Post # 1
Member
11 posts
Newbee
Hi! I’m new here, but I’ve been engaged for a little over 7 months! So far it has been smooth sailing, our wedding isn’t until Halloween, 2012. The only snag I’ve hit so far has been collecting the incredible, lusted after, mismatched china. I even started with a small collection myself before we were engaged. I’ve been looking everywhere since and have found very little. But buying them myself, the cheapest I’ve found is about $8 a plate. I really wanted to go out with the plates stacked, because I think that’s how it makes the most impact. Maybe dinner and salad plate, and maybe a bread plate or teacup on top of that. But with a guest count at approximately 275, there is just no way I can afford to do that. On top of that, some of the plates I’ve found are lovely, but most are just down right ugly! I want this to look English Country, not 70s rustic. It’s the impossible task. 🙁 But I really have my heart set on it. Any direction or tips would be greatly appreciated!!
Post # 3
Member
46604 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Post # 4
Member
4803 posts
Honey bee
Ask all of your friends to speak to their Grandmothers!
Go to stores like Salvation Army and Value Village.
Post # 5
Member
1144 posts
Bumble bee
@MademoiselleL: I wouldn’t let someone borrow my fine china….
I would try thrift stores you can find cute plates, saucers and tecups for 1 dollar each here in Sacramento… miht take a while but its do-able.
Post # 6
Member
11 posts
Newbee
Wow, thank you all for the tips!!
@julies1949: Renting sounds ideal!! Do you know where I can find this person or company? The salad plate idea is really cute, but I really want the china to be the impact of the table. We are doing very minimal centerpieces, and I love the idea of busy, fun, gorgeous china.
@mademoiselleL I have tried both those places in my area, and really only have found 70s, heavy, or non good quality things. I’ve just personally had no luck. I’ve tried a few estate sales as well, but even there the prices were surprisingly high.
Post # 7
Member
46604 posts
Honey Beekeeper
@LolaB: you didn’t say what area you live…
This is the post where the bee mentioned renting china
Loribeth (message) December 1, 2010 Michigan (Married in Savannah, GA)
I am using mismatched china for our reception we’re having this June. I found a local company that actually rents mismatched china. My friend Kim suggested a friend of hers who collects china and turned her hobby into a business.
and here is another post she did:
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/renting-china-for-the-reception
send her a PM
Post # 8
Member
46604 posts
Honey Beekeeper
check out this recent post- a couple of bees mentioned selling their china after their wedding
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/has-anyone-used-mismatched-china-at-their-wedding
Post # 9
Member
46604 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Here is one mismatched china rental company I found:
http://www.vintageplaterental.com/ theie website doesn’t say where they re located
http://www.rentmydust.com/ this one is in Dallas/Fort Worth area
http://www.powwowvintagerentals.com/ San Diego
Post # 10
Member
1686 posts
Bumble bee
@LolaB:
Thrift stores are changing their stock all the time. Hit the stores in your area regularly and look at what they have, and ask them when they put out new inventory. Also keep an eye on classified ads and Craigslist. Also google for second hand stores in your area; it may turn up some places you aren’t familiar with and you’ll have better luck.
Sometimes, with fine china, if they have a complete service, they’ll only sell it as a unit. Depending on how many pieces you need, a few of these with some odd pieces thrown in might be fine.
It helps to keep a list of what pieces you need, how many you need of each piece, how many you have, so you don’t end up looking at a set of plates and going “Now, did I need six more salad plates or six more dinner plates? I can’t remember!”
Don’t be afraid to ask friends and relatives. I wouldn’t give anyone my “good” china for a wedding, but I definitely have some pretty plates and things I’d lend. (Basically, if it’s something where I’d say, “Oh, that’s okay,” if it broke, and meant it, I’d lend it.) If you borrow plates, use white electrical tape and sharpie marker to label the underside. (It’ll stay on in the diswasher and still be legible.) Also, older gold rimmed china is not dishwasher safe.
Post # 11
Member
4803 posts
Honey bee
@Captain013: You might be surprised at what people have. Not necessarily their china set but they might have mismatched pieces laying around. I’m planning my Grandma’s 90th birthday party using mismatched China and it is all borrowed.
Post # 12
Member
11 posts
Newbee
I would be so worried to borrow and have something happen to someone’s beloved china! My friends and family are a little rowdier than most. LOL
I did just find this company! Looks really pretty! http://www.facebook.com/SugarbakerAndToad
I just wrote to them, waiting to hear back. I’ll post what I find out in case anyone else is interested.
Post # 13
Member
11 posts
Newbee
So, as promised in my above post for all of those interested, here’s what I found out from Sugarbaker and Toad! They are actually pretty decently priced, especially considering they do all the set up, styling, delivery, etc. It’s around $1-$2 a plate, plus a flat fee for the delivery and set up which they told me was $150. (I don’t know if that is a local rate or what) But the owner also sent me a bunch more pictures of what they have, and it’s all really beautiful! If I’m going to do this, I want it to look special. I figure this is just as much decor as it is useful, so I’m dipping into the decor budget to account for the price difference in this and just plain ol’ dishes (which honestly isn’t much!) She was also able to send me pictures of weddings and parties they’ve done before, so I feel a lot better knowing they have done this before and are professional! I would love to have a set of china after this to remember for always, but honestly, it’s just not worth the time and effort for 100+ people with everything else that has to get planned.
Post # 14
Member
11 posts
Newbee
And now my next quest may be mismatched silverwear! I don’t know how hard that would be, but it’s just an idea for now.
Post # 15
Member
4419 posts
Honey bee
I’m the one who rented the mis-matched china. In fact, everything was mis-matched, china, silverware, water glasses, wine glasses… It was beautiful!
You never said where you’re from. I used a company called Debby Does Dishes in Montague, Michigan. She did a beautiful job. The nice thing about her service was she was there the night of our reception and cleared away dishes as our guests finished. That meant the caterer didn’t have to bring waitstaff to clear the tables, which saved us some money.
The dishes really did become part of the decor, so it’s smart that you’re dipping into the decor budget. We got so many compliments on everything, and it really did look English cottage / Southern charm…which is what we were going for.
Post # 16
Member
963 posts
Busy bee
Have you tried thrift stores? I see tons of china in there all the time and they usually have days where they have 25-50% off everything in the store. Maybe try that?
As for mismatched silverware – seriously, thrift stores. The one right by my house as bins FULL of flatware.
Member