The Best Gifts for Newlyweds Are Things They’ll Actually Use

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• A Powerful Stand Mixer

  

  Photograph: Adrienne So

  Ooni

  Halo Pro Spiral Dough Mixer

  When I got married, I got a KitchenAid mixer. So did my editor, Kat Merck, and WIRED reviewer Adrienne So. But a new stand mixer Adrienne’s obsessed with may help put a fresh spin on an age-old custom. The Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer has double the capacity of a standard KitchenAid (7.3 quarts, to be exact). This increased output may not seem like the biggest deal, but I’m here to tell you, it is—the bigger size means it’s easier to make bigger batches more quickly. Family dinners and parties are much more pleasant when you’re not waiting for the latest serving of fresh whipped cream to be ready.

  Adrienne also points out that, unlike other stand mixers that get loud and overheat easily, the Halo Pro can handle just about anything you throw at it. It’s not complicated to use and has plenty of attachments to work with, and there’s even an interior light so you can keep an eye on your progress. Throw in a cookbook to go along with it. (Adrienne recommends Ken Forkish’s Flour Water Salt Yeast—Kat also edited and recipe tested for it.)

• A Reliable Coffee Grinder

  

  Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  Funny enough, my husband actually bought this Oxo on a whim when the coffee grinder we recieved as a wedding gift died. We’ve been obsessed with it ever since, and it’s also championed by WIRED kitchen expert and tester Matthew Korfhage. This grinder is really easy to use. Twist the top “cone” to choose from among 15 grind settings; the dial underneath can be adjusted for amount dispensed. Maybe it’s a one-pot kind of day, or perhaps you’re cosplaying as a barista. Just press the center button when you’re ready to go.

  I’ve found that it’s pretty easy to keep this grinder clean. The hopper and grounds container are dishwasher safe. (Hand-washing is better, but I’m lazy, alas.) We brush out the internal burrs regularly to keep the grounds fresh. Overall, it’s quick and efficient, and it helps us make a mean cup of coffee every morning.

• A Coffee Maker Built for a Lifetime

  • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  Moccamaster

  KBGV Select Coffee Maker

  We can’t talk about coffee grinders without touching on coffee makers too. I’ve had rotten luck in this arena, truth be told. I was hoping that the coffee maker I was gifted at my wedding would last a whopping 20 years, like my parents’ did, but it barely made it past my second anniversary.

  Upon polling friends and family and consulting WIRED tester Matthew Korfhage, the Moccamaster KBGV Select was consistently mentioned as a top pick. And Matthew deems it the best “buy it for life” option. Which is a big deal, because that man does not mess around when it comes to his coffee. My best friend in Denmark was also raving about this machine, which has been made in the Netherlands since 1968.

  So, how does the Moccamaster KBGV Select manage near-immortality for a coffee maker? Not only are the materials high quality, but they also come with a five-year warranty, and there’s a stateside repair center in Oregon if it breaks. It prioritizes the temperature you want for brewing flavorful coffee and maintains it. It does such a good job with this that it’s certified by the rigorous Specialty Coffee Association.

• A Do-It-All Pan

  

  Good cookware is invaluable when you and your spouse are first setting up your home together, as you’ll be relying on it day and night. Finding nonstick options that also don’t have eyebrow-raising additives (like PFAs) is also a must these days. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe has tried the best of the best, but to quote her in her review of the Our Place Always Pan 2.0, she’s “always reaching for [her] Always pan” over the All-Clads and other luxury options she has tried.

  This pan is a beauty and was designed to facilitate “10-in-1” cooking, from searing a steak and cooking pasta to scrambling eggs. It’s got a steam-lock lid, a spoon-rest handle attached to the pan, two pour spouts, and the ability to bake in a 450-degree-Fahrenheit oven. A Renaissance pan, if you will.

• A Meal-Kit Delivery Service

  • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

  Let me paint a picture for you: You and your spouse both just got home from work, and it was an excruciatingly long day. The goal is to eat a healthy, home-cooked meal and not spend an exorbitant amount on takeout, but your energy levels are at a mission-critical low level. A meal-kit subscription that was gifted in advance for times like these can make your everyday routine so much easier, especially if your schedule is jam-packed.

  WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfhage is a former food critic, and he devoted a lot of time to testing meal kits to see which would be worth your time. Ultimately, his favorite ended up being Marley Spoon. This brand, endorsed by Martha Stewart, combines truly high-quality ingredients to create outstanding recipes. When life gets busy, this is a fun way to carve out some time together for a meal.

• Quality Bedsheets

  Cozy Earth

  Bamboo Sheet Set

  Good bedsheets, when you take care of them, should last. Cozy Earth sheets rank among the best of the best in my book, and they have a luxurious feel that’s well-suited for this occasion. While the relatively high price may raise some eyebrows, with proper care they’ll last a long time (I’ve had mine for years!).

  The basis of these bedsheets is bamboo viscose, a hypoallergenic, natural, temperature-regulating material. As a bonus, it’s softer than soft. So whatever your individual sleep needs may be, from sensitive skin to overheating, bamboo sheets do well to address those and keep you comfortable. Plus, these are ethically made and have deep pockets to fit various mattress heights. The weave has a bit of weight to it, so the fabric isn’t too thin. I also appreciate the packaging it comes in, which is usually wrapped like a present—ideal for gifting.

• A Supportive Mattress

  Wolf

  Memory Foam Hybrid Premium Firm Mattress

  You may think that gifting a mattress is weird, but you have no idea how many times I’ve seen a newly married couple inherit a 20-year-old mattress from a family member. Mattresses are meant to last around 10 years and some change—support is not going to be the best if you end up going with used. Maybe you already have a mattress you like but need one for a guest room—this is an easy item to ask for so that you’re prepared when family comes to stay for the holidays.

  I am a big fan of the Wolf Luxury Firm Memory Foam Hybrid (Premium Firm if you go to the site; it’s the same thing) for many reasons. First, I find that the medium-firm support is easy to get along with. For couples with different sleeping positions, it’s going to help with lumbar support, pressure relief, and edge support. Emphasis on that last bit—newlywed couples obviously want a good mattress for sex, too. The Wolf mattress is also wonderfully cooling and has been a hit in testing with many team members.

• A Dyson Vacuum

  

  Photograph: Dyson

  I still have the Dyson vacuum I received as a wedding gift—I was grateful to get it, as it was far nicer than what I could afford at the time. Plus, it’s still kicking after six years, which is astounding for how much I’ve used it! It may not be the flashiest gift, but it will certainly be used.

  Dyson’s Ball Animal 3 Extra is invaluable if you have pets or really crave a deep clean. While I’m a fan of stick vacuums as well, upright vacuums like this one perform on a whole other level. From both my own and team testing, I know this vacuum has no issues cleaning up both carpets and hardwood floors. The filter keeps everything tidy and doesn’t clog. While it has a cord and is very loud, it does an exemplary job of getting up all the pet hair, dust, and dander I didn’t want to know about in my house.

• A Classy Carry-On

  

  Photograph: Beis

  Béis

  the Carry On Roller Suitcase

  Whether you’re about to embark on your honeymoon or you’re packing it up to hit the road for the holidays, you’ll need some solid luggage. It needs to hold up well, because we all know TSA isn’t exactly wrapping your belongings up with bubble wrap. Enter the tried-and-true carry-on bag. While you may doubt the size of this suitcase, if you pack it with some packing cubes and use a strategic approach, there’s enough space for two people (or one extensive closet). We’ve done international trips packing for two in our one carry-on without issue.

  WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell loves the Beis carry-on. According to her review, it’s lightweight, has fun colorways and a retracting strap for a small bag to be attached to the suitcase, and comes with its own organizational system. There is also a built-in scale on the side, which will let you know when you go overboard and bypass the 50-pound weight limit.

• A Pizza Oven

  We’ve covered the essentials for setting up a comfortable home together, so now let’s shift our focus to things I personally wish I had asked for when I got married, like a pizza oven.

  WIRED reviewer Adrienne So admits she makes a lot of pizza with her pizza oven—for science, of course. She puts together dough with the Halo Pro Spiral Mixer, and boom, it’s a backyard pizza party. The Karu 2 from Ooni is a pretty lightweight 33.7 pounds, but it can churn out some serious ’za. The larger fuel tray results in increased heat output, allowing the pizza stone you use to cook your pizza evenly.

• A Viral Ice Cream Maker

  

  Photograph: Ninja Kitchen; Getty Images

  Need a date night idea? Here you go. My husband and I are enamored with our Creami, and we regularly try out new recipes with which to dazzle each other. The Creami makes it stupidly easy to make ice cream, granitas, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, gelatos, and Italian ices.

  It takes some planning ahead, since you have to freeze your ingredients before using them in one of the provided canisters. But if you’re feral for sweet treats like I am, this is one kitchen appliance you won’t be able to get enough of.

• For Quality Sleep

  

  Photograph: Louryn Strampe

  While this product may initially seem like a head-scratcher, let me tell you—it has saved my sanity. It is also now the number one holiday wish list item for many of my family members, based on my household’s experience.

  Manta’s sleep masks are designed to create a completely dark environment, helping you achieve optimal sleep. The eye cups are designed to relieve pressure on your eyeballs. The Manta Sound features a built-in speaker system, allowing you to listen to your preferred color of noise or any other sleep sounds you prefer. Or, in my husband’s case, YouTube explainers on how to repair a roof.

• A Subscription Box They’ll Love

  New couples are going to be getting plenty of stuff in the mail, and most of it is boring: bills, notices, paperwork. Fun mail gives them something to look forward to, especially if it’s a subscription box tailored to their interests. Like, for instance, coffee, where they can share notes on their morning cup of joe together with each shipment.

  There really is a subscription for everything. We’ve tried steak subscription boxes, tech-focused subscription boxes, and even vinyl records. Going the subscription-box route is a fun way that your gift can keep giving long after the “I do’s” have been exchanged.

• A Gaming System

  

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Game night takes on a whole new meaning with a Nintendo Switch 2. I think we can all agree this is a pretty iconic wedding gift to give as well. Board games are super fun, but I know I can get really competitive with Mario Kart—the dual-controller capacity of this system helped me lock in and defeat my opponent (my spouse).

  WIRED reviewer Matt Kamen tested the Switch 2 and noticed some serious upgrades, including a bigger size and screen with more resolution.

• For Preserving Wedding Memories

  Aura

  Aspen Digital Photo Frame

  I’d bet you a slice of pizza and 10 bucks that your couple probably spent a good chunk of change on a wedding photographer. Even if they had family and friends capture their big day, they’ll want to be reminded of all the happy memories. For those who can’t pick just one favorite photo to display, a digital photo frame will come in clutch.

  WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell found that the Aura Aspen digital photo frame had a lot of versatility. It can be pivoted to portrait or landscape mode, plus it has unlimited storage and a display that doesn’t give computer screen vibes.

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