WishList: Marcella & Nicholas Chambers

/// Marcella Hofelich and Nicholas Chambers were not your typical couple when it came to registering for wedding gifts. Eager to upgrade the kitchen and décor elements in their home, they were willing to come up with a collective plan to make the most of their registry. “We figured you only get married once, so why not register for quality items?” says Marcey. The couple created a spreadsheet that targeted each area of their household, then went through each room and discussed what they needed and wanted most. “Our Excel spreadsheet may have been a little geeky, but it was handy!” Marcey exclaims. With a clear picture of the items they considered most necessary, the couple then targeted specific retailers that offered what they’d need.




Armed with a solid plan, the couple ventured out to create their registries in-store. “What’s the fun [of registering] without the zap-gun?” laughs Marcey. Excited to fill their casually stocked kitchen with new and sophisticated items, the couple selected Bloomingdale’s as their go-to retailer for kitchen necessities. “We had both taken up cooking as a hobby since we’d met, so a well-furnished kitchen with higher-end tools was right up our alley,” Marcey explains. Easily navigating the store’s efficient layout, the pair selected kitchen electrics such as a blender and stand mixer; cookware that included All-Clad pots and pans; and basics like cake servers by Vera Wang as well as Reed & Barton stainless flatware. Marcey and Nick also had nifty kitchen accessories in mind, and turned to Williams-Sonoma for a glass cookbook holder, pastry scrapers (“Small, but a godsend for our block cutting board,” says Marcey), and other tools. “They have the best, most unique kitchen items,” asserts Nick. “Williams-Sonoma is a kitchen-gadget dream come true.” Non-stick bakeware, glass mixing bowls, and silicone spatulas helped to round out and complete their kitchen needs.



The couple was also excited to add fresh décor elements to each of the areas in their new home together. For the bedroom they selected beautiful Waterford bedding at Bloomingdale’s, and for the bath, cut-glass canisters in varying heights from Restoration Hardware. Pottery Barn provided inspiration for their dining and living rooms: Marcey and Nick chose a gorgeous Barona serving tray and Maxfield chargers for their tabletop; Pub Hefeweizen glasses and Spiegelau flutes for their bar; and rich, wood gallery frames in various sizes for the living room and hallway. Even their yard got an upgrade with pretty bronze and copper planters.



In the end, the couple was thrilled with their choice of retailers. “Our picks had top-quality products that will last a lifetime,” enthuses Marcey. And although some of the guests in the rural Midwest were unable to access all of the stores in person, every single retailer offered online shopping. As for the items they registered for, the pair did have a few second thoughts. “When some of the gifts arrived we said, ‘What were we thinking when we registered for this?’” admits Marcey. “But it gave us an excuse to go shopping again — together!”