What makes the perfect registry? Our Dream Registry series answers just that, providing an endless source of inspiration for those putting together their own Over The Moon registries. We enlisted the help of some of our most stylish and in-the-know friends—whether they’re single, engaged, or already married. (Because we’re taking a page from Carrie Bradshaw’s playbook and saying one should be able to register for Manolos no matter what their relationship status!) Peek inside the registries of tastemakers, from editors and stylists to wedding planners and beyond. Your dream registry is just a click away.
Over The Moon Contributing Editor Amanda Jones Vaughan and Kevin Vaughan tied the knot in Key Largo, Florida, on March 9, 2019—before the Over The Moon Registry came into being. Now, we’re going back to the Philadelphia-based mother of three, so she can look back at her nuptials and create her OTM Dream Registry for her new home.
While curating her wedding weekend wardrobe, Amanda was sure not to take the location of her nuptials too literally and kept a very open mind. “I never felt tied to a tropical Florida feel,” she says. “I almost wanted to flip it on its head and find things that felt so far from that yet somehow still worked: pearls and black tuxes and fringe and martinis. When you take that and pair it with bare feet in the sand, it’s fun and a little fancy but not fussy which is very me; and very Kevin and I as a couple.” And her approach worked—she has zero regrets five years later!
Amanda’s favorite part of the ceremony was walking down the aisle in her Lela Rose dress with her father as an acoustic rendition of “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson was performed. For the father-daughter dance, they danced to the uptempo version of the same song. “I loved having the song serve as a connection between the two most important men in my life who certainly lift me up whether in harder times or on the dance floor,” she shares.
Her top marriage advice now? “Today, where my feet and heart and family are right now, I would say try your best to find the magic in the moments as much as possible,” Amanda says. Listing out the moments that give them light and love really helps them restore their strength (and sanity). “And if all else fails and everything’s hitting the fan, find someone to take care of your kids for an hour and go get a martini.”
As evidenced throughout her wedding, Amanda is never one to shy away from color, prints, and patterns when it comes to decorating her spaces and filling her wardrobe. “That said, I like to have a more traditional undercurrent to everything to keep it all balanced,” she says. “A vibrant pop of color on the walls or upholstery will be anchored by a vintage piece of furniture or a slightly quirky oil painting I found in a garage sale. . .I aim for things to be fun and never fussy, classic with a hint of cool. . .and ‘let’s be real-able’ [enough] to withstand an impromptu fort in the living room or fly-by soccer ball in the kitchen. Homes are meant to be lived in—aim for pretty, sure, but not precious.”
Since Amanda, Kevin, and their little three boys just moved from NYC to Philadelphia, decorating has been an ongoing process. “I try to find low-lift, cost effective ways to make a house—or teeny tiny apartment!—feel like a home, especially since we rent,” Amanda shares. “I love thrifting and scouring antique stores or getting creative with what’s on my walls—framing record covers, pages from my favorite coffee table books, or my grandmother’s old scarves. If you’re working with a hand-me-down headboard or dining table, fresh linens can bring life to your bed and bathrooms and fun drink-ware can liven up your kitchen shelves and tabletop. I’m also a forever fan of removable wallpaper and how it can transform a space while on a budget. If you’re there for a good time but not a long time, you might as well have some fun with the space—while still getting your security deposit back!”
For inspiration, the contributing editor looks to her mother for the most important guidance. Amanda’s also loves coffee table books and says those by Bunny Mellon, David Hicks, and Furlow Gatewood are her faves. “From the titles alone, Every Room Should Sing by Beata Heuman and Beige is Not a Color by Carlos Mota can speak to a lot of my ethos when designing,” she says.
Amanda’s Dream Registry focuses on new linens and bath towels, along with pieces that can serve multiple purposes from the kitchen to the kids’ room to backyard hosting. “I wish I would’ve taken the opportunity to invest in the luxe towels and linens that truly stand the test of time,” she says of her original wedding registry. “Our bath towels were great but brands like Matouk have been a mainstay for 100 years for a reason!”
On this new registry, Amanda highlights the large Pinet plant pot. “[It’s] for plants, of course, but also for baby toys, blankets, balls, a big arrangement of farmers market flowers. All three sizes of this planter will be on heavy rotation in our house,” she states. For her table, Amanda chooses a botanical serviette set. “These napkins—and the whole botanical series from Nadia & Co.—feels special while also versatile. They’ll be a mainstay for my place settings winter, spring, summer, and fall!”
Lastly, Amanda looks to the Pomegranate shower curtain for her bathroom. “While my shower singing is always off-key, this curtain will make my bathroom and heart belt the happiest tune with its punchy citrus print and happy colorway,” she gushes.
Amanda leaves us with important wisdom for couples currently making their Over The Moon Registry: “Have fun with it and give yourself time to tweak it. I started it out just adding a few items before getting overwhelmed, but soon-enough, I got into a groove and things started to take shape. A bit like wedding dress shopping, sometimes the first appointment or two are just to take the edge off before you really figure out what you want!”
Shop Amanda Jones Vaughan’s Dream Registry!
Tabletop
Kitchen
Home & Decor
Bed & Bath
