Made in china.

My personal opinion is that every woman needs deserves a set of fine china. You may not agree with me, but what can I say? I'm an old lady deep down inside.

I love a beautiful tablescape with fine china, silver, crystal, linens, and centerpieces. Maybe it's because growing up, this wasn't a normal occurrence for me. Though we had lovely, beautiful dinners, my family just didn't invest in these things. Ironic, huh? (We're Chinese.)

Many brides these days are much more practical, choosing to register for everyday tableware and then maybe choosing a nicer brand-name earthenware instead of bone china or porcelain. Me? I'm fine with my Corningware, Corelle, and Pyrex for everyday--no shame! One thing's for sure: I knew I wanted to register for fine china when I got engaged, but was worried about the expense. Though we were blessed with a very special gift from David's Grandmama, inheriting china isn't your only option.

Back to the modern, practical bride--many brides these days choose not to register for fine china for a number of reasons: 1) It's too expensive, 2) They don't think they'll use it, 3) They don't think they'll receive a complete set. These are all legit reasons...however, I am here to tell you that it is absolutely possible to defy these reasons and complete the set of your dreams!

Obviously, if you have no use for fine china, or for whatever reason really just do not want or need it, this does not apply to you...but like me, if you would love a set of china, but are worried about the expense or being able to collect everything, then read on!

It is totally possible to purchase a complete set of (gently used) fine china (12 place settings!) for under $300 thanks to eBay, Craigslist, flea markets, and antique stores. It just requires patience, a bit of haggling, and time. David and I were even lucky enough to find a complete set of silverplate flatware for $125! Many of these sets are beautiful, quality pieces that retail for much more. (You can always compare MSRP at Replacements to make sure you're paying a reasonable price.) Another fun thing (for the trendy bride) to do is to collect mismatched sets. Here are some lovely examples from Heirloom Vintage for Hire, Style Me Pretty, and theKitchn.

If you love to entertain, would love to have a set of fine china to use for fancy dinners, holidays, parties, or even everyday, but are hesitant (for whatever reason) to register for it, don't give up. It can be done. If you want to be able to register for an antique set, you can add your own items to registries like GiftRegistry360 or SimpleRegistry. And don't let the fear of getting an incomplete set deter you. It's perfectly fine to collect the remaining pieces you need after you are married. Think: birthday, anniversary, and holiday gifts. For Christmas last year, I helped organize a family gift for David's sister and brother-in-law to help them complete a number of place settings. Heck, you don't even have to be engaged to start collecting your china! I started collecting china pieces when I was single. O:)

Luv,
the Bride

For those of you who are wondering, here is a very good explanation of the difference between fine china and everyday china (or earthenware).