In the world of the wedding registry, it is pretty common practice for couples to use the magic scanners to register for everything under the sun. Dishes, cookware, china, silver, you name it. It's the assumption that this is the only time you get to do it, so why not throw everything on there, right? But, doesn't that beg the question, do I really need everything I am registering for? After reading an article on this very subject, in our local paper, I was intrigued and applied some of the ideas to my own registry. Case in point, Le Creuset Dutch Oven.
I wanted to register for one of these bad boys. I don't know why, other than liking the color and thinking that I should have one, just in case I may need it. But, the reality is that I don't have a clue what you would do with one, let alone, have any idea about what kind of recipe would require one. So, why would I put something on my registry that is going to inevitably sit somewhere, collecting dust and taking up space? Especially when it will cost my guest over a hundred dollars to purchase? Perhaps instead of registering for items that I think we may need, I should stick to registering for things that we do need.
Cookware sets are another great example. We are 29 and 35, we have pots and pans that we have been cooking with for quite awhile. Yes, I want to replace some of them, but I don't need to replace all of them. Therefore, I don't need the $400, 12-piece cookware set that looks so pretty sitting out on the store floor. Instead, I chose individual pieces we needed, and left the rest alone. Not to mention that at the end of the day, if I were to get the big cookware set, I would be hard pressed to find any place to put them!
The moral of the story is read the article, it has some great pointers. Not everyone is going to agree with it, but for those who do, I think you will find some very helpful hints.
(photo from Williams Sonoma)
Ok, I have to say that I have a red La Creuset dutch oven & I use it ALL the time! It makes the most fabulous stews & rouxs (I rhymed that on purpose) because you can sautee the meat & vegetables & then add the broth. Fantastic cookware & I highly recommend it IF you love to cook. If not, I agree with the don't get everything just because you can theory.
Posted by: Courtney | July 04, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Ha ha I have one of those Le Creusets too and I use it all the time!
But I totally take your point... that's why we won't be registering.
If we had, say £1000, there's no way we'd be spending it upgrading all our homewares as we need to save to get a deposit for a mortgage. So we're asking people to donate towards that instead.
Posted by: Guilty Secret | July 04, 2008 at 12:00 PM