The Ultimate Casual, Everyday + Formal Wedding Registry Checklist

You won't miss a thing with the help of this list and these wedding registry ideas!

No matter what stage you and your significant other are at in life, a registry for your wedding can prove both useful and overwhelming. Here are some tips from Gearys Beverly Hills.

By Emily Lasnier & Kelcy Christy

Photo: Nelson Lee, Noteworthy Collective

No matter what stage you and your significant other are experiencing in life, a gift registry for your wedding can prove both useful and overwhelming. If you’re a young couple just starting out and have not lived together before getting married, you’ll likely feel like you’ll need just about everything on your wedding registry, while also not being sure which items you will actually use as you grow older together.

A couple who have been living together and are established in their careers may consider putting together a wedding registry as a good time to replace older pieces and invest in more formal items or even larger appliances that once felt like luxuries. Even an encore couple who found each other later in life may appreciate the opportunity to create a cohesive collection of home items for their wedding registry, instead of mixing and matching what they had before their relationship began.

Many people may think the struggle of registering for wedding gifts is agreeing on a pattern or color palette for china that will decorate that cabinet in your dining room, home goods and décor, etc.; however, it can also be difficult to keep track of what you should put on your wish list or wedding registry.

Thankfully, the expert team at GEARYS Beverly Hills – a high-end retailer offering gorgeous gifts – has created a comprehensive wedding registry checklist for couples to use when it comes to what to register for wedding events. The checklist features wedding registry items for both formal and more laid-back styles, and we recommend registering for items in both categories to fill your home with everything you'll ever need.

gearys wedding registry checklist what to register for

Photo by Niki Csanyi for GEARYS Beverly Hills

We've listed the wedding registry checklist items, below, so you can easily copy and paste them into your notes section; however, we also encourage you to use the photos for an easy checklist to cross off! Browse the traditional items you'll need and decide with your beloved which to mark as "must haves," while crossing off items you know you will never use – though many couples think they don't need certain items and may end up wishing they had them for future dinner-party guests. You'll also find a spot on the wedding registry list to mark the pattern and manufacturer to make sure there will be no mix-ups when it comes time to add these products to your wedding registry. Happy shopping – and make it fun!

Wedding Registry Checklist for Formal Items

Although you may not think you'll need fine china and other hosting items, this wedding registry checklist includes them since it's likely that you will need these products at some point throughout your married life. Love to entertain but you're usually more laid-back? It'll still be nice to have some formal items for intimate dinner parties, family events and celebrations, and of course, holidays such as Thanksgiving.

While you can certainly use casual, everyday pieces, why not use your wedding registry as an opportunity to fill that sideboard, buffet, or credenza in your dining room with pieces that will last a lifetime and may even serve as heirlooms for your family one day.

Formal Dinnerware

5-Piece Place Setting
Dinner Plate
Salad Plate
Bread & Butter Plate
Cup & Saucer
Rim Soup
Dessert Plate
Oval Platter (Medium)
Oval Platter (Large)
Open Vegetable Dish
Covered Vegetable Dish
Coffee Pot
Teapot
Sugar Bowl
Cream Pitcher
Sauce Boat
Sauce Boat Stand
Service Plate (Charger Plate)
Soup Tureen

gearys wedding registry checklist, how to register for your wedding

Formal Flatware

Place Settings
Knife
Fork
Salad Fork
Teaspoon
Soup Spoon
Butter Spreader
Tablespoon
Pierced Tablespoon
Cold Meat Fork
Gravy Ladle
Butter Serving Knife
Sugar Spoon
Pie Server
Cake Knife

Formal Stemware

Goblet / Water Glass
Red Wine Glass
White Wine Glass
Champagne Flutes
Iced Tea Glass

Bar Glasses & Accessories

Double Old Fashion Glass
Single Old Fashion Glass
Triple Old Fashion Glass
Highball Glass
Cocktail / Martini Glass
Brandy Glass
Champagne Flute
Shot Glass
Ice Bucket
Champagne Cooler
Ice Tongs / Ice Spoon
Wine Coaster
Spirit Decanter
Wine Decanter
Bar Tray
Drink Coasters
Bottle Stoppers
Cocktail Napkins

Table Linens

Placemat
Napkin
Napkin Ring

Home Décor

Candlesticks
Votives
Vase
Bowl
Picture Frame
Serving Trays

Wedding Registry Checklist for Casual, Everyday Items

Just as some couples may feel they don't "need" formal dinnerware and glassware, other pairs may feel as though the casual, everyday pieces they've used for years will do just fine. Your cupboard is likely filled with mismatched plates, glasses, and serving pieces from your college years and your late 20s, so why not use your wedding registry as an opportunity to fill your kitchen cabinets with everyday items that make you feel like a sophisticated adult with matching sets – or mismatched sets if that's more your style. Having a cohesive look as you embark on your married life together will make even the most casual pizza night feel extra special – plus, you'll always smile when you grab a plate knowing that your beloved aunt gifted it to you for your wedding day.

Casual / Everyday Dinnerware

Dinner Plate
Salad Plate
Bread & Butter Plate
Cup & Saucer
Mug
Cereal Bowl
Soup Bowls
Serving Platter
Serving Bowl
Covered Serving Bowl
Coffee Pot
Teapot
Sugar Bowl
Breakfast Cup & Saucer
Espresso Cup & Saucer

Everyday Flatware

5-Piece Place Settings
Serving Spoon
Pierced Serving Spoon
Serving Fork
Sugar Spoon
Gravy Ladle
Butter Serving Knife
Hostess Set

Everyday Stemware

Goblet / Water Glass
Wine Glass
Iced Tea Glass

Table Accessories

Salt-and-Pepper Shakers or Grinders
Butter Dish
Gravy Boat
Bread Tray
Water Pitcher
Cake Plate
Place Card Holder
Bread Basket
Trivet
Serving Bowl
Round Casserole Dish
Rectangular Casserole Dish
Salad Bowl
Salad Servers
Serving Tray
Cheese Tray
Cheese Knife
Carving Set
Carafe
Chip-and-Dip Server

These days, wedding registries have taken many forms! If you have everything you need, some couples opt for a honeymoon registry – just make sure you also register somewhere more traditional so older relatives who would rather gift a physical item than an experience can do so easily.

Other ideas for wedding registry items that couples often forget and aren't mentioned above include household items like bath towels, hand towels, or even fitted sheets; while other kitchen items such as slow cooker appliances, ice cream makers, dutch oven pans, measuring cups, and various cutting board styles can all be added as well! Don't be afraid to include higher-priced items on your wedding registry checklist – if you don't think that anyone on your guest list will purchase something expensive, you may have guests who want to go in together on a group gift!

Also, remember to only add items to your wedding registry that you will both use! While it can be tempting to register for items like video game consoles and other products that either the bride or groom have been eyeing, your friends will want to purchase an item off of the wedding registry that they know will be enjoyed by both of you – after all, your guests are purchasing items to gift you both for your home together!

Find your guide to registering for your wedding, get expert tips on shopping for bedding, be inspired by this couple's wish list to add color to your wedding registry items, and view 15 popular wedding registry products.