A New York City Couple's Wedding Registry Picks for Hosting

Preceding a gorgeous wedding with almost 300 loved ones in attendance in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Brittany (née Kraff) and Jordan Stern started their registry by going to Bloomingdale’s together, so that they could get an idea of the things they both loved and found of interest.

“As the one who primarily cooks and chooses the décor for our home, I took the lead after the initial store visits,” explains the bride. “Jordan trusted me with the registry duties wholeheartedly as our tastes are very aligned, and I truly enjoyed it, which made it that much more fun.”

The young NYC couple shares that they love to host friends and family, so they were excited about the prospect of getting to register for new household goods. Since Brittany loves to cook, there were definitely essentials that she wanted to replace and improve, such as premium knives and pots and pans.

“We also were excited about acquiring specialty items like china sets and decorative accents that we wouldn’t have normally purchased for ourselves in the past, including candlesticks, serving platters, and crystal vases,” she says.

Photo by Kristelle Boulos

Christofle "Fidelio" frame, $330; Bloomingdale's

Ralph Lauren Cable Cashmere Throw Blanket, $595; Bloomingdale's

Nambé "Yaro" salad bowls, $90 (set of four); Bloomingdale's

"Mr. and Mrs. Muse" reversible vase by Jonathan Adler, $98; Zola

Georg Jensen "Sky" Barware 3-piece gift set, $219; Bloomingdale's

Zalto Bordeaux glass, $96/each; Slowdance by Jung Lee

There, the couple settled on a plethora of products from sleek Bordeaux glassware to elegant Christofle picture frames to useful Nambé serving platters and bowls.

At Slowdance by Jung Lee, the bride perused decorative items for their home. “I also chose [Slowdance] because of their gift policy,” she admits. “You have the option to have them ship gifts to you directly, or they will hold them for you to purchase when you are ready and accrue a credit in the meantime. This was extremely appealing to us as we didn’t necessarily want all our gifts for our current apartment, but potentially our next apartment.”

A variety of beautiful and unique pieces were chosen, including a fun L’Objet beehive honeypot featuring gilt details and colorful porcelain Lito collection plates with an eye motif in 24K gold plate.

"The Impossible Collection of Wine" Book, $1,400; available at Neiman Marcus

Nambé "Scoop" server, $260; Bloomingdale's

Nambé "Chevron" fruit and centerpiece bowl, $226; Bloomingdale's

Riedel "Heart To Heart" cabernet sauvignon wine glasses, $55 (set of two); Bloomingdale's

L'Objet "Beehive" honeypot, $195; Bloomingdale's

L'Objet "Lito Eye" canape plates, $340 (set of four); Bloomingdale's

“There were other stores I liked that had more niche items, but at the end of the day, the registries I chose had a nice combination of everything we were looking for, so it felt like the perfect, manageable amount,” shares Brittany. “I wouldn’t have done anything differently. We are thrilled with our gifts!”

Wedding Registry Tips from Brittany & Jordan

Think ahead.

“Be smart and consider living space limitations… what is needed now and what is wanted long term.”

Signed, sealed, delivered.

“If you don’t want gifts shipped as they are purchased and prefer flexibility, be sure to check retailers’ policies before registering.”

Ask for guidance.

“Take your time in building your registry, and know that it’s okay to ask questions and change your mind!”

This story was originally published as a Wish List feature in the Spring 2024 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. To order a copy of the Spring 2024 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings back issues available for purchase. For more ideas, find out what wedding registry items couples often forget and see popular wedding registry items!

Opening photo by Aaron Delesie Photography; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants; From Real Wedding: "Secret Garden" Wedding with Colorful Wildflowers in South Carolina