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.
Writer and brand consultant Harling Ross and her fiancé, Austin, currently live in New York City, awaiting their July 2021 wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. The ceremony and reception will be outdoors. “I decided to just have family members as bridesmaids—my two sisters and my sister-in-law,” Harling explains. “We’ve all been friends since we were children—Austin and I met when we were 11 years old, so I’ve known him and his siblings for 18 years!”
Akin to Marie Condo, Harling focuses on interior pieces that make her happy. She doesn’t stress on everything matching and always wants her space to feel comfortable and inviting. “In that sense, my decorating philosophy is less strategic than it is emotional,” she says. “One of my favorite pastimes is combing through pages and pages on Etsy and eBay, so most of the pieces in my apartment are vintage.”
And when it comes to inspiration, she loves following interior designers on Instagram—especially Beata Heuman and Meta Coleman.
For her Dream Registry, Harling was influenced by thoughts of “future dinner parties!” “We’d been living in our current apartment less than a year when the pandemic hit, so [we] never had much of an opportunity to host people,” she remarks. “I’ve been fantasizing about finally getting the chance to extend our fold-out kitchen table and have an excuse to put out place settings for more than just two people.”
Her must-have picks from Over The Moon reflect that desire to bring people together and include “sweet, simple tea towels, this handy 3-in-1 kitchen tool, and colorful stemless wine glasses.” She adds, “I love how these placemats feel special but not overly fancy. I imagine myself using them just as often for a low-key weekday meal, as I would for something a little more festive, like having friends over.”
And once their wedding photos are printed, Harling is already excited to have portraits ready to put into frames like this bamboo-style one.
Her advice for couples putting together their own registries? “There’s so much online literature prescribing what you ‘should’ register for, but not everyone needs an 8-cup food processor—or has the space to store one, for that matter,” she wisely says. “If you do decide to go the traditional registry route—as opposed to a honeymoon fund or something more experience-based—think about what you actually need or will use most often and what you have space to accommodate. Ask yourself what things will still be relevant in your life five or ten years from now. Figure out what your ideal ratio of purely practical stuff to fun or aesthetically pleasing stuff is because it’s different for everyone.” We couldn’t agree more.
Shop Harling Ross’s Dream Registry below!
