I’ve worked as a lifestyle journalist for more than 20 years, with stints in style, beauty, home decor, and fashion. And, even more pertinent to this guide, I’ve been married for 24 years. That means I once registered myself, so I have a strong perspective on what my husband and I still use to this day and what’s long gone. For instance: Our Cuisinart food processor and flatware are still kicking, our wine glasses and towels had some good years, and the serving tray made especially for crab was just silly.
I did not assemble this guide alone, however. I also polled engaged staff members who were in the process of building their own registry lists. Then I combed our site for the best of the best in every category, relying on the extensive research, testing, and expertise of my colleagues on our kitchen, sleep, outdoors, travel, games, and other teams. This list is a result of hundreds of hours of rigorous product testing across multiple categories.
