Photo by Lisa J. Seifert; Tableware from Bell's Nursery & Gifts

A Palette of Plates
By Sara Morgan

You've made the commitment to one another, now it's time to commit to a china pattern too. But where do you start and how do you choose?

China is, traditionally, the centerpiece of any wedding registry. But as you peer down that long stretch of porcelain, stoneware and earthenware, you may think you need a degree in design to put together a beautiful table setting.

How do you sort through the trends and create a table that'll look great for the long haul?

Think about what kinds of entertaining you'll be doing and for how many people. Determine your personal style. Are you refined or rustic? Conservative or flamboyant? Maybe something in between?

A bridal registry consultant may help you find your design personality and the tableware patterns to complement it.
Some bridal gurus advocate buying two china sets: one formal (such as bone china or porcelain), and one casual (such as earthenware or stoneware). But there's no real need to buy two sets if you don't want to. Formal china, once reserved for special occasions, is more durable today and can be used every day.

When it comes to style, consider a classic design. You can't go wrong with all-white or white with a gold or platinum rim, says Jill Kosinksi of Bell's Nursery & Gifts in Anchorage. But before you write off white as completely boring, consider it for a minute. It matches everything, it will never go out of style, and food looks great on a big white plate. Plus, it's easy to put a little jazz in your white dinnerware - just add a brightly colored salad plate, tablecloth or other accent piece.

On the other hand, it may be the florals, fruits and funky colors that get your pulse racing. Richly patterned plates bring a drama to the table that solids and banded plates do not. Because of this, they may also have the highest risk of becoming outdated.

That said, don't be afraid to register for an intricate or even bold pattern if that's where your taste lies. Because casual china carries a less serious price tag, feel free to let your hair down when registering for it.

If you've been married before, why register again for formal tableware?

"With older couples who already have their dishes," says Kosinski, "we suggest Christmas dishes or some kind of stoneware that's completely different from what they've got."
These days, old-fashioned favorites as Lenox, Pfaltzgraff and Villeroy & Boch are producing dinnerware sets designed to be mixed and matched, making it possible to register for different sets and still have a matching table. Lenox, for example, "puts out holiday wear that goes with (other sets)," says Kosinski. "So instead of the plain salad plate, you could use the Christmas one."

Usually, a bride-to-be registers for eight- to twelve-place settings of china. That may seem like a lot, but if you ever host a holiday party or family get-together, you're going to need that many. If you plan on entertaining often, consider registering for additional dinner and salad plates.

Most china is sold in five-piece boxed sets. A standard formal set includes a dinner plate, salad/dessert plate, bread-and-butter plate, and a cup and saucer. An informal setting substitutes a bowl for the bread-and-butter plate. You can customize your place settings. Mixing and matching is more expensive, but if you've got your heart set on a pattern or patterns sold individually, go for it. After all, your registry is your personal wish list and someone else is picking up the tab.

For better or worse, there are about as many designs and sets to pick from as there are personalities. And, while bridal registry consultants can be helpful, only couples can decide what's right for their tabletop. But after it's all said and done, it's the mealtimes you share together that really matter most.