Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Our Printable Ultimate Wedding Registry Checklist | Registry Guide

If you're newly engaged, you're probably starting to think about your wedding registry, and it can seem pretty daunting. You know you're supposed to add certain things, but what if you and your fiancé both already have a set of bedding? Do you register for more? What if you have dishes - do you need formal ones? At Lavender & Company, we're registry experts, and we're here to help you out. 


What's the best wedding registry site to use? 

We partner with MyRegistry.com for our gift registry - you're not limited to just one store, you can add items from hundreds of stores to your one registry. They have stores like Macy's, Amazon, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Nordstrom on their platform, as well as curated boutiques like ours, meaning you can add SO many unique items to your one registry from all your favorite stores. 

What to put on your wedding registry? 

We've created this checklist as a guideline for what to register for. As a rule of thumb,  wedding registry gifts should be items for your home and space or items that you and your fiancé can enjoy together. Things like cookbooks or even yard games are fun items to add - things like game consoles and television sets should probably be left off. 

Making your registry should be a fun task for you and your honey to complete together during this special time!


Ultimate Wedding Registry Checklist:

BEDDING BASICS:

Bedding basics are things that are the foundation of your bed - the mattress pad, pillow inserts, etc. You can check out our bedding basics here

  • Bedskirt
  • Duvet insert 
  • Pillows - the number and size depends on your personal style and bed size. 
    • 4 king size pillows for a king size bed
    • 4 standard size pillows for a standard size bed
    • OR, 3 euro pillows (the square ones) and 2 standard or king pillows (depending on your bed size). The three euro pillows go behind your other two pillows when you make the bed. 
  • Optional: pillow protectors to keep your nice pillows clean. The pillowcases go over them. 
  • Optional: a mattress protector
  • Optional: a mattress pad for extra softness

BEDDING:

Click here for our bedding style guide to help you narrow down what style is right for you. 
  • Set of sheets 
    • Register for at least 2 sets of the same ones to switch out when one set is in the wash.
    • You can also register for flannel sheets for the winter months. 
  • Duvet cover
  • Coverlet or quilt - this goes over your sheets and under your duvet for extra warmth and for an extra layer of decor and texture on your bed. In warmer climates or the summer months, you can just use the coverlet. 
  • Pillowcases if they're not included in your sheet set - make sure to check! 
  • Throw blankets for the end of the bed
  • Throw pillows

BATHROOM:

  • Body towels 
    • You can get a bath towel, which is a standard size towel, or a bath sheet, which is larger - some towel brands offer this size. 
    • Unsure of how many to register for? Think of how many towels you and your fiancé use now each week. 6-8 towels is usually a nice number for two people - you'll always have extra in your linen closet, even if you're behind on laundry. If you are especially active and shower a lot, or have a lot of guests over often, add a few more to that count. 
  • Hand towels 
    • This depends on the number of bathrooms you have. The rule of thumb is to have one at the sink, one in the laundry, and one in the linen closet for each bathroom; we'd add one more just in case. That makes 4 per bathroom. 
    • They don't have to match your body towels, necessarily - especially in the powder bathroom. 
  • Washcloths
    • You can skip this if you don't use washcloths and use loofahs instead. However, they are nice to have for guests. 
  • Bath mat
  • Bathroom decor
    • Toothbrush holder
    • Soap pump
    • Trays
    • Jars/Canisters for cotton balls and q-tips
  • Beautiful little soaps for soap dishes
  • Fancy bubble baths
  • Shower curtain
  • Shower curtain liner
  • Shower curtain rings
  • Cozy robes for you and your fiancé

GUEST BEDROOM: 

Repeat the bedding, bedding basics, and bathroom items for your guest bedroom and bathroom, if you have one and wish to register for items for it. 

CASUAL DINING

For your everyday dining, you'll want to register for the following. 
  • 4-8 place settings - these sometimes come in a set, but sometimes are sold separately
    • dinner plate
    • salad plate 
    • soup bowl
  • 4-8 flatware settings
  • Steak knives if they don't come in your knife set
  • Chargers and/or placemats
  • 4-8 mugs
  • 4-8 drinking glasses
  • Serving bowl - 1 is good, 2 if you cook a fair amount. We like a larger and a smaller one. 
  • Serving platters - 1-2 to start with
  • Cake Knife and Server Set
  • Salad bowl and tongs
  • Water pitcher
  • Salt and pepper shakers
  • Vase
  • Wine glasses 
    • do you need red and white? If you have the storage and/or are a wine enthusiast, go for it. If you don't have enough cabinet space, you can start with just one set. 

FORMAL DINING

Shop Bella Bianco dinnerware


If you'll be hosting dinner parties or love formal entertaining, go wild and register for a set of the fancy dishes!
  • 8-10 place settings of formal dinnerware 
  • 8-10 flatware settings if you want a more formal set
  • 8-10 champagne glasses
  • 8-10 water goblets or fancy water glasses
  • Cake stand
  • Candlesticks
  • Gravy boat
  • Butter dish
  • Sugar bowl and creamer
  • Serveware: 2-3 platters, 2-3 bowls
  • Coffee pot 
  • Tea Pot
  • Tablecloth
  • Linen napkins
  • Napkin Rings
  • 3-Piece Serving Set and 4-Piece Hostess Set (these will be your serving spoons and forks)

BARWARE:

  • 8 - 12 Double Old Fashioned Glasses
  • 8 - 12 Highball Glasses
  • 8 - 12 Pilsner/Beer Mugs
  • Decanter
  • Cocktail Pitcher
  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Ice Bucket and tongs
  • Coasters
  • Wine Bottle Opener
  • Beer Bottle Opener

ARTWORK: 

This is a meaningful gift that will really help fill up your home. 

Shop Sugarboo Invisible String Art 


HOMEKEEPING

DECOR

  • Vases
  • Lamps
  • Decorative pillows
  • Throw blankets
  • Mirrors
  • Rugs



5 Essentials for French Country Style: Tips from an Interior Designer

At Lavender & Company, French country style is one of most popular categories on our site. Our interior design and e-design customers also love French country style decor, and we layer their rooms in our favorite French country style rugs, bedding, furniture, wallpaper and more. Here are essentials for a fresh, modern French country style that works for any home. 

What is French Country style?

French country style is defined as a blend of rustic decor and more refined European elements - think a rustic wooden dining table with upholstered Louis XIV dining chairs. This style is inspired by classic homes in the French countryside, especially like those in the Provence regions.

In classic, traditional French country homes like those in Provence, you'll find:
  • rustic wooden dining tables
  • distressed wooden furniture - if painted, it's usually in whites, creams, or shades of French blue
  • upholstered seating in velvets or linens, but nothing stuffy: casual elegance is the name of the game. Chairs and sofas are meant to be lounged in.
  • Elegant antiques like gilded mirrors
  • White stoneware or bisqueware
  • Fabrics in toiles and ginghams
Traditional French country is casual and elegant, but still refined. It's not uncommon to see a neutral room with distressed wood furniture, natural linen upholstery, and beautiful silk gingham curtains.

Image of Provence via Julia Berolzheimer

What is Modern French Country style?

Modern French country style retains the color palette and refined spirit of traditional French country style, while incorporating elements like marble and stone or more diverse decor like modern art or bolder patterns that you might not see in a traditional French country home.

If you want a lighter, brighter version of a French country home, you might want to do a lighter paint color on the walls. You might also do a sectional in a neutral linen that you'd see in a traditional French country home, but incorporate a toile pattern on the pillows.

Image via Simons Design Studio

Five Essentials for French Country Style in Your Home:

#1: A Distressed Wood Cabinet or Dresser

A distressed wood console, cabinet, or dresser is a French country mainstay and can work in any room in your home. It does double duty as decor and as storage. These finds from our shop have that antiqued French country look that can work in a modern or traditional French country home. 

Shop the Painted French Sideboard at Lavender and Company

Shop the Bow Front Server at Lavender and Company

Shop the European Painted Server at Lavender and Company

Shop the Spool Leg Console at Lavender and Company


#2: French Blue Velvet Placemats

This is the perfect way to add a touch of French country to your home. Pair them with our Giulietta Dinnerware and Sofia Coupes to achieve the full look.


Shop the French Blue velvet placemats set of four at Lavender and Company


#3: A Rustic Wooden Dining Table

Add a rustic wooden dining table in your breakfast area or dining room for that casual French country feel. In Provence, it's all about casual elegance. 

Shop the Club Room Table at Lavender and Company

Shop the Old Elm Farmhouse Table at Lavender and Company

Shop the French Country Dining Table at Lavender and Company


#4: A Romantic Bed

A romantic bed frame, piled high with lace-trimmed bed linens and pretty pillows, is the ultimate in French country chic. 

An wrought iron bed frame is classic in French country decor, as is a painted wood finish. 

Shop the Corsican Sleigh Bed at Lavender and Company 

Shop the Somerset Bay Chateau Bed at Lavender and Company


#5: The Right Patterns

Toile and Gingham/Checks are the predominant patterns in the French Country style. Usually seen in softer tones of blue, green, and pink, you can have fun with them by incorporating brighter colors for a modern French country look. 

Shop the French Farmhouse Toile Chair at Lavender and Company

Shop the Gingham Tea Towel at Lavender and Company

Shop the Seda France Sel de Mer Candle at Lavender and Company

Shop the Schumacher Toile De La Prairie Wallpaper at Lavender & Company 



Saturday, April 02, 2022

Featured in House & Garden UK May 2022 Issue

  We're excited to have been featured in the May 2022 Issue of House and Garden UK! Take a look below.