SATURDAY: UPTOWN
1. First stop: Gracious Home. The home accessories look more expensive than they are: The Retro Kitchen Wall Clock with a built-in timer for cooking ($24.99) and Marie Pi hampers ($195) look like they belong in a downtown design boutique. 1220 Third Ave., at 70th St.
2. Next visit the new Asprey store. Ask to see the collection of home games—backgammon, chess, oversize dominos (from $1,750). Much friendlier in price range are the sterling-silver and crystal-horn salad servers (from $220) or pieces from their Matchstriker Blue china (from $65). 853 Madison Ave., nr. 70th St.
3. Walk a few blocks south to Frette. Your friends may balk at the high-priced sheets, but the gorgeous bathrobes ($550 each) or terry bath towels (from $55) are a bit more affordable. 799 Madison Ave., at 68th St.
4. Take a quick detour to William Wayne & Co. , where you can pick up fussy home décor, if that’s your taste—like the white bird tureen and stand reproduced from original Arts Decoratifs pieces in the Louvre (from $250) or a pair of porcelain garden seats with which to flank your mantel at home should you be lucky enough to have one ($525 each). 850 Lexington Ave., nr. 64th St.
5. Back on Madison, the sterling Blossom pattern cutlery at Georg Jensen is amazing, but at $4,125 a place setting, you might do better by asking for the Jean Nouvel pattern ($114 for one five-piece setting). 685 Madison Ave., at 62nd St.
6. Nearby, Christofle’s Vertigo collection features Pyrex baking dishes cradled in silver-plate stands—beautiful and practical (from $370). For something less contemporary, ask for their silver tea services (from $210). 680 Madison Ave., at 62nd St.
7. At Barneys New York, go to the ninth floor for one-of-a-kind finds like Aletha Soulé stoneware crockery (from $11). 660 Madison Ave., at 61st St.
8. Next door, at Calvin Klein, check out the skinny stainless-steel flatware (from $70) and tall wood and ceramic vases (from $300) only available here. 654 Madison Ave., at 60th St.
9. At lunchtime, go to the Nicole Farhi store, known for its ceramics and mouth-blown glassware, including the Tunisian punched collection (from $40). Stop in to Nicole’s for a healthy, Cali-style lunch that won’t ruin your pre-wedding diet. 10 E. 60th St., at Fifth Ave.
10. Refueled, you’re ready for Crate & Barrel. Look for pricier statement pieces elsewhere and concentrate on the practical here: Staxx stoneware coffee mugs designed to occupy less space inside cabinets ($4.95 each), as well as Acacia wood trays (from $29.95), handblown cheese domes ($32.95) and microwave-safe tajines ($29.95) ideal for a mellow housewarming party. 650 Madison Ave., at 60th St.
11. Stop in the 3,000-square-foot porcelain emporium that is Bernardaud. Consider one of their many patterns, like the traditional Grand Versailles (from $415 per setting) to the clean Digital (from $90 per setting). 499 Park Ave., at 59th St.
12. Take some time in Williams-Sonoma, one block east. Feel yourself acquiescing to KitchenAid Mixer bridal peer pressure ($299.95). 121 E. 59th St., at Lexington Ave.
13. The convenient one-stop-shop that is Bloomingdale’s has everything you need on the sixth floor, from All-Clad stainless-steel tea kettles ($99.99) to Wusthof knives ($299 for the classic eight-piece block set). 1000 Third Ave., at 59th St.
SATURDAY: UPTOWN (Cont’d)
14. Make T. Anthony your next stop. For weekend jaunts to the Hamptons consider the relatively affordable canvas-and-leather Concorde duffel ($395); the more-expensive sets can wait for your first anniversary. 445 Park Ave., at 56th St.
15. Next go to the seventh floor at Bergdorf Goodman. Asking for the entire Assouline book collection ($600) is a dream, but registering for an assortment of Leontine linens (from $5) is realistic. 754 Fifth Ave., at 57th St.
16. Walk across the street to Tiffany & Co. The Federal patterned china is an heirloom in the making (from $300 for one five-piece setting). 727 Fifth Ave., at 57th St.
17. At Takashimaya New York, go to the third floor, where the superthin ceramic pieces by Christiane Perrochon sing like crystal (from $95). 693 Fifth Ave., at 54th St.
18. Stop into Saks Fifth Avenue for Oscar de la Renta trays (from $150) and frames (from $70) or even a Bose SoundDock Digital Music System for your iPod ($299). 611 Fifth Ave., at 49th St.
19. Last stop: The basement at Michael C. Fina. Peruse china patterns by Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Versace, and more. 545 Fifth Ave., at 45th St.
SUNDAY: DOWNTOWN
1. Kick off Day 2 at The Home Depot. The DeWalt compact Drill kit ($209) and Black & Decker toolbox set ($29.97) are good choices, as are the flat-screens ($449 for a 26-inch Toshiba) and Weber grills ($299). 40 W. 23rd St., nr. Sixth Ave.
2. Restoration Hardware is a new homeowner’s haven. The Damask wallpaper (from $45) is beautiful; just as romantic are the bronze hooks ($20 each) and matching Library Swing-Arm wall sconces ($149 each). Or upgrade with a European goose-down-topped feather bed instead ($199 for a queen). 935 Broadway, at 22nd St.
3. At Fishs Eddy, scout your everyday cereal bowl and coffee mug. The primary-colored monochromatic Pantone palette plates are your best bet (from $12). 889 Broadway, at 19th St.
4. Through ABC Carpet & Home’s gift-certificate program, your entire wedding party can chip in on a single big-ticket item (like a $2,250 chandelier). If putting a four-digit item on your list is out of the question, there are less-pricey options. 881 and 888 Broadway, at 19th St.
5. Cross the street to Paragon Sports to find Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars, ideal for both a safari honeymoon and spying on your neighbors. Or his-and-hers North Face sleeping bags ($238.95) if you flee the city on weekends. 867 Broadway, at 18th St.
6. Around the block, at Tarallucci e Vino , order wine with your lunch—you’ll need it to brave the hordes at the next store. 15 E. 18th St., nr. Broadway.
7. At Bed Bath & Beyond, make a beeline for the Miele Antares vacuums ($479). Pricey but worth it. 620 Sixth Ave., at 18th St.
SUNDAY: DOWNTOWN (Cont’d)
8. Take the F train (at 14th Street and Sixth Avenue) to West 4th Street, then the C to Spring Street, and go to Global Table to find décor from all over the world. The antler candlesticks in aluminum appeal to high-design taste on a mass-market budget ($50), as do the multicolor Dutch etched-glass tumblers ($70 for six). 107 Sullivan St., nr. Spring St.
9. At Clio, you’ll get more arty glass and ceramics, and you won’t find their rehabilitated dinnerware anywhere else (from $65). 92 Thompson St., nr. Spring St.
10. The hunt’s not complete until you’ve reached Moss. Though a chandelier can go for $24,000 here, you’ll also find conversation pieces that won’t make your guests shudder. The Tord Boontje charger plates are only $70, and the blown Murano glass night bottle is $195. 150 Greene St., nr. Houston St.
11. Go to the Jonathan Adler store, where you can customize a rug for $25 a square foot. The Claridge table-lamp collection, with its crystal base and black dupioni silk shade, is not as cheeky as his other stuff (from $350). 47 Greene St., at Broome St.
12. Stop by Sur La Table to investigate specialty kitchen items like the Staub paella pan ($109.95), Titanium wok ($21.95), and Le Creuset fondue pot ($100). They also have cookbooks—from Alain Ducasse on how to make dessert ($195) to Martha Stewart’s comprehensive housekeeping book ($45). 75 Spring St., at Crosby St.
13. And for the last hurrah, head to John Derian Company, where the registry is old-school—a notebook behind the counter. Select a one-of-a-kind découpage plate created by Derian himself ($66 to $950); his woodcock set is a witty take on an Audubon classic. They’ll look perfect in your new home. 6 E. 2nd St., nr. Bowery.