The Wedding Gifts I Wish I'd Asked For

Yesterday I went to my first bridal shower since my own thirteen years ago, and it got me thinking about the wedding gifts I wish I'd asked for back then. When I got married I was in my mid-20s and still living with my parents; I had never cooked a meal on my own, let alone managed a household. Registering was fun but I ended up with lots of beautiful stuff that stayed in boxes in the attic for years. Meanwhile, I spent lots of money on the things I learned I actually needed.

If I had it to do over, what would I register for now? My bridal registry list would be heavy on practical items, and light on things like the lead crystal Tiffany emerald-cut paperweight I got to match my engagement ring. Here are some of the practical items I wish I'd asked for.

A Crock-Pot slow cooker is the first item on my list of wedding gifts I wish I'd asked for. When I first got married I worked in the city; planning for dinner wouldn't start until I was getting off the bus at 6:30 at night. My life got so much easier when I realized that with a Crock-Pot, I could spend five minutes on food prep in the morning and come home to a fully-cooked dinner and an apartment that smelled great. Crock-Pot also makes a series of cookbooks intended for use with their slow cookers that are a great addition to any registry list.

You can't always plan ahead well enough to have dinner ready beforehand, though, so you need an option for last-minute dinners as well. This is why I also wish I'd asked for a Calphalon wok as a wedding gift. On those nights when you don't have anything planned for dinner and your husband calls and says he's coming home early, a wok is a lifesaver. Just chop up whatever protein and vegetables you have on hand and dinner can be ready in five minutes or less.