Weddingbee Blog

Guys, let’s talk about china.

{via memory.loc.gov} (altered by me)

No, no, not the country. The dishware. Bone china. You know what I’m talking about. This is one of the first fights discussions that Mr. Candy Apple and I had after getting engaged. Well, registries in general, actually. But china specifically.

Before we talked about it, I had never really thought about china. Sure, I knew it was one of those things that couples registered for, and that I ate off of china every holiday at my aunts’ and uncles’ houses, but that was about it. Didn’t really care. Oh how silly I was.

I didn’t care, that is, until I discovered the world of china. The patterns. The styles. The adorable creamers and sugar bowls and platters. The tea cups. Oh my. Yes, I became obsessed with china. I spent waaaay too many hours trawling through Macy’s in search of the perfect china. Which is a problem because Mr. Candy Apple does not think that we need china. And he’s very adamant about it.

Hence, the first large fight discussion:

Mr. CA: Why do we need china? We don’t host people for dinner.

Miss CA: That’s because we live in the middle of nowhere and we don’t know anyone that lives within a 100 mile radius of us! We will have people over eventually, once we move to D.C. and actually know people who can come over.

Mr. CA: Why can’t we just eat off of normal plates?

Miss CA: Well, because…because…it’s nice! And, and…the patterns! And it’s fine china! And the cute little tea cups!

Mr. CA: Why do you need cute tea cups?

Miss CA: Because I drink tea!

Mr. CA: But you don’t have other people over to drink tea. You already have a mug.

Miss CA: Well, I would have people over for tea if I had adorable china tea cups.

And so on.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally see his point. We don’t throw fancy dinner parties. China is certainly not something we need, particularly at this point in our lives. Our place in D.C. next year will most likely be smaller than the massive apartment we’re in now (yay, low New Jersey apartment prices!), so we won’t have much storage space. And, it’s expensive.

However. I feel very strongly that we will, at some point, want china. It’s just, well, nicer than regular dishware! Duh. It gussies things up a bit and makes the meal feel fancier. It provides that WOW factor on the table. It’s something that I don’t really want to deal with buying for myself later on down the road. And, to be perfectly honest, I am a sap and love the sentimental idea behind china. I think it epitomizes the whole concept of wedding registries/gifts: people giving you housewares and things that will help you start your life together. This china will be an heirloom and will stay with us throughout the marriage, and it will possibly be passed on to our children. It will be our wedding china.

So, we added china to our registry.

Don’t worry, it’s not fussy looking china that has kittens and flowers on it, like in Professor Umbridge’s office (Harry Potter reference, what?!). It’s this china:

{source} Vera Wang Wedgwood Dinnerware, Grosgrain Collection

Classy. Elegant. Cute little grosgrain. I am obsessed with it. I fantasize about serving roast chicken on those plates. I wanted something more modern and fresh, but also something that I would not get tired of 20 years down the road. I think this pattern is very timeless (although maybe a tad boring?) and one that I can also mix and match easily. Mr. Candy Apple even liked this china, too, over some of the other patterns. And, really, how can you resist the adorable tea cups?!

I had originally registered for this china because I totally love the pattern, but I worried that I would get sick of it. I still love it, though, and will try to force all of my friends to register for it when they get married.

{source} kate spade new york “Gardner Street” Green

I also liked this one, but I didn’t really want gold. I seriously heart the navy and polka dots, though.

{source} kate spade new york “Library Lane” Navy

I really appreciate that Mr. Candy Apple is understanding and was willing to cave on this one. (I’ll just need to be sneaky and hide the china so that he can’t secretly return it.)

Did you register for china? If so, what patterns drew you in? Was there any disagreement with your significant other over wedding china? If you’re married, do you use your china?