For the majority of people, the registry is one of the most exciting aspects about planning a wedding. However, I am not a good representative of the majority. For me, the registry so far has induced nothing short of a panic attack and copious amounts of sweat and stress. This past weekend was spent pursuing stores by myself in search of china that doesn’t take itself too seriously. How hard can it be to pick out plates? Apparently much harder than I originally had anticipated. Those that I had liked online, lost their appeal in person, and while there were slews of other pretty patterns, nothing spoke to me. Everything I saw was either void of any color or obnoxious in its exuberant display. Wandering through Macy’s last Saturday I become increasingly disheartened—determined not to give up though, I headed back home to do more research.
Throughout these past few weeks I have become addicted to the oh so lovely Toast and Tables blog. If you haven’t checked it out you really must do so. This blog has been so helpful in giving me ideas and inspiration for all things table related. Renewed with confidence after searching for more ideas, I set out again on Sunday with high hopes.
I had 4-5 stores that I planned on seeing that day, since viewing plates online is simply not the same. My goal was to check things out and then retreat to the comfort of my own bed to register. I started out the day by heading over to Michael C. Fina (a store I had never even heard of until Toast and Tables pointed me in the right direction) excited to see their extensive china collection in person and mix and match patterns to create my own unique style.
Unfortunately, things (as they rarely are) were not that easy. The floor representatives did not approve of me taking plates from various patterns and mixing and matching them on their empty tables (I thought that’s what they were there for). Furthermore, I was somewhat forced into registering with them---something that would not have usually bothered me since I got a complementary pair of champagne flutes—except for the fact that my “bridal consultant” would not let me leave without picking out a pattern.
Mind you, Sunday was supposed to be merely a day of viewing not picking but I digress. Everything about my experience there was a nightmare. My consultant and I simply did not work well together. While she was extremely pleasant, we were speaking two entirely different languages. Try as I might I could not understand the importance of having 2 sets of everything---from flatware to stemware to platters—for formal and informal occasions. She could not understand what I meant by mixing and matching patterns, nor did she approve of my indecisiveness. Feeling panicked and stressed (by the way I do not recommend attempting this on an empty stomach) I started resenting those girls who had their fiancé, mother and father by their side to help them out. Those bitches have all the luck.
The good news is that I did manage to pick out a fabulous china pattern. It was perfect— colorful but not obnoxious, formal yet whimsical. It was a pattern that did not take itself too seriously, especially when paired down with simple chartreuse green chargers and bowels.
Here's a closer look
The bad news is that I wasn’t sure of the cost of these lovelies until after I picked them out. For a 5 piece setting its roughly a mere $350… or about $4,200 for 12 settings. This does not include the chargers or bowels….and don’t even ask about the costs of the sauce pourer, gravy dish, gravy stand vegetable dish, platters, etc….half of which I’m pretty sure I will never need. Also did I mention that the flatware and stemware I picked out should only be used for “formal” occasions and not everyday? While its beautiful, and I'd love to own it, the thought of investing 6 grand into dinnerware is more than my poor nerves can handle. I honestly feel bad asking people to pay that much for plates...especially since S. Monster and I are no where near settling down anytime soon.
So after four hours (yes, that’s right…I was there, on an empty stomach mind you, for four hours!!!!) I registered for plates that are ridiculously expensive (albeit very pretty) and will therefore not tell anyone about. The only productive thing that come from my wonderful little trip to Michael C. Fina was that I got a chance to see a set of plates I had seen online and secretly adored.
In stark contrast to what I picked above, these plates are affordable, durable causal dinnerware. They are freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe. They are unconventional. They are silly and simple and only come in three muted colors---cream, sage green or a bronzed brown….and I love them. I tried to point them out to my consultant only to be scoffed at and told that my fiance would never like them(which was not very nice in my opinion).
Later that night, as I retold my misadventures from earlier to S. Monster, I hesitantly mentioned the silly plates I liked.....the ones I simply could not get out of my head….and the ones I really wanted him to like..
And what do you know---he loved them! (I shouldn't be surprised. I mean honestly, how could you not adore these?) He said, to which I agree 100%, that they are perfect for us. They represent us and our combined tastes.
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How amazingly awesome are these plates? They are too perfect for words. Everything I see them I grin like a fool--which coincidentally is what I do every time I am with S. Monster *blush*
I'm thinking of mixing and matching the cream and green plates to keep it from being to uniform. Plus I love that these look adorable next to the Anthropologie dessert plates and serving pieces I am obsessed with (thank you Polyvore!). For the moment though, I am just excited that our china dilemma has been solved! Woot woot!
...Now if only I could figure out where else to register for these aside from Michael C. Fina... (which I’m still quite traumatized from thankyouverymuch)
