21 Wedding Registry Items That Are Totally Worth It

Tried and true products that will make your married home even happier.

Alice Monkongolite / BuzzFeed Life

Love them or hate them, wedding registries aren't going anywhere any time soon.

And for every wedding guest who can't stand them, there's a wedding guest who finds them incredibly useful. Meanwhile, a lot of couples stress about exactly which items to put on their registry (so many OPTIONS in the toaster aisle!), and everyone — couples and guests — wants to feel like the whole wedding gift process is actually worthwhile.

GrimmAndProper / Via etsy.com

So I asked the editors at The Sweethome for their expert opinions on exactly what you should put on your wedding registry.

The Sweethome is a website where deep-dive research nerds and product testers put hundreds of hours of research and testing into finding home essentials that will truly last a lifetime. And the editors at BuzzFeed Life are huge fans of what they do.

There are cheap AND expensive options. The "right" price for a wedding gift is both personal and cultural. Having gifts in a large range of prices means that even your broke friends can feel good about getting you what you really want. And though some people reading this might freak out about the higher-end items, remember that a lot of couples have older family members who want to splurge.

There are upgraded versions of the items you'll use every day. Luxurious household items like fluffy towels or a good coffeemaker will bring joy to your everyday life and make for a happy first home as a married couple.

They are made to last. Expensive electrics and cookware from reputable companies are often worth the money because they're built to last and often come with excellent warranties you'll still be able to take advantage of in 10 years.

They make sense with the average couple's lifestyle. You may daydream about the dinner parties you'll throw once the wedding's out of the way, but if you aren't pulling out punch bowls and Ebelskiver pans to entertain now, that's not going to change once you get married.

Note: The items on this list can be found at many popular registry stores, or can be added to a universal registry like Amazon or MyRegistry.com. Get tips for setting up your registry here.

Now here's Ganda Suthivarakom, executive editor of The Sweethome, with their recommendations:

1. Sterilite Stacking Laundry Basket — $9.99

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Good tools can make domestic chores like laundry more pleasant. We considered more than 50 models, and after 20 hours over the course of two months testing finalists, we recommend the Sterilite Stacking Laundry Basket. It holds a full week's worth of clothes, is easy to carry with the attached handles, and can stack to make sorting easier. The plastic is strong and the handle design is comfortable even when loaded with 40 pounds of weight.

2. OXO Good Grips Smooth Masher — $12.99

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This is another affordable but indispensable tool to balance out your list. We worked out our biceps crushing 20 pounds of mashed potatoes, 13 pounds of applesauce, and 12 pounds of tomatoes, and did taste tests for texture. With its grid plate and horizontal, cushy grip, the OXO Good Grips Smooth Masher was the fastest, easiest, and least messy of all the tools we tried, beating out slower ricers and fussy food mills. This inexpensive but sturdy masher will probably outlast gifts that are 10 times the price.

3. Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet — $15.15

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Rimmed cookie sheets are kitchen workhorses for roasting vegetables, baking pizza, and catching pie drippings, and the Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet outperformed eight other sheets we tested, including more expensive models. The 18-gauge aluminum didn't warp (even at 500 degrees) and they come with a five-year limited warranty. After six months of heavy use, we found these half sheets have still resisted buckling, and a little Barkeepers Friend helps remove more stubborn baked-on splatters.

4. Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Bath Towels — $25

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We weighed, soaked, spritzed, dried, and washed a dozen models, and Pottery Barn's Hydrocotton Bath Towels strike the best balance between kitten softness and durability. The Pottery Barn towel absorbed five times its weight in water in our tests but became 87% dry after six hours — they're as quick to dry as the cheapest, thinnest towels we tested. They should last you up to five years.

5. OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner — $29.99

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A good salad spinner can dry your greens without crushing them, allowing dressing to stick better. After 15 hours of research comparing 22 models and head-to-head tests between three salad spinners, we found the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner simple to use, efficient, and gentle on our food. Unlike the ratchets and cranks on other models we tested, the OXO's pump can be operated with one hand, and the lid can be locked down for easy, compact storage.

6. HIC Porcelain Lasagna Pan — $30

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A solid, durable 13x9 dish is a kitchen workhorse, and the $30 HIC Porcelain Lasagna Pan performed in our tests — we spent 35 hours researching and considering about 30 models before testing the top five — as well as dishes that cost three times as much. In fact, all the dishes (ranging from $10 to $180) functioned about on par, but the HIC's balance of features at such a great price made it the clear winner. With its big handles and classic design, this dish is a snap to take directly from oven to table, plus the porcelain is broiler safe and easy to clean. This dish will easily serve a family of four for mains like lasagna or other casseroles, or serve six to eight sides for a larger gathering. We've long-term tested it for the past year and a half, and it still works as well as it did when we first got it.

7. Cuisipro Surface Glide Four-Sided Box Grater — $33

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This extra sharp box grater is relatively inexpensive and worth every penny. We spent 40 hours researching and testing 28 models head-to-head, and the best all-around grater for your kitchen is the Cuisipro Surface Glide 4-Sided Box Grater. Its supersharp etched teeth shred hard and soft cheeses, carrots, and potatoes more efficiently than almost any other model we tried. And unlike most box graters, it shaves off delicate wisps of citrus zest without tearing into bitter pith and will even cleanly slice a potato, making it the most versatile grater we found.

8. Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Programmable Set 'n Forget — $49.85

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A great slow cooker can braise meats and slow-cook beans while you're at work. After more than 58 hours of research and testing, we found that the inexpensive, simple Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Programmable Set 'n Forget outperformed much more expensive models, and once we started asking experts, it kept cropping up as a favorite. It's not fancy, but the intuitive interface, locking lid, and modest price make it the best deal for your money.

9. SodaStream Jet — $70

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This is one of those everyday luxuries that can immediately bring a little joy to every meal. We spent more than 30 hours researching dozens of home soda makers, testing six models and even building our own machine, and nothing beats the convenience and simplicity of the SodaStream Jet. The proprietary CO2 tank lasts for about 40–60 liters, and they can be exchanged at a Target or Bed Bath & Beyond store, making the SodaStream one of the most eco-friendly seltzer options.

10. Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender — $100

surlatable.com

A hand blender is the best tool for pureeing soups right in the pot or blending small batches of vinaigrette, and it's easier to clean than a large blender. We spent 19 hours researching these, looking at over 40 top models and calling in seven hand blenders for tests. The Breville Control Grip aced every test and made the cheaper blenders look weak in comparison. It even turned peanuts into peanut butter, a high powered task that no other hand blender could handle. A gasket at the base of the tool keeps it from suctioning to the bottom of the pot, helpful when you're trying to work carefully with a pot full of hot soup.

11. Cuisinart CPK-17 — $100

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For tea drinkers or pourover coffee fans, a variable temperature kettle heats water up quickly without jarring whistles to interrupt the morning. After two years of tests running nine stainless steel electric kettles through temperature and time measurements, we think the Cuisinart CPK-17 offers the most precise temperature with a simple interface and speedy boil times. Water can be kept warm at a specific temperature for up to 30 minutes in case you can't tend to your morning tea right away.

12. Victorinox Rosewood Straight Edge Steak Knife Set — $118

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Big cuts of meat require sharp (and sharp-looking) knives. After 28 hours of research and testing, the Victorinox Rosewood Straight Edge Steak Knife Set is the best we've found. The knives cut beautifully, they're well balanced, and they come at a reasonable price. They're also nice enough to complement a formal table setting — but not so fancy that you wouldn't want to use them on a weeknight. The riveted, rosewood handles should complement all table settings, and the stamped blades can be honed, just like your regular knives.

13. All-Clad 12-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan — $120

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With skillets, you get what you pay for, and while All-Clad is expensive, it's also buy-for-life quality. After 20 hours of research, we found that the All-Clad 12-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan lives up to its golden reputation, with superior heat conductivity, balanced handling, and durability. The pan is dishwasher, oven, and broiler safe, with love from every expert we spoke to. Yes, it's very expensive, but it comes from a reputable company with good quality control and a lifetime warranty.

14. MAC MTH-80 8-Inch Chef’s Knife With Dimples — $145

Amadou Diallo / Via thesweethome.com

A good chef's knife makes cooking immediately easier and more fun. After 75 hours of research and testing 13 chef's knives in our own kitchen, we think the MAC MTH-80 8-Inch Chef's Knife With Dimples is the best for most home cooks. The Japanese-made, stamped blade was, hands down, the sharpest, most durable, and most comfortable model we tested. With sleek tapered shape, half bolster, and comfortable handle, this knife will make your everyday dicing and slicing tasks smoother and quicker. Its high-carbon blade will also stay sharp longer than blades made from softer stainless steel.

15. Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor — $179

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After 25 hours of research and more than two years of long-term testing, we think the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor is the best there is. With just pulse and on buttons plus a single bowl, this is one of Cuisinart's most basic models, but it consistently chops, slices, and kneads better than any other food processor we've found for under $300. It will chop vegetables and herbs evenly (without pulverizing them), grate veggies and cheese uniformly, slice cleanly, and finely grind bread crumbs, nuts, and other dry ingredients, saving you time in the kitchen.

16. Bonavita 1900TS Coffemaker — $190

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Most of these cheap coffeemakers don't get water hot enough to fully extract coffee and aren't designed to last longer than the short warranties. After two months of surveys, interviews, research, and tests of five top models with a 10-person tasting panel, we think the Bonavita 1900TS is the best coffeemaker to get. Its one-button operation makes it one of the easiest and fastest brewers we've ever used. With a wider showerhead and a flat-bottomed filter for fuller flavor, the Bonavita makes coffee that's 90% as good as pour-over, but with a lot less fuss.

17. Oster Versa 1400-Watt Professional Performance Blender With Short Jar — $196

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We researched dozens of blenders and tested 16 models over the course of three years, and we think the Oster Versa 1400-Watt Professional Performance Blender With Short Jar is the best blender for most people. It performs as well as blenders twice the price with high-end features like a tamper for bursting air pockets and a variable speed dial. The Oster Versa also comes with an excellent seven-year warranty. It's a useful tool for both total kitchen novices and more experienced cooks.

18. Travelpro Platinum Magna 22-Inch Expandable Rollaboard Suiter — $217

Nina Johnston / Via thewirecutter.com

A smooth rolling carry-on bag should last through every trip you plan to take together, starting with your honeymoon. We conducted more than 100 hours of research and testing before choosing the Travelpro Platinum Magna 22-Inch Expandable Rollaboard Suiter. It's affordable, lightweight, and reliable, with durable sealed-bearing wheels and a fantastic lifetime warranty that includes airline damage. A large suit compartment keeps your formalwear looking fresh, and the roomy interior can easily fit five days' worth of clothes.

19. Breville Smart Oven — $250

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A good toaster oven can act as an auxiliary oven, saving time and energy for small tasks like toasting nuts and baking small batches of cookies. We spent 35 hours researching and testing toaster ovens by toasting dozens of slices of bread, baking cookies, crisping frozen pizzas, and even roasting whole chickens, and of the 10 ovens we put through the ringer, the full-size Breville Smart Oven is the one we liked best. The smooth dials and simple buttons are intuitive and make it very easy to program and use. Quartz heating elements across the top and bottom of the oven provide even heating from the corners to the center, and it has optional convection for extra browning.

20. Le Creuset 5½-Quart Round French (Dutch) Oven — $280

We spent 50 hours investigating and testing the six top-rated models, cooking rice, braising stew, and caramelizing onions, and for a wedding registry, we'd ask for the upgrade pick, Le Creuset's Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 5½-Quart Round French (Dutch) Oven. It is the absolute best Dutch oven (with a big price tag to match). With its lifetime warranty, you may even be able to pass it on to your children. Five and a half quarts is the right size for most couples — big enough for 2–4 servings but not so heavy you can't hand-wash it in the sink. (And if $280 is a nonstarter, the $75 6-Quart Lodge Color Enamel Dutch Oven is a great option.)

21. L.L. Bean Baffle-Box Stitch Down Comforter — $319

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Sharing a bed means regulating temperature, and the best comforter we've found for doing that is the L.L. Bean Baffle-Box Stitch Down Comforter. We spent 85 hours researching and sleeping under different comforter models, checking for warmth, breathability, and weight. It's lightweight, at only 4½ pounds, with an excellent finish on its tightly woven shell. Its quality 600-fill goose down kept us warm — not hot, not cool — and gates on the baffles should help keep the down in place so it doesn't shift unevenly through the comforter.

This list was compiled for BuzzFeed Life by The Sweethome, a list of the best gear for your home, and a website that BuzzFeed Life's editors love and read regularly.