Goin’ To The Chapel: Registry

PW associate editor Anastasia Kotsosavas is getting married (to a guy with an equally long, equally Greek last name). In eight months, she’s going to walk down the aisle come hell or high water (or even worse: rain). She’ll be chronicling all her crazy planning experiences here. Donations can be sent to the PW offices.

I went to Macy’s yesterday to complete my registry. I had such high hopes for the experience. What could be better than shopping for everything you want and getting someone else to pay for it?

I got there around 7pm, thinking two hours of shopping would be sufficient time to fulfill my domestic wet dreams.  However, looking around at all the fine china and crystal vases proved a little overwhelming.

I’ve never owned a house and my apartments have been mostly furnished by IKEA (translation: cheap, pretty and dispensable). It’s easy to pick your style when things are in the $5-$20 price range. The last kitchen I furnished had bright red canisters on the counter and fluorescent-colored plastic plates in the cupboard. I was so excited to live a little more luxuriously.

As I looked around the department store at all the exquisite things with equally exquisite price tags had me second-guessing my choices. Is this what I really want? Should family spend their hard-earned money on this $145 Nambe bread plate? Will I really use it? Is it really my style?

After two hours of looking around I felt more lost then ever. Even the things that should be easy choices had me stressed. I know I need a stand mixer, but do I need the 4.5-quart for $200, the 5-quart for $300 or the 6-quart for $400? The most complicated thing I’ve ever baked is cupcakes out of a box.

The choices are endless. You can’t just say you need a waffle maker and click on the box. There are 13 different varieties of waffle makers in all various shapes, sizes and prices.

The hardest choice seems to be choosing a fine china pattern. The prices are totally outrageous. I know this is supposed to be fun, but I kept thinking that shopping for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars worth of dishes is just morally wrong in this economy. I know that people aren’t obligated to purchase it but I just don’t think I can do it.

I left the store with 10 items on my list and a headache. I have two more stores to visit and must populate a longer list. Something tells me this upcoming week is going to be filled with a lot of online ordering and Advil.

*Written by Anastasia Kotsosavas