What Food Network Staffers Wish They Added to Their Wedding Registry
Don't be afraid to ask for what you really want!
Wedding planning can be hectic, and while registering for gifts should be the fun part, deciding what you'll need can also prove to be stressful. It's easy to rush through and register for all the classic items you know you're supposed to want, but it's worth taking the time to decide what you will actually make the most use out of. We talked with a few Food Network staffers about what products they wish they would have added to their registry — some might seem unconventional, but with new group-gift options, nothing (including a new mattress!) should be off the table.
Looking back, I wish we'd registered for something really useful like a beverage refrigerator. Instead, I bought one second-hand for about $25 and had to scrub it clean myself after buying it — and it truly was the miniest of mini fridges. We could've gotten a lot of use out of a nice fridge like this one, which can hold beer, seltzers, sports drinks and baby bottles all at the same time. I especially love the glass door, so you can see what you have on hand without having to hold the door open (and waste all that cold air!) while you decide what you want to drink.
- Meghan Hynes Cole, Associate Editor
My 5-quart Le Creuset Dutch oven is the kitchen essential I didn't know I needed. It is the p-e-r-f-e-c-t size — big enough to hold a roast chicken or braised hunk of meat and small enough for a quick tomato sauce or steamed vegetables. You can bake bread in it, boil pasta and even use it to sear a steak in a pinch. And though the company's color range is amazing, I am firmly on team flame — the gradient orange goes with white dishes, dark dishes and everything in between. I inherited a Le Creuset pot from my grandmother and I'm planning to pass mine on too.
-Lygeia Grace, Culinary Editorial Director, Food Network
I definitely wish I had registered for a Dyson cordless vacuum, of which I am now a proud owner. I'm sure Younger Lauren thought that "a vacuum was a vacuum" and taking the time to pick out a specific one was no fun, but Wiser Lauren has seen the light. After struggling with cheap vacuums for years, I finally splurged on the Dyson V11 Animal and I can say with 100% certainty that my home is cleaner because of it. First of all, because it is cordless, I actually reach to use it every evening after cooking and end up running it over my rugs too, for good measure. And secondly, I am utterly shocked how much fine dust it pulls out of my rugs each time. I chose the V11 over the cheaper models because it is a bit more powerful, and I wanted this to be the only vacuum I had to own — I am thrilled with this choice every day.
-Lauren Piro, Editorial Director
When we were building our wedding registry, I regret not adding a mattress (something we really needed for our home at the time). While it may not be a conventional wedding gift, online registries now have the option to do a group gift or contribute towards an item, so the higher price tag could be split amongst guests. We actually ended up returning the china we would never use and put the store credit towards a mattress!
-Sarah Holden, Digital Culinary Producer
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