Built to Last
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, July 10, 2009 4:30 PM
My husband and I are approaching our 15th wedding anniversary, and with that passage of time comes the passing of some of our beloved wedding gifts as well.
This week, for the first time in our married life, I bought a mattress pad. As I laundered the bed linens one recent morning, I realized that mattress pads were probably not meant to be paper thin. We were still using the one given to us as a shower gift oh-so-long ago. Likewise, it has only been within the last year or two that I needed to buy new towels. Way back when, I registered for white towels and wound up with at least 20 as gifts. Rotating that many towels through the system sustained my towel supply much longer than I could have imagined.
It is interesting to note which items have staying power and which don’t. It got me thinking about a short list of advice for a bride-to-be on what items are worth registering for, and how far into your marriage they will travel.
A few suggestions from me, and then please add your own!
1. Get the best pots and pans you can afford. I registered for some very nice ones, and then I would take back certain gifts that I didn’t need as much to compile credit. Evenutally, I accrued the necessary amount to purchase my entire starter-set. We are still using these pots and pans and they are going strong.
2. Get classic everyday dishes. My mom bought me several sets of white bistro-ware as a shower gift, and again, this is what we use to this day. Any other serving dishes I get can rotate through—they match because my dishes are neutral.
3. Consider long-term when registering for linens and dishes. Think about whether the item you love right now will still appeal to you five or seven years from now. Will you still love that squared-off gray plate when the japanese fad is over? (If the answer is yes, go for it!)
4. Conversely, certain household items are meant to be changed every so often. I have had at least five different shower curtains and at least as many sets of plastic summer dishes. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Not every item you register for needs to make it to your golden anniversary.
5. Keep in mind the items you could get yourself once all the wedding celebrations are over. It’s a lot easier to run out and grab a few cookie sheets than say, a 27-piece set of Pyrex (a lot cheaper, anyway). Consider that people want to shower you with the things you need during this very unique and wonderful season. Think long-term and accept the generosity of those who love you so! In other words, register for what you want and need.
Anything else you’d like to add? What am I forgetting?
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