The 20 most popular wedding gifts of 2021, according to The Knot
The Knot's seal of approval says it all.
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KitchenAid / Williams Sonoma
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While there are many stressful aspects of planning a wedding, arguably the best part (aside from getting married) is the wedding registry. I mean, what's better than getting presents? Whether you choose to browse through the aisles in person or virtually create your wedding registry through online services, like The Knot, what you actually put on there is completely up to you. And, quite honestly, it can get a bit overwhelming if you have no idea what you need. To help you out, The Knot released its list of the most popular wedding items of 2021, highlighting the things you never knew you needed.
The Knot's 2021 Registry Awards are quite extensive and break down each winner by category and award (there are four awards per subcategory). Some of the most popular items this year include the Instant Pot, a KitchenAid mixer, a Nespresso coffee machine, and the Furbo dog camera, all of which we’ve also happened to test in our own labs. If you're looking for inspiration for your own registry, here are 20 of the most popular wedding registry items, according to The Knot.
1. The cult-favorite Instant Pot
If it isn't already on your registry, add it ASAP!
There are so many reasons why people are obsessed with the Instant Pot. The 7-in-1 pressure cooker is a great addition to any wedding registry as it's both versatile and efficient. It'll not only make the perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a jiffy, but will also replace a number of appliances since it can steam, slow cook, pressure cook, and sauté. We found the Duo to be better for novice users—a.k.a the newlyweds—as it's reliable and easy-to-use, which is why The Knot included on its list this year.
Get the Instant Pot Duo 6-Qt. 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker on Amazon for $89.99
2. The iconic KitchenAid stand mixer
A KitchenAid mixer is a registry must.
Let's be honest: no kitchen is complete without a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer, and The Knot agrees. Despite its growing competition, the KitchenAid mixer continues to remain the best stand mixer we’ve ever tested because it's easy to use and has a super quiet motor. You can also choose to purchase a myriad of attachments—like a meat grinder, vegetable spiralizer, pasta maker, and a citrus juicer—to really maximize its usage. Plus, it comes in a whole slew of gorgeous colors like mint green, cherry red, and dark blue to perfectly match your kitchen. All in all, the KitchenAid makes for an iconic cooking experience and will last for years to come.
Get the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer from Best Buy for $399.99
3. An incredible Vitamix blender
This pro-blender was approved by both Reviewed and The Knot.
If you're looking to invest in a versatile blender that'll last you for years, then the Vitamix Ascent is exactly the one to add to your registry. Garnering the seal of approval from The Knot, as well as Reviewed as the best pro-style blender, it blends exceptionally well and has intuitive controls, which we appreciated. It's also very fast and powerful, which makes it easy to craft smoothies, creamy soups, margaritas, and much, much more. Instead of the traditional buttons, the blender has an easy-to-use touchscreen and all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a high-end blender—including Bluetooth connectivity.
Get the Vitamix Ascent A3500 from Amazon for $549.95
4. An easy-to-use Nespresso coffee machine
Make delicious coffee and espresso at home.
One coffee or espresso, coming right up. With a compact design, fast brewing, and a wide drink selection, we named the Nespresso VertuoPlus as the best single-serve coffee maker we've ever tested. It's a kitchen staple for coffee-addicted newlyweds and, like the KitchenAid mixer and Instant Pot, is a top-requested wedding registry item. Although compact, it doesn't sacrifice functionality as it brews delicious coffee and espresso and distributes a foamy crema on top of each cup.
Get the Nespresso VertuoPlus from Amazon for $125
5. A pan that does it all
The Our Place Always Pan combines eight different pans in one.
Say goodbye to having too many pots and pans, and hello to the Always Pan. Designed to replace over eight pieces of cookware, the Always Pan is loved by The Knot, Tik-Tok, and us. According to our tester, the do-it-all pan is lightweight to hold, heats quickly, and washes easily with just a bit of soap and water—it's nonstick after all. It's a great simple nonstick pan that can be used by skilled or novice chefs, and it comes in a wide range of gorgeous ceramic colors.
Get the Always Pan from Our Place for $145
6. The best affordable cookware set
The Cuisinart pans are the best affordable cookware set money can buy.
Many couples register for the Cuisinart Chef's Classic 12-Piece Non-Stick Hard Anodized Cookware Set, according to The Knot, and it also happens to be the best affordable set we’ve ever tested. Our tester loved this Cuisinart set because it has everything a home cook could possibly need while offering excellent performance for a great price.
Get the Cuisinart Chef's Classic 12-Piece Non-Stick Hard Anodized Cookware Set
7. A non-stick cookware set
Yes, a good-quality affordable set of pans is possible to find.
Here at Reviewed, we're big fans of cookware sets of all types and varieties. You can't cook without cookware, you know? All Clad's 10-piece HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Set topped our list as the best non-stick cookware set, and The Knot awarded it as the best non-stick cookware upgrade. It would make another great addition to any kitchen, depending on the recipients’ preferences.
Get the All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Set from Amazon for $498.85
8. A cooking class for two
Learn how to make a delicious dish (or two!).
If you plan to get the couple an experience, rather than a physical gift, The Knot recommends a cooking class for two. Enter an Amazon Explore virtual class. It gives the newlyweds the option to choose from a bevy of live cooking classes—ranging from homemade taco and tortilla making to macaron baking, and beyond—that they can do from the comfort of their own home. We tested it and loved every class we tried due to the incredible instructors and scrumptious results.
Sign up for Amazon Explore food and drink classes starting at $10
9. An upgraded knife set
Wusthof's knife set is worth the splurge.
Whether you're establishing your first kitchen or upgrading your old set, finding a good-quality knife set is imperative for smooth chopping. Although the Wusthof Gourmet 7-Piece Knife Block set recommended by The Knot is a great option, through our testing we discovered that the best knife set is actually the Wusthof Grand Prix II 7-Piece Block Set. Compared to the gourmet set, our tester found the Grand Prix set is easier to maneuver and more comfortable to use.
Get the Wusthof Grand Prix II 7-Piece Block Set from Amazon for $349.95
10. An affordable, basic knife set
These Cuisinart knives prove that you can find a great set of knives under $100.
An affordable, well-designed knife set is a great gift for any couple, but they're particularly handy for those who've never had a set and don’t plan on cooking too often. The Knot recommends the Cuisinart Classic Collection 16-Piece Knife Block Set, but our experts recommend the 15-piece set in this collection as the best knife set under $100. It wowed our testers with its great design and value.
11. A smart speaker assistant
Impromptu dance parties are just a button away.
If you're the couple who loves impromptu dance parties (or jamming out to your favorite tunes while cooking together), consider adding a smart speaker to your registry. While most couples are registering for the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) on The Knot, we found in our testing that the best smart speaker was the Bose Home Speaker 300. Although it’s not technically an Amazon speaker, it still has Alexa built-in, and you can blast your favorite jams from streaming services anywhere in your house or apartment with much better sound than the Dot provides. Plus, it's portable so it can be brought from room to room or outside while you sit on your balcony.
Get the Bose Home Speaker 300 from Amazon for $199
12. A great gas grill
Weber's BBQ is perfect for grilling up a storm.
When thinking about wedding registries, a grill might not be the first thing that comes to mind but should, since it’s something you’ll want to host plenty of barbecues. According to our tests and The Knot, this Weber Spirit Grill is a top-tested favorite. It cooks evenly, perfectly sears meat and vegetables, and it has a sturdy, well-built design.
Get the Weber Spirit II E-310 from Home Depot for $519
13. A powerful cordless vacuum
No more pesky wires with Dyson's cordless vacuum.
Here at Reviewed, we've tested all sorts of vacuums—robot, cordless, cordless, handled, the works. Because of this, we can confirm that the best cordless vacuum is the Dyson V11 Torque Drive, so it makes sense that it's popular on The Knot, too. It not only cleans exceptionally well with its powerful suction, but it also has an incredible battery life and zero pesky wires to work about. The coolest feature? An LED display that shows you exactly how much battery you have left, allowing you to clean up without worrying about your vacuum dying on you halfway through your session.
Get the Dyson V11 Torque Drive from Amazon for $684.99
14. A fantastic streaming device
Stream your favorite movies or TV shows.
A streaming device is a perfect gift for the newlyweds who are always having marathon movie and TV show binge sessions. The Knot's popular streaming device pick is the Fire TV Stick, and while it's a great option, our rigorous rounds of testing settled on the Roku Ultra as the best streaming device we’ve ever tested. It has an easy-to-use remote, impressive selection of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, and is relatively simple to navigate.
Get the Roku Ultra Streaming Device at Amazon for $94.38
15. A cozy set of sheets
These Brooklinen sheets are the coziest we've ever slept on.
What's better than immersing yourself in a cozy set of sheets? After taking many, many naps in the Brooklinen sheets, we can confidently say that they're the best sheets on the market. We haven’t tested The Knot's top pick, the Martex Supima 700 Thread Count set, but the Brooklinen sheets last a long time and are incredibly soft to sleep on. They're also easy to wash since they are made of 100% cotton.
Get the Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set from Brooklinen for $149
16. A robot vacuum to do your dirty work
A robot vacuum is an easy way to clean hardwood floors.
If you absolutely hate vacuuming, a robot vacuum should be on your registry. While The Knot's top pick was the iRobot Roomba E5, and while we haven’t tested that model yet, here at Reviewed, the best robot vacuum we've ever tested is the iRobot Roomba i7+. Not only does it clean and navigate excellently, it empties itself out in its charging port, which means even less work for you. It’s pricey but is definitely worth it.
Get the iRobot Roomba i7+ from Amazon for $779
17. A food storage set for leftovers
Store leftovers with ease.
Leftovers need to be stored properly, so they stay fresh and are actually edible. Pyrex’s 10-piece glass set topped our list of the best food storage containers, but the OXO Good Grips Pop 20-piece set that The Knot reported is popular on registries and would make a great addition to any kitchen, too. But when we tested them side by side, we found that the Pyrex was oven-safe, unlike the OXO ones, with an elegant look and feel thanks to the glass material.
Get the Pyrex Ultimate 10-pc Storage Set from Williams Sonoma for $62.95
18. A good-quality grilling set
A good set of grilling tools will make your BBQ infinitely better.
A good grilling set is an imperative addition to your wedding registry if you're the couple who always hosts barbecues. According to The Knot, the Cuisinart 13-Piece Grilling Tool Set has everything a grill master could possibly need for the perfect grill setup. Warning: you may end up becoming the permanent barbecue hosts (if you aren't already).
Get the Cuisinart 13-Piece Grilling Tool Set from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $29.99
19. A video doorbell
The Arlo Doorbell beat its competitors as the best smart doorbell.
For anyone who receives package deliveries on the regular, you may want to consider adding a video doorbell to your registry. Our favorite video doorbell is the Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell. Compared to The Knot's pick of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, the Arlo doorbell shows head-to-toe video and allows for custom motion zones (so you don't get an alert every time a car drives by). It also provides a loud and clear way to talk to users at your door and has a more affordable price tag compared to the Ring.
Get the Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell from Amazon for $199.99
20. A smart pet camera
Keep an eye on your furry friend.
Although unconventional, adding a dog camera to your registry is a smart choice for the pet parents out there. As we start going to the office again, you'll still want to keep an eye on your dog—especially if they were a pandemic pup. After a wide barrage of tests, we concluded that the Petcube Bites 2 was the best upgraded smart pet camera. The Petcube starts recording immediately when it detects motion, unlike The Knot's pick (and our former top choice), the Furbo.