20 years, but I promise you will.  So stick with solid colors and classic lines because in 20 years, you will love that just as much as you do right now.  Then add in a polka dotted serving bowl, a statement set of flatware, and a beautiful pillow for your bed that will make you smile whenever you see.  If you are having trouble picking out items for your space, determining what you style, or merging your style with your future hubby’s then you totally need to book an appointment it one of west elm’s in-store designers.  They will be able to guide you through all the decisions you need to make when turning your home together into something you both love.  Best of all, the services are totally free.

DON’T GO SCANNER GUN CRAZY

I promise this is a real thing.  I remember getting handed that magic little scanner when I was registering and immediately feeling the desire to scan everything in site.  You will have to fight the urge to add every little thing you see to your registry.  Don’t do it!  This ties in to my first tip that I shared with you guys.  It can be overwhelming, exciting, empowering, basically all the things to get to go in to register for your wedding.  Try to sit down with your fiance and really talk about what you need and what pieces are most important to you.  If you aren’t sure where to start, then check out this list and use it as a guide for building out your own list of registry must-haves.  Do your research before you head in to the store so you have a game plan in mind and don’t go crazy when they hand that scanning device over to you.  I promise, while you think you might need 4 different sets of salt shakers now, when you are trying to unpack everything and get organized after your wedding, your married self will be mad at your registry maniac self.  Trust me on this one!

No one asked me to do this, but I thought that it might be fun to put together my dream registry from west elm with all the pieces I would add if I was getting married today.  Since they didn’t have a registry program when I got married, this is basically the next best thing.  P.S. It was super hard to follow my own advice and not add every single thing I saw on the site to my imaginary registry.  Hopefully if you or someone you know if getting married this will help them pick out some great pieces to add to their west elm registry.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Thank you to west elm for sponsoring this post.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  A big thank you to all of your who support the brands that help make Living with Landyn possible.