Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this post may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Disclosure in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
It is a pretty common story these days to have a couple getting married that already has one or perhaps two households’ worth of stuff to combine. They are left wondering to themselves, “what to register for if you have everything?”
Let’s take a stab at wedding registry ideas for couples who have everything already, shall we?
First off, in some places and cultures, not registering will result in cash gifts, which may be what you would like anyway. However, for many, that won’t work, you’ll end up with six cut crystal picture frames and a collection of mismatched hand towels.
If you’re on the fence and don’t believe me, go read Why You Have to Register for Gifts if You’re Getting Married.
This guide is quite long, and even comes with a FREE Printable Registry Checklist for Grown Ups. That’s what we’ve nicknamed this huge list of what to register for when you already have everything.
Click these to jump around:
- How to figure out what you might want and where to start
- General tips about wedding registries
- The gigantic ideas list
- The FREE printable version
What to Register for if You Have Everything
Now hang in there with me, I know that you will have some of the suggestions on this list already, but remember that not everyone else will, and one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to buying stuff!
You may also find yourself needing to add more things to your wedding gift registry, perhaps after a bridal shower. If you are feeling guilty about putting a $500 Vitamix blender on the list, put it on for now, you may find that you only have two very expensive things on your list at the end of the day. That, or you may find that Great Aunt Berta comes out of the woodwork and offers to buy you a $1000 wedding gift that you never saw coming; trust me, it happens!
Use this as an opportunity to sort through your junk treasures. Yes, I know that you’re busy and wedding planning takes up a lot of time, but consider using this as a respite from all of that.
Tackle one little piece per day, or per week. Many people say they feel better when their homes are decluttered, so use that as motivation.
Step one is to go through your things and decide which ones you want to upgrade, even if you don’t think there is anything, you can probably find some things. Just because you have perfectly fine towels you bought at Walmart a few years ago, doesn’t mean you can’t register for delightful, new, high end towels. Just make sure to donate, repurpose or recycle as much as possible that you are upgrading – your camping gear will be happy with your old stuff!
Look at all of your kitchen utensils, for example, and count the melted spatulas. Add two heat-resistant spatulas to your list and keep going.
Do you worry about your potato masher breaking when you use it? Add one to the list, or add a fancy potato masher doodad. You can also use this as an opportunity to clean out your drawers and cupboards, just dump out the contents, wipe the drawer down, and evaluate the items as you put them back in. Tomorrow evening, do another drawer or cupboard.
The kitchen is a pretty easy place to start, because each cupboard or drawer is a nice, contained, bite-sized chunk. If you have mastered the kitchen, check out your front closet (shoe racks, nice hangers, cute storage bins, scarf racks), your linen closet, your sports or camping gear, your living room and if you’re feeling brave, under your bathroom sinks.
General Tips on What to Register for if You Have Everything
Keep your own Wants and Values in Mind – For example, do not bend to the pressure to register for formal china if you know that you will never use it.
Put Off Purchasing Things – If there are (non-wedding!) things that you want to buy between now and the wedding, if you can hold out, add them to your registry instead of purchasing them for yourself.
Ask for Small, High Value, Durable Items – If space is the reason you don’t want a three section croc-pot, stick to registering for smaller items that will last a lifetime, like silverware, watches, or a sterling silver menorah.
Ask for Lifestyle-fitting Gifts – Think about what you like to do with your time. If you like going out to restaurants, ask for restaurant gift cards. If you’re into artwork, pick out some pieces you would like to add to your collection. You could ask for the moorage fees for your boat, wine of the month club membership, CSA food boxes, craft beer collections, bed and breakfast stays, you name it!
The Price Point Problem – You will still need a list that includes gift ideas at a variety of price points. If you are really struggling, consider using a registry that lets people contribute toward certain items, so that you can get the new mattress set you truly need.
Shower Gifts – You can overcome this because other people are giving direction on gifts, not you. Gift Card Showers, or date night kits are great gift themes to ask your host about.
Biggify – Ah, the fluidity of language which lets me write such things. Does your George Foreman grill only work for one person, maybe two? Biggify it and get another one. Single-serve croc pot? Biggify. Small rice cooker? Biggify.
Alternative Registries – There are now a boatload of alternative registries out there, where you can register for honeymoon activities and funds, house downpayments, local shops, portions of things, charities and more.
Wedding Stuff – There is a lot of etiquette information available on this online, and tread carefully, but if you have friends who would do you favours, offer their services or lend a hand for your wedding, ask if they would be willing to do so, in lieu of a gift; for example, lending you their big tent, doing the flower arranging, chauffeuring your elderly relatives around town, acting as DJ, decorating the cake, etc. They do not necessarily have to be professional things that they do, but services you may end up paying someone else to perform.
What to Register for if You Have Everything
At this point, you should be armed with a list of your consumer wants and dreams, what you discovered while doing a walk through of your house, and what you decided could be chucked while cleaning and sorting through your house.
What does the list look like? I hope you found more than ten things! That’s your starting point.
Now, here is a big idea list, along with some commentary, of registry ideas.
Be creative, and remember that one size does not fit all!
Use these ideas as a springboard to more, and please share your ideas in the comments, they will help even more people out. Please do read the whole list, as putting things into categories proved to be a bit tricky!
(Feel free to click on the links to see some ideas, virtually all of them are affiliate links to Amazon. That means that I get a smidgen of cash should you choose to buy anything, at absolutely no cost to you, aka a way to justify to myself spending hours upon hours coming up with this list!)
Household Goods & Appliances
Deep Freezer
, Dishwasher, Washing Machine, Dryer, Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave
Exercise Equipment – Weight Set, Treadmill, Shake Weight (obviously)
Outdoor Garbage Cans, Indoor Garbage Cans, Recycling Centers
Wooden Hangers, or those No Slip Hangers
Storage Stuff – think the Container Store, IKEA, under your bed, at the top of your closet, in your kitchen cupboards, in your garage, etc!
Safe – also consider fireproof-ness
Laser Printer,Photo Printer, or a Large Format Printer
Tools and Such
Cordless Drill – everyone should have one, seriously. My favourite are the yellow ones (Dewalt).
Table Saw, Miter Saw, Tile Saw
Hand Tool Set – hammers and screwdrivers and whatnot
Window coverings – Drapes, Curtains, Blinds, Shutters
Sterling Silver Place Settings
Extension Cords – good ones are pricey, especially winter plug-in-the-car types
Upgrade your House
New Door Handles – what about a Keypad Front Door Lock?
Paint store credit
Bathtubs, you name it!
Linens and Whatnot
New Duvet and Duvet Cover – what about your guest room?
Kitchen Appliances & Expensive Items
New Dishes and Silverware
Stand Mixer and Attachments (there`s so many)!
Enameled Cast Iron (Le Creuset, Staub and Lodge)
Kettle, Toaster,Toaster Oven, Coffee Maker
Espresso Maker – what about a Stovetop Espresso Maker?
Coffee Grinder – a good grinder can run several hundred dollars
Keurig, Tassimo, the racks to hold the pucks, etc.
Griddler – one, multi-purpose appliance
Crock Pot, Rice Cooker, Blender, Waffle Maker, Deep Fryer, Ice Cream Maker, Panini Press, George Foreman Grill, Creme Brulee Torch
Kitchen Smaller Stuff
Spice Collection – think harder to find or more interesting, like Saffron, or Pink Peppercorns
Things that save space – Collapsible Colanders, Storage Racks, Cupboard Organizers, Nesting Bowl Sets
Specialty cookware – Wok, Cast Iron Pans (there is a huge variety, including Bacon Presses, Muffin Tins, Loaf Pans and more), Stock Pot, Tagine, Clay Baker, Griddle, Pizza Stone
Tupperware, Pantry Storage, Chip Clips
Specific region or purpose culinary gadgets – ie Bamboo Steamers, Sushi Mats, Indian Serving Dishes, Lobster and Crab Tools, Egg Cups, Cookie Cutters, Crumpet Rings, Tava Pan, Yogurt Maker, Pudding Basin, Potato Ricer, Halogen Oven, Cookie Press, Gnocchi Board, Crepe Pan, Sprouting Tower, Burger Press, Juicer, Spiralizer, Pasta Roller, Cake Pop Maker, Bento Molds, Ravioli Mold, Cheese Strainer, Cheese Mold, French Onion Soup Bowls, Pierogi Mold
Pressure Cooker, Pressure Canner
Good Chopsticks – upgrade from the leftover-from-takeout variety!
Table Cloths, Napkins, Placemats, Napkin Holder, Napkin Rings, Table Runners
Outdoor Serving Ware, Glasses, Dishes
Pottery – Serving Ware, Dishes, Display Pieces
Canning Equipment – Mason Jars, Canner, Starter Kit
Cupcake stuff – Trees, Tins, Silicone Liners, Festive Liners, Carrying Case
Furniture
Mattress, Bed and Bedroom Set
Tables – Dining Room, End Tables, Coffee Tables
Shelving Units – Don’t forget big storage bins to go on the shelves, or storage bins for under your bed
Closet Organizers – premade, or the stuff to make what you need from the hardware store
Office Desk and Chair
Fan – what about a Dyson air blade?
Sporting and Outdoors
Bicycles! – Also bike trainers, bike repair stands, bike stands, panniers, bike car racks
Camping gear – tents, stoves, sleeping bags, mattress pads, water purifier, backpacks
Cross Country Skis (or downhill)
Ski or Bike Lift Tickets or Seasons Passes
A canoe and paddles (or kayaks)
Snorkeling Gear – especially if you could use it on your honeymoon!
Green Fees (games or seasons, buckets of balls)
Gardening stuff – seeds, tools, soil, fertilizer, pots, bulbs, watering cans
Thule bins or racks
Beach Umbrella and Chairs
Basically anything at REI or MEC
Garden Hose, Sprinkler Heads, Hose Reels
Shrubs and such – A yard of cedar mulch, mature trees, a gazebo, flowering bushes
Hobbies
Scrapbooking/craft supplies – Silhouette Cameo, Cricut, Scrapbooks, printing credit, Cartridges
Boating Toys – Tubes, Water Skis, Kneeboard, Wakeboard, Surfboard
Dock Cleats – Especially the ones that collapse flat
Guitar– and/or Accessories
Range-finder – Golf or Hunting
Note Card Set – blank note cards for a whole heap of occasions
Pets
Dog Beds and Dog Crates
General pet-related durable goods
Consumables and Tickets
“_____ of the Month Clubs” – Wine, Steak, Cheese, Spice, Coffee, etc.
Start a wine cellar (and include some bubbly!)
Start a scotch collection
Start a cigar collection (and pick up a humidor)
Car wash gift certificates
Theatre tickets, attraction tickets, gym memberships – read this post for lots of ticket ideas!
Coffee, tea, k-cups, condiments, pantry restocking stuff
Cleaning Supplies – how awesome would it be to not have to buy toilet bowl cleaner for a year?
Entertainment and Lifestyle
Board Games – do you own Cards Against Humanity yet?
Start a book library
Gaming systems
Outdoor Speakers, Waterproof Docking Station
Car Accessories – chair covers, DVD players and the like
Lessons – cooking, yoga, art, sword making, pottery, jewelry making, sailing, massage, etc!
Tours of your own town
Guidebook for your honeymoon destination
Photobook gift cards – for the wedding and for your honeymoon
Photo album – if you plan to make your wedding album yourself, put on the specific one you want.
Library membership
Date night kits or suggestions
Luggage– Messenger Bags, Briefcases, Laptop Bags, Toiletry Bags
Camera(s) – DSLR, Waterproof Camera
Kindle book library
Winery membership
State/Provincial/National park pass
Cooler – you can get them with wheels, or ones that plug into walls/cars to stay cold!
Bar Set – Ice Bucket, Martini Set, Beer-specific Glasses, Decanter, Good Corkscrew
First Aid Kits – Car Emergency Kit, House First Aid Kit, Hiking First Aid Kit, Travel
Electric Toothbrushes – nice ones are pricey!
Houseplants
Tailgating Gear – Portable Grill, Chairs
Collector items – are you both Star Wars fanatics? Do you have a collection that could rival the Big Bang Theory? Add to it, if you will love it. Chances are your equally-obsessed friends will jump all over these items, while your Uncle remains extremely perplexed.
Seasonal and/or Religious
Hedge Trimmer, Leaf Blower, Pruners
Christmas Tree, Lights, Decorations, Christmas Tree Stand, Christmas Tree Skirt, Angel
Car Tires, or one of those nifty car tire storage racks for your garage!
Fireplace Tools, Axe (no, not the body spray!)
Burial plot – totally weird suggestion, I know, but useful.
Services and Subscriptions
Lawn care
Pool care
Cleaning service
Car detailing
Snow Shoveling
Window Washing
Furnace Tune-up
Baby sitting
Will writing – you likely need a new one, now that you’re getting married.
Fee-for-service Financial Adviser
Income Tax accountant
Netflix or similar subscription
Car Share membership
Bixi Bike Membership, etc.
Race and event entry fees
Photographer credit – for your photo album
Whew! That was a lot of ideas – Get the printable checklist
It turns out that there are nine, yes NINE entire pages of ideas. Three columns wide, even.
We threw in some places for you to add your own, too. You can use this checklist to keep track of things that you want, how many, and when you have added it to a registry.
When Great Aunt Betty goes and buys every single piece of china, you’ll be ready with your B list gifts, and can tick off when you’ve added them.
If you want to read more on this topic, Apartment Therapy has an article titled Creating a Wedding Registry- Tips for Couples Already Living Together and I have to give a big hat tip to the forum members at Ask MetaFilter for their insightful discussion as well.
Please, please add your suggestions into the comments! Other lovely folks on the internet will love you and send you good karma for your ideas!
I do like the idea of movie tickets or memberships. But also remember that you can go selfless. I had a pair of friends who were pretty financially comfortable and had lots of things. So they asked people to make donations to charity. I'm sure they still got gifts, but I thought it was pretty cool.
Definitely, I can't believe I forgot that, thank you so much!
Friends of mine asked for cash-only to use towards a honeymoon and a new house. It worked out pretty well for them – except someone stole a bunch of cards with cash/cheques inside :(
Can I put a new laptop on my registry? Or is that a no-no?
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Ya, you can do that. Some people won't like it… but no matter what you do, someone will be upset, so just roll with it.
That SUPER sucks with the cards… I've heard that story way too many times. it's one of the reasons I advocate for email money transfers, and for cheques, you can always put a stop payment on a cheque if you have to.
Make sure to have a designate to clear out the card box, and make one that you can't just grab stuff out of super easily.
I like the wine rack idea. It's something that most people do not have and it's really useful and looks nice too.
I don't know how those people live… wine racks are a key piece of furniture… unless maybe you're okay with cases sitting around ;-)
My cousin and his wife set up a honeymoon website where there were prices for everything on their two week European vacation. So for example it listed…
Paris hotel (2) – $150
Paris restaurant (3) – $100
Wine tour – $250
Car rental to Nice – $200
It was an online registry and then you could send the corresponding funds that went through paypal. I know it's still the money issue that many people don't like, but it seems more tangible that cash in a card. I liked that idea. :)
That being said I would use my registry as a way to upgrade things, because we're still living half like broke students. I'd like a bed frame at some point!
You can join the ranks of the adults thanks to gifts!
I like how that's tangible, too. It sounds like they had lots of details in theirs, too, not just "dinner out" and "massages."
During my wedding, I'm lucky enough that my relatives and friends really offered me a help. They decorated our area because we had a garden wedding, my two professional singers volunteered to sing during the wedding ceremony.
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Nice, having people help makes such a difference.
Oh wow, lots of good ideas. Someone I know loved travelling so they asked for trip tickets, hotel stays, etc. I like the idea buying for an 'experience' if you already have all sorts of household stuff.
My recent post How a Blow Fund Can Help Prevent You From Blowing Your Budget
Trip tickets and hotel stays? Sign me up! That's a great one.
Great list!!!
Thanks!
I've heard great things about honeymoon registries, but we didn't use one. We're doing a few signature cocktails by donation to the honeymoon instead. Even though we've lived together for 6 years almost, we have been quite.. frugal when it comes to buying stuff for the house and there is a lot that we don't have. For instance, we still have my mom's dishes from circa 1992 (I remember them clearly when I was a kid, so they must be from the 1980s!) so we're taking the wedding as an opportunity to get stuff that we love.
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That's an interesting idea, connecting the drinks to the honeymoon. I like it!
You'll have lots of choices for shiney new things!!
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Lots of good ideas that people wouldn't even think of for themselves. It's so much better because you can get people what they want and need. I tend to give cash these days. I know it's lame but so hard to know what to get, especially since I'm moving towards minimalism and think everyone else should be too. eeeek!
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Cash is king! It is absolutely the best gift for most people. :-)
Thanks for pinning, too!
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I like the idea of snow blower.. It really helps
They definitely make winter a lot more bearable!
Hi, Anne, very helpful article. Registering for wedding gifts is such an efficient method. The sports and outdoor section of your analysis attracts me.