Here at Destination I Do, we’re usually blurring the lines of tradition when it comes to weddings. But there are some traditions that make sense when it comes to starting your life together. Building a solid gift registry with items that not only will create memories (think experiential gifts like a hot air balloon ride or catamaran cruise on your honeymoon) but also help make your house a home (think product gifts like flatware or decor). One gift registry item that’s a can’t miss – cookware. This was one we didn’t register for when my husband and I got married and our pots and pans game has been a sad one since the day we said “I do.”

Being that we both love to cook, you’d think it would have been at the top of the list. But we lived on our own before marriage, so the combined menagerie of non-stick pans, cast iron skillets and random hand-me-down pots seemed too plentiful to get something new. What a mistake!  

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t make the same mistake we did:

Cookware Can Be Sexy

Yep, I said it. There’s nothing like starting a date night with your new spouse and filling your beautiful stainless steel stock pot with handmade pasta after you’ve poured yourself a glass of Brunello and settled in for the night. A gorgeous, hand-crafted set like the one from American Kitchen is the best way to not ruin that amazing Italian meal.

Your Recipes Will Turn Out Better

I cannot tell you the number of omelets we’ve ruined through the years because we had a subpar non-stick skillet. Recently, the folks over at Regal Ware sent us this one to test and our omelets came out perfectly on the first try.

You Will Impress Your In-laws

Even if you’re a mediocre cook, with the right cookware, you might just fool them into thinking you’ve got culinary skills. And who doesn’t want to make a good first impression?

You’ll Save Money In the Long Run

Anytime you grab a cool-looking set from HomeGoods or Costco because the price was right, you might regret it. Trust me, I’ve done this more times than I can count. Investing in quality will actually save you in the long run. This full set from American Kitchen is a great foundation to get your kitchen off on the right foot.

Guests Feel Good About The Gift

I hear wedding guests guffaw at items on registries ALL the time. “Ha! I can’t believe they asked for a bike rack!” Or “A tent?! Who puts THAT on a registry?” No one will scoff at a set of pots and pans. Trust me.

In the end, a solid, quality set of cookware is a wonderful tradition to invest in for any couple’s home.