The Household Item That Couples Regret Not Registering for at Their Wedding
Contrary to what your childhood self might have you believe, not all “to-dos” that come along with planning a wedding, or a subsequent future with your plus one, are easy or fun. There’s the tedious task of whittling down the guest list, for instance, and the daunting duty of setting—and, even worse, sticking to—a budget.
But if there’s one chore that likely requires no coaxing at all, it’s creating a wedding registry. In fact, finding treasures to fill your future forever home with your betrothed can be one of the most fun parts of getting married. The caveat? An endless supply of shiny new things means it’s easy to lose sight of the pieces you might really want and need.
Luckily, the results of a new national survey are providing some insight into what married couples want, based on what they would—and would not—register for again. In a recent poll of 500 adults who’d registered for wedding gifts within the past six years, Pennsylvania-based Erie Insurance found that the most common regret couples have is regarding something they didn’t include on their list: a robotic vacuum cleaner. According to the survey, just 17 percent of respondents report actually registering for the household staple, while a significant 58 percent of those who didn’t wish they had. (And in case you’re wondering, nearly 90 percent of those who received the gift are still very happy with it.)
Watch: Five Wedding Registry Items You'll Never Use
When it comes to registry regrets, it seems practical items topped many couples’ lists of would-haves. In addition to a vacuum cleaner, couples also cited lawn equipment and a FoodSaver vacuum sealer as staples they should have included on their wish lists.
Despite the collective frustration, however, everyday household staples often don’t make the cut on registries. Among the top 10 most-wished-for items, nearly every practical gift, from the vacuum cleaner to a new set of luggage, had a 20 percent or less request rate. Kitchen luxuries, on the other hand, seem to be a little more top of mind. More than a third of couples, for example, report registering for a stand mixer (and, okay, 93 percent are still thrilled with that decision).
So, let this be a lesson, lovebirds: Yes, you can have your Kitchenaids and gilded-edge champagne flutes—but maybe don’t overlook the boring tools that could make happily ever after much simpler post-nuptials.
