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I outlined my reasons and our China choices back here. I even went so far as to choose the lovely Royal Daulton Countess (the hive mostly guessed my taste right!) pattern and started to shop around for the best price.
But as you know, the story of my wedding’s life is that nothing can ever be as easy as making a decision. As soon as I started pricing, I realized that Macy’s doesn’t allow you to register for this pattern online. The closest store that carries it is over two hours away. Royal Daulton does not sell it on their website. Finally, I found the pattern online through Boscov’s (or was in it Bonton?), only to find it on sale as a closeout. I decided I didn’t like the pattern enough to track down whether it was being discontinued and which stores were still carrying it.
I went back to the drawing board to look at my other options. None of them were singing to me. I couldn’t justify the expense as readily this go around.
Then one day as I was surfing Craigslist (a daily must), I found a listing for China.
*lightbulb* *ding-ding-ding* *heavens opening up and a lovely “ahhhhhhh” chorus*
Instead of registering for China, I would instead buy a set off of Craigslist after the wedding. This solved a few dilemmas for me. I wanted to be green and not necessarily buy newly manufactured materials. I love vintage/classic looks anyways, and this was the perfect way to collect some actual vintage pieces. This was a much cheaper option to acquire a full set of China.
Here’s a sampling of what’s currently listed to show you why I so readily changed my mind:
*All images sourced from the listings*
I’m keeping my eyes peeled on the Washington, DC, Raleigh, and Norfolk lists - it definitely helps to have three cities to search!
Am I crazy to want to buy used China?
My friend has a beautiful set of Depression Glass dishes that she collected with her Mom over the years. She now has the entire set. I’m thinking of starting a set myself and have found a few designs I like. I’m sure you’ll find some great stuff out there on Criagslist or in antique shops!
There’s nothing wrong with buying used china. You can also check ebay & Replacements. Or, the Goodwill in some select markets. Or thrift stores. The trick will be if you can get all the pieces you want. I suspect there are also some consignment stores that will have sets. You know, peeps who want to redo their homes and decide their china no longer matches.
What a great post. I actually never registered for fine china. My grandmother picked up a second hand set of the first picture you posted - I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the pattern, but she gave me the entire set as a gift when I was younger. I’m glad I didn’t register for new china - I love my second hand set!
EDIT: It’s called Noritake Rothschild and it’s beautiful <3
That’s a wonderful idea! I’ve been really going back and forth on china myself lately- FMIL desperately wants me to have it, but right now I have nowhere to store it and there’s just so much other stuff I need! Tracking down and collecting china actually sounds kind of fun!!
I think this is a great idea and now I’m considering it, as well. 
We’re already going to inherit about five different sets of china someday… although we’d like to use it in our lives sooner than that, I suppose it doesn’t have to be new…
We aren’t registering for china either. I don’t know if we’ll go the used route, or the inherited route, but somehow we’ll get some china some day 
I do think it’s such a humongous expense when many people in our generation simply don’t entertain often enough or with occasion enough to justify having china. We were never planning on registering for china since our entertaining is always very casual (even for family holidays and birthdays), but you’ve now inspired me to peruse for used china. Hopefully by the time I find something that’s just right (or inherit my mother’s… which, in 25 years of living on this Earth I’ve never eaten on ONCE), I’ll be at a place where I’m having dinners that are worth “breaking out the china.”
I think craigslist is a great idea to source china! We’re not registering for it, and just registering for a nice everyday set instead. I know that we’d use it on holidays, but I can’t justify the expense.
Not crazy at all! I think it’s a great idea - economical and smart environmentally, as well. I love craigslist - I’m currently scouting the car sales on there!
Nope, you’re not crazy. I found 12 full settings (big plate, medium plate, bowl, cup, saucer) of Mikasa Red Orchid at Goodwill just after getting engaged. I snapped them up. It’s my favorite color (which was also one of the wedding colors) and I love the pattern. Someone gave us the butter dish and gravy boat as a wedding gift (we didn’t have an official registry for it though). We put a 4-setting box of a pretty plain everyday Corelleware pattern on the registry.
I second the checking Goodwill…I wandered through our local one over the weekend after dropping off some of our old clothes and they had an entire 12 place setting that looked similar to the Belle Fleur China you posted for under $50
Mrs. Meatball did something like this.
http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/09/03/something-old-made-new-our-vintage-registry/
Oh my gosh! The Noritake.. I’m 99% sure that is what my parent’s wedding china is… my mother gave it to me a few years ago, and I’ve been torn between registering for my own, registering for some that coordinates well, or registering for more pieces from that set (which is for 8 currently) on a site that carries discontinued china… It’s very pretty, but I’m not necessarily a flowery sort of girl, but I can’t justify owning almost 6 sets of china… the boy and I are both only children with quite a lot to inherit. <3 good luck!
i think it’s fantastic idea! if only CL did registries huh?
craigslist! no, i don’t think you’re crazy. how often do you use the fancy china? my mom uses hers like, 2-3 times a year! i think it’s a good idea.
i had a friend who sourced a lot of her baby furniture from craigslist!
Craigslist and thrift stores are a great place to find china, platters and other housewares! You can’t go wrong with the price, and most likely the items were barely used by the previous owners.
There’s nothing wrong with used china at all! I think it’s a pretty cool idea, actually. :p
i think it’s a great thing to do (vintage, yeah!) and ecologically sound too. well done!
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Mrs. Lamb, Norfolk Age and Occupation: 25, Homeland Security Consultant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Graduate Student Engagement Date: January 2009 Wedding Date: January 2010 Venue: Trinity Presbyterian Church/Harrison Opera House About Me: I’m a Homeland Security Consultant with a tendency towards pulling office pranks, taking lunch breaks, and drinking Wawa shakes. I’m also an English major with a serious obsession with alliteration and rhymes. While I’m not keeping America safe, I’m training for half marathons and the Escape from Alcatraz swim. Or moving for the third time this year. Or baking. Or wedding crafting. Or crying about wedding planning. All the while, I’m getting myself into Lucille Ball-esque scrapes and making Jim Carey-esque faces. Our big fat Czech/Baptist/Jewish/Italian wedding is a combination of vintage eclectic, DIY, and little spoonful of sugar from our Event Coordinator. It’s going to be a Norfolk flavored wedding with the verve of an only-daughter-blow-out bash!
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