Every bride-to-be knows that her fairytale marriage doesn’t end with her special wedding day. In fact, it marks the beginning of a beautiful, and sometimes challenging, journey. After my pilgrimage from bride-to-be to fully-fledged newlywed, I highly recommend my fellow upcoming brides to prepare themselves for the journey ahead. From flexing your culinary talents in the kitchen to managing what would become your future dream home—every bride needs her tools. For these tools, let Williams-Sonoma, the luxury home furnishings and gourmet cookware specialist, be your wedding partner with their dedicated Wedding Gift Service.

Having a Registry, or Wedding Gift list, is one of the best things you could do as a bride-to-be. You might think you have it all figured out, trust me, you’ll forget so many things! Or, you’ll end up with 5 toasters, for instance, and would have to go through the hassle of returning and exchanging gifts. When you sign up for the Wedding Gift Service at Williams-Sonoma, you get to furnish every room in your new home with your significant other, the way YOU want it. You’ll find an exclusive assortment of gourmet products for cooking, and luxury products for entertaining and living. They’re designed to last a lifetime and you won’t find them anywhere else. If the idea of creating a list baffles you, then you shouldn’t feel deterred, as there’s a Williams-Sonoma’s dedicated Wedding Gift Concierge to make the process easy and enjoyable. As an added touch of exclusivity, you can even make your gifts more memorable with a monogram. Many registry items can easily be personalized with the initials, names or phrases of your choice. This way, not only have you simplified the process for yourself, but also for friends and loved ones who want to contribute to your happiness in starting a new home.

First things first: the kitchen. If you believe that research and practice make for culinary success, then you’re right on the mark. If Julia Child can master the art of French cooking, then with the right tools, you’re well on your way to owning the kitchen with all of its challenges. Whether you’re looking to experiment with new recipes or you love tried and true family favorites and wish to recreate your own version, Williams-Sonoma has a beautiful range of cookware, electronic appliances and cooking tools to make cooking and presentation effortlessly elegant.

There’s something charmingly rustic about cast-iron cookware, and the French Staub enameled collection emanates with comfort. The colorful cast iron cookware, now available in Emerald at Williams-Sonoma, reflects meticulous attention to detail that enhance every dish you prepare. These are designed to last a lifetime, from specifically engineered textured cooking surfaces and self-basting lids to the innovative multi-coat enameling. The beautiful, heat-retaining pieces go directly from the stovetop or oven directly to the table and are dishwater safe. Also for added kitchen functionality, the All-Clad collection serves to deliver flawless cooking, from simple sautés to special dinners. And for the ultimate sous-chef, any, if not all, of the KitchenAid electrics need to be on your Wedding Gift list at Williams-Sonoma. KitchenAid mixers, for instance, come with a myriad selection of attachments that shorten your mise en place time, making the process of baking the perfect birthday cake, or making those scrumptious breakfast pancakes, a breeze.

Now that you’ve conquered the kitchen, and your Wedding Gift list is well underway, it’s time to consider how your culinary delicacies will be presented at the dinner table. At Williams-Sonoma, setting the table is anything but mundane. You can get creative in matching your dinnerware with its accompanying flatware, stunning glassware and linens that speak to your personal style. The collection of fine china in store delivers effortless chic to the dinner table, turning your delicious meal into an artful masterpiece. For timeless elegance, we recommend mixing plain white china with exquisite patterns like those of the Wedgewood Renaissance Gold. Known for its decorative motifs by the neoclassical architect and designer Robert Adam, this iconic dinnerware pattern comes in several colors, finished with hand-lined gold band. Moreover, you can personalize your china from Williams-Sonoma for certain product lines, where your dinnerware is monogrammed with the initials of your choice. Make sure your dinnerware choice is accompanied by adding a selection of fine crystal Riedel Glassware to your Wedding Gift list. You can even make your wedding day extra special, by choosing from the wide selection of place settings for your reception dinner or wedding soiree for inimitable elegance.

After you’ve completed your list for the kitchen and dinner table, it’s time to pay attention to where you would be spending most of your time, the living and sleeping quarters. Giving form, and a personal touch, to your home is simplified at Williams-Sonoma, as there is a collection of luxurious living, dining and bedroom furniture just perfect for you. Make sure to select some items for the bedroom for your Wedding Gift list, such as the finest bed linens for the bedroom in the form of the Percale Border bed linens, which boast a 300-thread count Egyptian cotton. You’ll absolutely fall in love with the clean lines of the Gramercy Bed, along with luxurious bath accessories such as the Chambers Heritage Towels set. Here, the added option of personalization is also available, as all bed linens and towels can be monogrammed with your name or initials in either English or Arabic. For the living room, the Addison Sofa will make for a conversation starter at your next gathering as its esthetically pleasing silhouette, its slim arms and interesting nail head trim, will capture the attention of your guests. Last but definitely not least, when it comes to selecting your dining table, careful consideration is of the utmost importance. After all, this is the place where you will host many dinners, have family lunches, and even spend time planning your days ahead. For this, the strong lines of the Hermitage Dining Table, simple yet ornate, will fit your lifestyle perfectly.

If you’re about to start the journey of a lifetime, choose Williams-Sonoma to be your wedding partner. It’s as simple as calling your store to arrange a private consultation to discuss your needs. They’ll make setting up your first home together easy for you, your family and friends. Williams-Sonoma is located in the Grand Avenue – The Avenues. Please call 2228 3101 or visit www.williams-sonoma.me.