10 Wedding Gifts You're Not Registering For, But Should

Kitchen miscellany

With nine out of 10 couples registering for kitchen appliances, nobody's forgetting about toasters, blenders and slow cookers.

Then again, nearly half of couples consider those items of utmost importance. When it comes to getting their hands on a good set of knives, though, 70% of couples register for them but only 13% give them any sense of priority. Couples should keep this in mind on their one-year anniversary, when their bargain-rack utility knife fails to puncture a tomato.

"I love the idea of upgrading to higher-quality, chef-style cutlery, since knives dull over time and dishwasher steam can weaken handles on knives," Naylor says. "You might even want the gleaming silver knife block as opposed to the wooden one to coordinate with those great countertop kitchen appliances."

Even something much smaller than an expensive set of knives can make a huge difference in a kitchen depending on who's doing the cooking. Naylor still cherishes her julienne peeler that juliennes carrots, zucchini, eggplant and other vegetables for healthy cooking without having to pull out a larger contraption. If peeling the fine, flaky skin off a clove of garlic amounts to slow torture for a home cook, there's a narrow, cannoli-shaped plastic tube that does the job with far less mess and aggravation. Even something as simple as registering for multiple cutting boards can help cut down on mess and mayhem while contributing to a healthier marriage.

"Chefs use a blue one for cutting veggies and a yellow one for cutting raw meats, which is a smart and safe way to cook," Naylor says. "But when it comes to preparing holiday meals or entertaining, when you'll have several people cooking -- or just when the bride and groom want to cook together, it's easier to have more than one cutting board."

Seasonal/holiday gifts

Of all of the items listed in The Knot's registry survey, only one segment grew more popular year over year: grilling and barbecue equipment. A full 43% of couples registered for outdoor items, more than those who registered for luggage (36%) or fine china (32%).

"Consider the entire calendar when you register," Forrest says. "Even if you're picking out gifts in the middle of winter, you should still register for barbecue sets and gardening tools -- it will be warm out soon enough."

Those forward-looking couples are making a big difference in where people register as well. The percentage of couples registered at Williams-Sonoma grew to 10% from 9% within the past year, while Home Depot registries have risen from 2% of overall registries to 3%.

"And think about holidays, too -- if you're registering in June, don't forget to consider Christmas ornaments, menorahs, holiday-themed china, etc.," Forrest says. "Just be aware that some stores won't stock these seasonal items year-round, so you may need to revisit your registry several times throughout your engagement to add holiday-related gifts."