Weddingbee boards

My only thought would be that you need to make sure that you have plenty of items that are less than 50, 50-100, 100-150, and 150+.  The vast majority of your items should be less than 100. 

I just wouldn't be surprised if you didn't get the china, since people may not want to spend $135 on a teacup.  They may want to spend, say, $150, but want to get you something "more" than "just" a cup.  

I think it depends on lots of stuff.  Will many of your guests be travelling very far for the wedding (and thus incurring expenses aside from your wedding present)?  Will you be inviting lots of older guests who might have more cash than recent college grad/grad school type students who may not have lots of expendable cash?  I don't think you should factor in how much YOU are spending per person, since most guests don't consider that when buying a present.  You're right that people generally have a few big ticket items on their regstries (the kitchenaid mixer comes to mind!), but $300+/place setting DOES seem really expensive.  I guess the real question becomes: how would you feel if you didn't get many of those because they were out of many people's price ranges? If you'd feel "gipped" because your registry wasn't filled, or if you only got one of two place settings, maybe you should pick something that's closer to most people's price point ($100-150ish).  That's just my two cents. Hope it helps!

another thing you should think about is... some ppl may choose to buy you the $300+ china setting but it may not get bought out.  So you're left with either buying it out yourself or having an incomplete china set.  This happened to a few of my friends and it was a pain b/c you either return everything or spend $$$$ to buy out the rest of the peices.

oops - didn't read rebecca's post... guess we had the same thoughts.  good luck with whatever you decide!

You should have those items on your registry.  That's what they are for....for you to pick out things you really want.  Just make sure you do have items below $100 and in the $100-$200 range.  I would totally be one of those people who would get the plates if that's what you want.

Just a follow up bora- I'm also in the UK with my FI, but our wedding is in CA, and we have lots of guests travelling from the UK. I don't know where in the states your wedding is, or what time of year, but flights are REALLY expensive (like 700 GBP LHR-California).  Just something to keep in mind. 

I don't think a tv is tacky.  you register for what you need, if its your first place, that might be what you need.  people register for everything these days anyway.....who cares?  they even have "mortgage registries", which I think is slightly tacky.....but then again, it gives guests the option of not giving you cash - it all makes it more personal....isn't that more the point?  Anywho - my shower was yesterday.  I will say that mostly people tried to buy a lot of items at lower prices so it gave the appearance that they are giving you a lot.  If people don't know the cost of something - and really I believe this - they think, oh, they only bought them a toaster?  as opposed to 10 smaller items....so people may not want to show up to your shower with just a plate - and by looking at the price, that is probably about average (of one plate or cup) of each persons gift....so either count on gift cards or count on getting most of the cheaper items.  Trust me, everything we registered for that was on the pricier side is still on our registry, so we are trying to decide whether to keep it and buy the rest, or return it and get other things.

I agree with lina624 and in response to the original question - I think my Fi are going to definitely put additional, more pricey items on our registry without really expecting people to buy it because we want to take advantage of the discount we get after the wedding and are completely willing to purchase those things for ourselves! (especially when you think about the cash gifts you will be getting - you can use it towards your fine china). Liek others have said, I think as long as you have a variety of price ranges you are fine. I have never though low of a couple for having expensive items. I just figure they have some well-off family or friends or they want to purchase them on a discounted price after their wedding. ;)