- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
...china/flatware/crystal patterns!!
I'm obsessed with fine china, and looking at a bunch of patterns, but it's not helpful without seeing examples of the patterns with different flatware and crystal stemware! I'm hoping you ladies have photos/links to your chosen patterns, so we can see the tablescapes you use when you're entertaining. Feel free to include the table linens and serveware or napkin rings, etc. if you have them! Can't wait for the eye-candy!
The china pattern i am eyeing is Vera Wang's Gilded Leaf by Wedgwood, from Bloomingdales ($139 for 5pps). I already own my formal flatware, it's "Chinois" by Lunt, also Bloomingdales ($100 for 5pps). The china is mostly gold, but the centers are platinum, and it has a garden-like feeling about it, so I think it works with my flatware, which is from the "New York Botanical Garden" line by Lunt. The flatware looks like a garden fense, so it works for me. What patterns do you guys have/want?
flatware.png (90.5 KB, 35 downloads) 2 years old china.png (149.5 KB, 39 downloads) 2 years old 
Hmmm. My china is from Italy, passed down from my Nona and Papa so I dont have any photos. But its white, with a sterling silver lining around the rim, with a single pale pink long stem rosebud set to the right side of the plate. sounds ugly but its quite beautiful! Same with the flatware - it is sterling passed down from my Nona and Papa. We set it with metal chargers beneath
Our crystal is Vera Wang Duchesse - http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=86500&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
Napkins and tablecloths are Waterford "Wiltshire" in ivory http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=122854&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
Napkin rings are Waterford "Beaded Acanthus" http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=98293&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
WiltshireTable_BSmd.jpg (59.6 KB, 45 downloads) 2 years old 6416314634819P.JPG.jpeg (18.9 KB, 33 downloads) 2 years old 1711.pp.jpg (28 KB, 34 downloads) 2 years old
your china sounds lovely!! i also like the "duchesse" line of stemware. i would love to register for chargers, but idk how often i will use them? you must have some pretty impressive dinner parties, kellyv!
I don't plan to register for china or flatware... not really that kind of girl... but yours are lovely!!
My FI and I picked the Kate Spade Sonora Knot. I loved it because it has both silver and gold in it.
I'll comment again since there is a poll now :) I voted "other." I think that formal china, stemware, and flatware is really nice. If money were no object I'd definitely want some. But, considering how much money it would cost to get all of those things it is a total non-priority. Also, registering for it is not an option. No one in my family has much money so that would be a bit out of people's price range for a gift!
We weren't planning on registering for formal china at all, but then I saw ours and fell in love!
It's "chirp" by lenox. We also registered for some pretty nice stemware because I LOVE stemware, and our flatware is our everyday, but it's pretty nice looking.
chirp.jpg (36.2 KB, 43 downloads) 2 years old
@corgitales--i didnt really want it either, but i think someday i might appreciate having it, but wont want to spring for the expense myself. we will see if it gets used though lol.
@sweetkate, i also loooove the pattern you chose, for the same reason, both platinum and gold! the gold warms it up, the platinum keeps it a little more modern and versatile :) very pretty and clean.
@melodicsighs i loove chirp! couldnt convince my FI that we needed three sets of dinnerware though lol
@melodicsighs- ugh. i kind of hate you right now bc i am in love w/ your set and now i have plate lust for the first time in my life...
Mr. Savannah and I chose Waterford 'Newgrange' as our formal china. It is made by Wedgewood. I had already began collecting pieces of my crystal stemware which is Waterford 'Ballyshannon'... our Sterling pattern is 'Federal Cotillion'..... Being Southern, my relatives are asking what other sterling pieces we will add to the registy... but I have no intention of adding anything besides the flatware... Because honestly, we would prefer new towels and sheets to a sterling tea set! haha
We actually registered for a mix of Kate Spade Belle Boulevard and Waterford Kilbarry Platinum (Kate Spade for bread&butter/accent plates and Waterford for salad, dinner, saucer, teacups and soup).
We also registered for the Lenox "Timeless Platinum" stemware and Couzon "Avignon Bright" flatware.
Confession? I have a crush on the Chirp pattern, but it was way too girly for FI!
lenox.jpg (5.4 KB, 35 downloads) 2 years old avignon.jpg (20.6 KB, 35 downloads) 2 years old katespade.jpg (12.2 KB, 37 downloads) 2 years old waterford.jpg (10.1 KB, 37 downloads) 2 years old
omg! that couzon pattern is so perfect for belle boulevard, lemilie!
I'm loving looking at everyone's stuff, but I have really been leaning towards not getting china and formal silverware - just nice stuff we can use everyday and put in the dishwasher. My rationale is, I don't foresee us using "formals" but once a year if that, and I would much rather get something we'll use as a gift. I just know if we register for china, we'll get that, and NOT the everyday household items that we really need! So I don't think we're gonna do it.
I am LOVING the Couzon flatware that you posted, lemilie! And it's dishwasher safe - perfect!
I also covet Chirp, but unfortunately FI has a thing with birds... they scare him, haha!
@daniellemybelle, that is exactly what i'm afraid of! my FI and i still livewith our parents, so we don't own anything at all useful. we might end up with a ton of china and no can opener or toaster lol. it's a risk i'm willing to take :)
I am so clutsy... I break stuff all the time. I've broken countless plates. I broke 2 mugs today even. I had to buy stainless steel wine glasses for my FI (they're more manly anyway lol) because I broke uh all of his. It's a skill really. haha actually I have really poor hand eye coordination :)
I love our "informal" place settings... I doubt I'll have a real need for fine china & flatwear until I have a large family & they're all coming over for Christmas dinner or something.
By the time I'll actually use the formal sets they'll be outdated & I'd rather buy my own when the time comes!
@SweetSavannah - we picked Waterford Newgrange Platinum too!
We haven't picked out our crystal or flatware yet. I may be inheriting my Grandmother's silver (my Mom has it now and is trying to find replacements to complete the set).
Waterford_Newgrange_Platinum.jpg (29.9 KB, 55 downloads) 2 years old
@ Bellini: haha... there ARE three meals every day, seven days a week... etc. Clearly you need more china. ;)
@ CrorgiTales: Thanks/I'm sorry! I was just like you - didn't plan on registering b/c I hadn't found any that seemed worth it - but then I saw Chirp. They sell the serving sets and platters (The big, oval platter is my favorite part of the set) and such seperately - maybe you can register for some of that without the whole china set. Everyone needs some kind of serving dish, right?
I still have the Lenox Federal Platinum from my first wedding (my family mostly gave it to us anyway, so I kept it) and FI and I bought a set of Pottery Barn Great White together before we got engaged. I have my grandmother and great-grandmother's set of Stieff sterling silver flatware, which is good, because that stuff is crazy expensive now (almost $400 for one place setting)!! The only thing we don't have is formal glassware, but we have some nice glasses from Crate & Barrel already, and I also had a set of stainless flatware from Williams-Sonoma. SO, we aren't registering for ANY of that stuff!! We have things we really do need on the registry, like new towels, minor kitchen appliances and gadgets, and some linens.
Here's what I have already:
Stieff_Rose.jpg (27 KB, 34 downloads) 2 years old Lenox_Federal_Platinum.jpg (12.3 KB, 36 downloads) 2 years old
@melodicsighs1- haha it is ok. I'll think about it... my fam just doesn't have a ton of money and a lot of them talked crap about my cousin who registered at williamsonoma for some expensive stuff. I feel like even registering for something that was like $200 would be like weird to them. :) But maybe I'll go register for it the week before the wedding (when most ppl are done shopping) and just go buy it myself post-wedding with the registry discount! That is my plan for the la crusset dutch oven I covet and my kitchenaid mixer! heh
@ CorgiTales: We fully expect people to split the cost of some of the more expensive stuff. I'm sorry your family gave your cousin a hard time - they still had the choice to spend however much they wanted on whatever they wanted, right? Anyway, do it! Use the discount! Also, any wedding cash gifts you might get could help. Good plan. ;)
TexasMeredith- We must have similar taste! Mr. Savannah really likes the china pattern... we originally selected Lenox Federal Platinum, but then changed our selection when we saw Waterford's Newgrange... The platinum edge is soooo classy... (Your profile picture are Staurt Weitzman shoes!!! I am wearing those (in cream) for my wedding day!)
I will be inheriting a full set of china from my grandparents, which has 18 place settings plus serving pieces.
My SO already has nice everyday china/flatware/stemware and at least one other full set of china. It might be nice to have some serving dishes and extra sets of flatware/stemware for parties, but we're good to go (read: drowning in china) otherwise, haha.
ugh. why is it that money and gifts and registries cause families to be so ridiculously opinionated? it's no like they have to buy it. i always thought of a registry as a "wish list," a chance to say "if i could have anything, this is what i'd love to have for my new life with my husband." it's not like anyone has to buy it! pick a gift in your price range and then shut up about it already! grr.
sorry, can you tell i'm getting grief from my parents about being "materialistic"? ;) they don't seem to understand that wedding registries are not only standard these days, but pretty much expected. anyways, i'm loving all of these china patterns ladies! how lucky some of you are to be inheriting such nice things! it seems that lenox's "chirp" is super popular!
To all the china/crystal loving bees - check out www.bestcrystal.com. They carry Waterford, Wedgwood, Lenox, etc and their prices are cheaper than retail and they have free shipping, free gift wrap, and they don't charge sales tax. You can also register on their site, so I'm registering at Best Crystal and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
@SweetSavannah - I love Stuart Weitzman's shoes. I'm not sure if I'm wearing the shoes in my profile pic for my wedding or not, but I really want those shoes for my engagement pictures!
@texasmeredith- I keep peeking inside the box of my wedding shoes... I want to wear them soooo bad! I might just have to have a garage sale to purchase another pair in a fun color :)
Personally, I have purchased from Best Crystal for my waterford pattern... and as texasmeredith pointed out, they are priced lower than retail. (They are not seconds, and will even take special orders) I have always been impressed with their prices and level of customer service.
that's awesome advice about Best Crystal, ladies. i think i'm going to use macy's for my fine china, though, so i can get that big 5% rewards gift card after my wedding ;) maybe i'll use it to buy shoes
@Peyton: We also have Lenox Federal Platinum! Love it!
Do you have any of the accent pieces? Those are my favorite :)
formal-china.jpg (24.8 KB, 48 downloads) 2 years old
a lot of you brides chose lenox china! i also think it's so pretty and seems so well made.
that brings me to another question------
have any of you chosen patterns and received them and are NOT happy? any damages, irregularities, etc? or did you just decide you no longer like the patterns?
We wanted to go with a white porcelain that was nice enough for formal dining but could also be used everyday and we plan to contrast the relatively plain white place settings with unique serving pieces, but I have no idea what we're doing for flatware or crystal. We decided to go with Tamiko from crate and barrel, it's white but the raised dots make it a little more interesting and its dishwaser/microwave/oven safe! ^_^
@Ciendragon, that's my everyday pattern!!! i just got all of it for my engagement party and looooove it. it's so beautiful!!
Oooh I'm so glad to hear you love it! We haven't actually seen it in person yet, just on the website but it seemed like a perfect choice for us since we'll both be starting grad school after the wedding so I expect that we'll be apartment dwellers without room for formal AND everyday china/flatware/crystal for quite some time!
@ciendragon, no seriously, its gorgeous! and durable! my favorite pieces are the 5 inch bowls, they feel so good in your hands! we picked the "mesa" flatware that is shown with tamiko in the photos, and love that too!
My mom always had us use the fine china - she insisted that there was no more special of an occasion than dinner with the people you love. :) I don't mind about the stemware or fine china-I am entertaining the thought of nice flatware though-its longevity seems much more worth the cost.
@missbravo, i really like that thinking! i'm hoping to use my fine china at least every sunday dinner! i'm actually skipping on the fancy crystal stemware too, we are just getting one big set of riedel wine glasses from the vitis line...we fell in love with their edgy shape :)
reidel.png (83.2 KB, 13 downloads) 2 years old You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| kate02121 | 12 |
| ndreighton | 11 |
| ozpeony | 7 |
| cbeyelia | 6 |
| rivierabridal | 6 |
| ladyartichoke | 5 |
| takemyhand | 5 |
| ohmystars28 | 5 |
| louiseW | 5 |
| abbie017 | 4 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| shychigirl | 1 |
