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New Registry Concept: Think Outside the Place
Setting Box
(ARA) - Remember Grandma's cherished wedding china
that
only came out of the cabinet for holidays or other
special occasions? Or the silverware that made an
appearance only when it needed to be polished?
Maybe because so many of us have similar memories of
underutilized heirloom pieces, modern brides are now
opting for beautiful and practical when creating
their bridal registries. "Crystal and fine china
will always be registry staples, but when I was
gathering ideas for my registry, I saw a real trend
towards items that combine elegance and utility,"
says Kristen Beenen, a newlywed from Minneapolis.
More casual items - from flatware to stemware - are
gaining popularity on bridal registries. Also in
favor are items that offer heirloom-quality beauty
and everyday durability. "I think brides like me are
now looking for pieces that they will be able to
regularly use and enjoy before passing them on as
heirlooms to our children," says Beenen.
Now, brightly colored dishes of durable materials
from wood to ceramic are appearing on registries
beside traditional fine china or porcelain. Silver
serving platters are being supplemented by practical
aluminum serving pieces. And crystal vases are being
joined by everyday counterparts in high-polish,
high-endurance metals.
"Today's bride is less likely to be guided by a
consultant or her mother when putting together her
registry," says Matt Hullfish of Arthur Court
Designs. "With the push towards casual, many are
skipping the fine china altogether and registering
for two casual patterns of dinner ware instead. They
are also looking for serving pieces that they can
use on a daily basis. Functional serveware is what
Arthur Court is best known for. It is the strength
and core of our line."
Many brides are choosing more practical versions of
classic registry gifts, such as serving platters,
vases and dinnerware. Instead of high-maintenance
silver platters, brides can select decorative
aluminum platters, available in a number of designs
that complement virtually any tableware. Or, for
something really unusual yet strong enough for every
day use, they can opt for trays, platters or cheese
servers made of bamboo and trimmed with bright,
decorative aluminum touches.
Alternatives to items traditionally made of crystal
are also popular registry items. Vases, pitchers,
picture frames and stemware are showing up in a
myriad of other easier-to-care-for materials, such
as aluminum. Designs range from very contemporary to
traditional and classic, like Arthur Court's Grape
Pitcher, an interpretation of classic grape vine
motif rendered in high-polish, long-lived aluminum.
"I wanted my bridal registries to really reflect how
we would live day-to-day, rather than an ideal of
life for special occasions," Beenen explains.
"Modern brides are choosing gift items that we can
use to enhance our lives every day, rather than just
once or twice a year."
For more bridal registry ideas, visit
Arthur Court.
Courtesy of
ARA Content 
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