You're about to be married! And while you are planning for one of the most special and memorable days of your life, you'll also be preparing for your future days together with your husband. You'll begin to realize dreams of a new life as you take part in the tradition of the bridal registry. Now is your opportunity to form a once-in-a-lifetime wish list of beautiful tableware and other home furnishings you and your fiance would appreciate receiving as wedding gifts.
One of the first items to consider for your new home is china, whether it's a casual, contemporary pattern in durable earthenware or a formal, traditional pattern made from fine bone china. Either way, you should choose good quality china to set the most attractive table.
Many couples enjoy registering for two china patterns: one for casual dining and one for formal entertaining. In fact, many brides keep a few place settings of their fine china on hand at all times for serving romantic candlelit dinners for two or special weekend breakfasts in bed. What are the differences between an informal stoneware and fine china? Stoneware and earthenware are thicker and heavier while china is lighter and more glasslike.
Fine china, or porcelain, is made from kaolin clay, a fine white clay found in China, feldspar and flint. These materials are fired at extremely high temperatures to form a nonporous ceramic. Bone china is a variation which includes bone ash to intensify whiteness. To see the difference between porcelain and other china, hold a piece to the light and place your hand behind it. You should be able to see the shadow of your hand behind the porcelain.
You may be pleasantly surprised by the many patterns available when you first visit the store where you will set up your bridal registry. Actually, you might even be overwhelmed. Choose your pattern only after looking at many different styles. Your choices range from solid-band borders to all-over florals. If the look of your home is modern, you might consider a bold geometric. For a country or Victorian theme, there are many lovely patterns with florals or simple lines.
At the outset of your marriage you will need standard five-piece place settings: Dinner plate, salad or dessert plate, bread-and-butter plate, cup and saucer. Registering for additional pieces such as cereal or soup bowls, serving platters and vegetable bowls will round out your entertaining essentials. You might also consider adding demitasse cups and saucers, a coffeepot and/or teapot, salad bowls, soup tureen, gravy boat and table accessories, such as napkin rings, which may be available in your pattern.
It is a good idea to register for enough china for eight to 12 people. Although you may not receive a complete set of your china, you will probably acquire enough to host a small dinner party soon after you return from your honeymoon. Through the years you can add to your collection as your family grows and your entertaining increases.
When it comes to proper cleaning and storage of fine tableware, little effort is required to keep your china squeaky clean and ready for entertaining. Many fine china patterns can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher using a mild detergent on a gentle cycle. Be sure to place each piece in a secure position so that they do not tap each other during washing. Because extremely high heat can sometimes damage fine china, it is best to let dishes air dry by stopping the dishwasher before the dry cycle begins and leaving the door ajar.
Some patterns such as those with gold edges or hand-painted details need extra care and should be cleaned by hand. When washing by hand, be sure to place a rubber mat in the bottom of the sink and use hot, sudsy water. Dishes with dried-on food should be soaked in warm water for several minutes; never use abrasives such as scouring powders and steel wool on fine china.
Fine china should either be stored in plate racks placed on cabinet shelves or stacked with a piece of flannel placed between each dish. Hang cups separately from tiny hooks or stack them no more than two high.
There's nothing prettier than a glass-front china cabinet for displaying gleaming plates and delicate tea cups. Keeping your china in an accessible place rather than in a hard-to-reach cabinet or guest room closet, will make it easy to use your china regularly. If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace in your dining room, consider decorating the mantle with plates, or add a special accent to your dining room table by placing an elegant soup tureen there for a centerpiece.
Your graciously appointed table will be enriched by the brilliance of stunning crystal glasses and your guests will know you appreciate their company as they raise their glasses to toast your hospitality.
You and your fiance should choose a fine crystal pattern as a companion to your china and flatware. And like china and flatware, an endless variety of crystal patterns awaits you at the store. Some patterns feature intricate cuts or floral etching. Others are more subtle with a few simple lines. And some crystal is elegantly simple with no decoration at all. You'll also find that bowl shapes vary from perfectly rounded to elongated. Observing various manufacturer's lines of crystal will help you become familiar with the many shapes and styles. Beginning with the basics will prepare you for many occasions in the first years of your marriage.
How does crystal differ from simple glass? Sand mixed with other natural elements produces glass. When lead is added to the mixture, the result is crystal, which is heavier, clearer and much more brilliant than glass. Crystal is also softer than glass, allowing it to be cut into exquisite and intricate patterns.
Crystal can be classified according to function: stemware and barware. Many couples enjoy registering for both. Most stems are multipurpose and can be used for a variety of social gatherings. A wine glass is essentially all-purpose and can be used for everything from fresh-squeezed juice in the morning to soft drinks in the evening.
When you register, begin with the three basic sizes of crystal stemware: wine glass, water goblet and champagne glass. You'll find that iced tea and juices can be attractively served in the water goblet, and if you choose a traditional coupe size champagne glass it can be used for ice cream and other fancy desserts. Flute- or trumpet-shaped champagne glasses can also hold some desserts and puddings.
Register for a dozen of each of the basic sizes. Later, you can add to your crystal collection with sherry glasses and brandy snifters. Of course, you always have the option of registering for barware as well. A high-ball glass is used most often for mixed cocktails, soft drinks, iced tea and milk. A low-ball glass holds straight drinks with ice as well as morning juices. Since barware is often used before guests are seated for dinner, it is perfectly acceptable to choose a different pattern for your formal stemware than your more casual barware.
With proper care crystal will last for generations. Since it is breakable, choose an open-stock pattern so you can easily replace any broken glasses.
These days, most fine crystal patterns can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Some newer models even offer a gentle cycle specifically for china and crystal, with a special rack to accommodate stemware. Be sure to arrange each piece in the dishwasher carefully and securely. If you feel unsure about using the dishwasher, your best bet is to wash each piece by hand in warm water using a mild, sudsy cleanser. Be sure to place a rubber mat in the bottom of the sink for cushioning. Adding a splash of household ammonia to the water will help your crystal maintain its sparkle, and a little vinegar in the rinse water will reduce spotting.
If you discover a tiny chip in your crystal you may gently file it down with a very fine emery board. However, anything other than the tiniest chip should be repaired by a professional.
To avoid breakage, crystal should be stored right side up to protect the delicate rims of the glass. Barware is often hung upside down on special bar racks. Space crystal stemware evenly on shelves so that no pieces touch -- crowding can result in tiny cracks and chips.
For centuries, sterling silver has been the hallmark of gracious living as well as entertaining. Receiving gifts of silver listed on your bridal registry is certain to impart an enduring sense of tradition to your new home. For many, it is the treasure of a lifetime meant to be enjoyed often and passed down from generation to generation.
Today's casual lifestyle can be enhanced by the elegant addition of fine silver at any dining occasion, whether it's a formal dinner for 12 or a country picnic for just the two of you.
Because your choice of silver will probably become the most expensive part of your tableware collection, it is important that you make wise choices and recognize the advantages of fine silver. The pattern you choose should reflect your good taste as well as complement your choices of china and crystal. When you begin to shop you'll discover that there is a seemingly endless array of patterns available. Many patterns have been in existence for over a century. Your first step will be to determine your basic style preference: traditional or modern, ornate or simple. From this point you may choose from classic baroque, Victorian, colonial American, provincial, modern Scandinavian and many others.
Besides the pattern, you will need to determine the flatware grade you want. Sterling is the highest quality of silver and is therefore the most expensive, with price based upon weight and the degree of craftsmanship. If you choose domestically produced sterling, each piece will be stamped "Sterling" indicating that it meets the U.S. Government's standard for solid silver, which is 9.25 percent pure with 7.5 percent of an added alloy, like copper, for durability. European sterling products are stamped with the weight percentage of silver.
Silverplated flatware is less expensive but enjoys the same lustrous look of sterling. The difference is that whereas sterling is solid silver, silverplate is made with an outer layer of silver electroplated to a base metal.
Silver comes in a variety of settings. The one you register for will depend on your entertaining needs and your budget. However, you always have the option of adding to your settings in later years. When choosing among patterns, the Silver Information Center offers these tips to follow to help you make the best selection:
The most common setting is the five-piece place setting which includes a dinner fork, dinner knife, salad or dessert fork, dessert or soup spoon and a teaspoon. Four-piece place settings are usually minus the soup spoon while six-piece place settings commonly include a butter spreader. It is best to register for eight to 12 place settings of silver, the same number for your fine china and crystal patterns.
Serving accessories such as a cold meat fork, pierced serving spoon, gravy ladle and cake or pie server should also be included in your bridal registry.
If you're a hostess who likes to entertain lavishly, there are pieces of silver whose functions you may have never heard of, let alone used -- fish forks and knives, oyster forks, cream soup spoons, demitasse spoons, and cheese and fruit knives. These are pieces you may want to acquire later on.
Be sure to ask your bridal registrar if your silver pattern is available in open stock. This will enable you to purchase additional pieces through the years as you complete your set.
Besides its beauty, one of sterling silver's greatest assets is that it becomes even more beautiful and lustrous with frequent use. Equally important, using your silver regularly reduces tarnish and helps it to develop a patina, a gleaming finish which enhances the silver's radiance. Since you will want all of your pieces to acquire or develop a similar patina, rotate the pieces when you use them.
Although many patterns are dishwasher-safe, the best method for cleaning your flatware is by hand in hot, sudsy water using a mild detergent. Any crevices in the pattern can be cleaned with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Each piece should then be dried with a soft, cotton cloth to avoid spotting. If you put your silver in the dishwasher, be sure to use a gentle setting and to load each piece carefully in the basket. Handles of forks and spoons should point downward; knife handles should point up. Remove all pieces before the drying cycle and hand dry. Extreme temperatures can damage the silver.
Even if you use your silver frequently, it is a good idea to give it a polishing once or twice a year with a recommended cleaner. Consider registering for a wooden silver chest lined with tarnish-proof flannel to store your silver in. Never store silver in newspaper, which promotes tarnishing, or in plastic, which may adhere to silver and cause damage.
Your bridal gift registry should include more than tableware. Bed, bath and table linens, cookware and appliances, kitchen accessories, lamps, picture frames and even furniture are items for which you should consider registering in order to give your guests a variety of gifts to choose from.
Stocking your kitchen with quality cookware and handy appliances such as an electric blender or a sleek coffeemaker will simplify entertaining occasions and daily food preparations. When choosing cookware, look for heavy-duty aluminum, stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans. Many cookware items are available in vivid colors to match your kitchen color scheme.
Special attention should be given to comfort and care when selecting bed and bath linens. Be sure to include specific patterns and manufacturers on your registry so that guests will know exactly which hunter green bath towel you prefer.
When choosing sheets and other bedding, look for quality. The thread count of sheets will tell you how many threads are woven into each square inch. A sheet with a high thread count will provide a smooth, luxurious feel. In addition, high thread count sheets are stronger and more durable than sheets with low counts.
Quality sheets are also determined by their fiber compositions. Linen sheets are spun from flax and are best suited for summertime. While somewhat expensive and requiring special care, linen sheets can be an investment because they will last as long as 20 years. The most popular choice now is 100% cotton, which is practical in any climate and becomes softer with frequent use.
Choose a comforter and pillow shams to coordinate with your sheets. Consider selecting a comforter that matches more than one set of sheets. Many comforters available today are reversible, offering you several decorating options.
Personal preference will also determine your choice of blankets. Wool blankets are best for cold weather while thermal weaves are comfortable in warmer weather.
For the bath, all-cotton towels are unquestionably the softest and most absorbent. Choose between looped terry towels that are thick and thirsty or sheared terry towels that are velvety to the touch. Select colors that carry out the scheme you've set for the bedroom. You will have several choices to make regarding patterns and colors -- stripes, solids and florals.
Don't be surprised to learn that you may be able to register your entire bedroom furniture suite and mattresses, or choose a sofa and loveseat, accent tables, area rugs and decorative accessories. More and more department and specialty stores offer bridal registry services to help you furnish your entire home or apartment.
With a little planning and creativity, you can make choices
today that will bring comfort and pleasure for years to come.
Reprinted with permission from: ELEGANT BRIDE MAGAZINE