When building your wedding registry, you have the opportunity to collect items that you may have for generations. Perhaps couples may have felt carefully choosing china and silverware was old fashioned, but more recently, they are again carefully selecting patterns and styles that are both fashionable and classic.
As a small businessperson, I’m especially inclined towards products made in America. Liberty Tabletop is the only USA manufacturer of flatware, with a high quality stainless steel; not many other lines of flatware are, so it’s good to check on the quality of your top choices before making the final selection. (Here’s a great guide on how to do so.) Cheaper stainless steel loses its luster, and won’t be worth passing along to your grandkids, whereas Liberty’s quality is enduring. You can also register for their items here. Our original silverware pattern no longer exists and I’m looking into ordering brand new sets from Liberty for my home, nearly a decade after my wedding! The quality can’t be beat – you can literally feel it in your hands.
The Betsy Ross line of flatware from Liberty Tabletop
For a variety of home goods, china, and decor, Crate and Barrel is another excellent source and they have great business practices. The level of quality and value is nearly unsurpassed by its competitors. I registered at C+B for my wedding and would do so all over again. And while registering for a sofa may be overindulgent, in the long term, it’s good to keep them in mind for furniture purchases as you build your home together; much of their furniture is built in the States, of eco-friendly materials. I bought a sectional a few years ago and couldn’t be happier (and I can machine wash the microfiber cushion covers – a huge plus!).
When choosing china, consider your home – do you rent, or do you own? If you rent or own a property that you’ll soon to grow out of, you may move once or twice more till you land in your forever home. This was the case for us, so we purchased a neutral, earth-toned china, instead of a unique or taste-specific color/pattern. We also have a less expensive set of dishware for parties and everyday- these super-cheap, yet shockingly durable, white plates from Ikea – that was not on our registry. Having both has been super handy; and if you have kids, they can use the Ikea plates versus the nicer china. (The Ikea plates have lasted 11 years and counting, with hardly a chip!)
Bed Bath and Beyond has an excellent primer on buying dinnerware, including some surprising facts about durability. And while you’re there, explore their registry options as well – they have one of the best registry programs around, as their stores carry a wide variety of options and they have registry specialists available both over the phone and in store.
I’ll be writing more about registries in the coming weeks, including some of the best registries that allow you to add items from different stores, and cash gifts, too. Meantime, happy planning – and shopping!