ShareThisQ: We're registering for china, but want something fun. What are some of the best trends and ideas for practicality and individuality?
A: When your parents got married, practically everyone registered for formal china, but times have changed. Now it's perfectly fine to ditch the china altogether, but don't be so quick to dismiss traditional items. After all, china isn't cheap, and 10 years from now you might want formal place settings for holiday dinners. If not, that's OK, too.
The trick to registering is to ask for items you'll actually use. So if fancy dishes are just going to collect dust in some cabinet, ask for more everyday settings. One new trend I love is patterned dishes detailed with everything from swirls and swoops to checkers and polka dots. And don't be afraid of color! Nothing perks up a dinner party more than pink, green or even orange dishes.
(Carley Roney, co-founder and editor in chief of The Knot, the nation's leading wedding resource, advises millions of brides on modern wedding etiquette at www.theknot.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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