Items to Upgrade When You're Getting Hitched

Being engaged is such a magical time filled with love, celebration and, of course, fun wedding presents.

However, registering turned out to be a bit more stressful than I thought it would be! It was so hard to figure out what items to register for and which to skip. It felt like I was making choices that would last a lifetime and there were just too many options.

I wasn’t sure how much of everything I needed or what was “too expensive” to put on the list. Little did I know that our guests would be so incredibly generous!

While it is fun to get some cute or exotic gifts, I feel like some people fall into the trap of registering for trendy items that won’t last for the long haul. Here are a list of items that I think are worth upgrading when you are getting married as you will use them frequently, and hopefully can have them forever!

1. Bedding

Are you still sleeping on your bedding from your first job after college? Was it sold in a cheap set from Walmart?

This is definitely the time to upgrade to nice bedding (and maybe even consider a King size bed if you have the budget!). A lot of people don't think about bedding when they register, because it's expensive and no one really wants to buy someone a top sheet or set of pillowcases as a gift. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't register for a fresh new set! Remember, you can always return items and then use that money toward other registry favorites!

Mia's Picks: Matouk Lowell Collection, Sferra Tovina Bedding, Matouk Classic Chain Collection, Marimekko Fokus Collection, Marimekko Jurmo Collection

2. Pots and Pans

If you enjoy cooking, you need good pots and pans. My favorites are the ones with a copper core because it cooks food very evenly. However, some people prefer non-stick and that's great too! This is the time to invest in a new set of matching items. The sets can be pricey, but many registry sites have a feature now that allows you to highlight items that can be purchased as a group present, making it a lot more feasible for people to by a high ticket item.

Mia's Picks: All Clad Copper Core 10 Piece Cookware Set, Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, Calphalon Simply Pots and Pans Set, 10 Piece Cookware Set, Nonstick, Made-In The Sous Chef Cookware Set

3. Flatware

When Danny and I moved in together we very fortunately had the same exact IKEA flatware (talk about meant to be!). Although our flatware lasted for quite a few years, it was time to invest in some sturdier flatware that had some weight to it!

Mia's Picks: Sambonet Imagine Place Setting, Crate & Barrel Aero Black Flatware, Villeroy & Boch Metro Chic Flatware Set, Marchesa by Lenox Imperial Caviar Flatware

4. Vacuum

The Dyson cordless vacuum was hands down the BEST registry item we received. If you have a pet, this is a must have. Before we had the Dyson, our vacuum cleaner was old fashioned and enormous. I was huffing and puffing whenever I lifted it up the stairs. Save your back the trouble and invest in a great lightweight vacuum.

Mia's Picks: Dyson Cordless Vacuum, iRobot Roomba

5. Knives

Similar to my feelings on cookware, knives are a non-negotiable. Investing in high quality knives from Japan or Germany (these are typically my favorite) will ensure that they last for a very long time. Good knives need to be sharpened less frequently as well, which is a bonus.

Mia's Picks: WÜSTHOF Classic Seven Piece Knife Block Set, Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set, Miyabi Kaizen Knife Block Set, 7 Piece, Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Set

6. Dishware

One of the things I learned is that you absolutely do not need formal dinnerware. No one has space for two different sets of dishware, and having fine china is very old fashioned and honestly, unnecessary. Instead, invest in a beautiful every day china set that is dishwasher and microwave safe. You can always add a charger plate to a dining room set for the holidays, but that takes up way less space than a whole other set of china. Another pro-tip is to register for 16-18 of each item so that if anything breaks, you have extras. Especially since some patterns get discontinued quickly!

Mia's Picks: Juliska Le Panier Dinnerware Collection, Villeroy & Boch Cellini Dinnerware, kate spade new york Charlotte Street 4-Piece Place Setting, Bernardaud Saphir Bleu Dinnerware Collection, Godinger Rayo 18-Piece Dinnerware Set

What do you think is a must-have registry upgrade for newly engaged couples? Did I leave anything off the list? Comment below!