SPECIAL SECTION
FOR YOUR HOME
The best small appliances for wedding gifts
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BY KYRA GEMBERLING
ARE YOU invited to a wedding this month?
You may even be invited to several—
October is now the most popular month to
get married, according to The Knot ;;;;
Real Weddings Study ( theknot.com),
which surveyed nearly ;;,;;; U.S. brides
and grooms who were married last year.
With a wedding invitation comes the
expectation of a present or two, and small
kitchen appliances are tried-and-true gifts
that will make any couple happy. “The
reason this category is so
popular with newlyweds is
that it includes products
that are necessities for new
homeo wners, yet many couples upgrade their selections due to owning starter
appliances in their first
apartment or home,” says
Mary M. Rodgers, director
of marketing and communications at Cuisinart.
Also, such practical gifts
will likely last for a decade
or two, says Kim Moody,
Moody Design and the
retail gift boutique Trend,
both based in Richmond,
Virginia. “Guests are fond of
the idea that an appliance will
have longevity in a couple’s
union and does not go out of
style,” she says.
Here are some items that will serve as
functional and appreciated
additions to a newlywed
couple’s kitchen.
Coffee maker
For couples who enjoy
a good ca;eine ;x, this is
an absolute necessity, advises Moody. Coffee makers are available for all budgets, including inexpensive
French press versions,
automatic co;ee machines
and single-serve brewers
(great for those with
To have and to hold
limited countertop space).
For a more upscale gift, consider an
espresso machine with features such as a
built-in milk frother and a tamper.
Stand mixer
A handheld mixer will get the job done,
but for avid bakers a stand mixer is the way
to go for more power, less mess and faster
results. Katie Valder of Charlotte, North
Carolina, who got married in ;;;;, says
that a stand mixer was her favorite wedding gift by far.
“I grew up baking with my dad and
made many memories using my parents’
old, cream-colored stand mixer,” she says.
“Since getting my own, I have already
made new memories (and lots of cookies)!”
Food processor
With its ability to chop, shred, slice,
puree, grind and more, this versatile
kitchen tool cuts preparation time do wn to
a minimal amount. “We use our food processor to blend all sorts of sauces and
dressings,” says Jenny Lankford, a Costco
member in Richmond who was married in
;;;;. “We also use it to chop and slice
vegetables that are hard to cut
small using a knife alone.”
Slow cooker
Another kitchen
necessity, slow cookers
involve one-step preparation and slow cooking
times. This makes it easy to
have a delicious meal waiting at the end of the day,
perfect for busy new couples. As a result of
the long, low-temperature cooking, slow
cookers tenderize meat and bring out the
;avor in a wide variety of foods.
Rice cooker and warmer
This handy, affordable appliance
makes it easy to cook a staple food item
consistently by simply adding water or
stock. “Young working professionals will
enjoy a rice cooker because they are quick
and easy to use with very simple cleanup,”
Moody says. “My husband and I have been
married for ;; years, and we still use our
rice cooker on a weekly basis.”
reason this category is so
that are necessities for new
appliances in their first
of marketing and commu-
functional and appreciated
couple’s kitchen.
a good ca;eine ;x, this is
an absolute necessity, advises Moody. Coffee makers are available for all budgets, including inexpensive
French press versions,
automatic co;ee machines
THECOSTCOCONNECTION
Costco and Costco.com offer members
a wide variety of small (and large) appliances for the kitchen, including coffee
and espresso makers, stand mixers,
food processors, countertop ovens,
slow cookers and more.
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