Way back when we had our engagement party, we received an absolutely beautiful gift from Mr. Coyote’s parents:
Gorgeous, right?
The problem is…Mr. Coyote and I kinda—sorta already have our own set. You see, Mr. Coyote and I are really dorky and super into that whole medieval/fantasy thing, so every year we try to make it to our local Renaissance Faire. We love browsing the shops, and every year Mr. Coyote tells me that THIS is the year he will come home with sword. (Whatevs dude.) Anyways, a few years ago we stumbled upon the most beautiful flutes we had ever seen:
Now this was a long time ago, way before thoughts of engagements and marriage ever crossed our minds, so we did not purchase them with the intention of one day using them at our wedding. It was kind of on a whim, but I absolutely love these glasses and now that we actually are getting married, I really want to use them at our wedding.
Of course, the glasses Mr. Coyote’s parents bought us are also beautiful and I’m sure they’re expecting us to use them at our wedding. So what’s a bride to do?! I have been thinking about using one set at our rehearsal dinner, and the other set on our wedding day. Or possibly using one set during the speeches and then have our own little toast with the second set after we cut the cake. I’m still floating a few different possibilities around in my head, but now I’m reaching out to you!
We had four flutes, too, and intended to use one set for our water glasses and one set for our champagne at the sweetheart table. The venue accidentally gave us four glasses of champagne, which we were FORCED to consume (boo hoo). To be honest, I can’t even remember which flute I held for the toasts 
I say use the fancy waterford from the ‘rents for the toasts and the cake cutting, but use the dragon ones for the whole rest of the night and have your waterfords on display on your cake table until you need them maybe even with a theme coloured ribbon around the stems. The fact that theyre on display AND used makes it more special, for our engagement party we only used our nice toasting glasses for the speech and cake cutting (too scared to break them) and normal ones the whole night so I know it works, hope this helps
I actually got those same flute from my husbands dad as an engagement gift. I love them. Waterford crystal is like my family’s thing so to have my own piece was special to me. Over the next few weeks, I got 2 more sets of flutes. Another crystal set from Galway crystal and a pair of handpainted flutes with roses on them. I used my waterford ones at the wedding and immediately after the toast they were moved because I was afraid someone would hit the table and they’d break.
I say use one set for toasting and incorportate the others into something during the ceremony or during the cake cutting after you feed each other cake.
I vote anything that will allow you to use both sets of flutes, cause they are both awesome and need to be used.
Ooh, I like @MrsPadlock2B: ‘s idea – that sounds awesome.
I vote to use the dragon for the rehearsal dinner… AND for a private toast for yourselves when you get to your hotel or wherever you are staying on your wedding night. That way, the rents are happy you used the Waterford for the wedding, you can use the (TOTALLY AWESOME AND I WANT THEM) dragon ones for a formal event and for a private event. Either way, it is a win-win decision!
We had two sets of flutes, too, and one set was from the Ren Fair! (Blogged here: http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/02/26/now-i-want-toast/) I just ended up using the ones I really wanted (the ren fair ones) and used the others for the anniversary. You could use their flutes at the rehearsal dinner, since they didn’t ask you if you had flutes to begin with, and you can just tell them you had some you’d been looking forward to using for a long time.
As much as I can tell that you love them both…
I voted for the OTHER choice
I’d get myself some of those generic “weddingy” ones that are sold so many places… usually have some sort of engraving on them… Bride & Groom – Date etc and use those
WHY… Because as someone who has been married before, I can tell you that generally speaking Reception Sites can be a bit chaotic (to say the least)
Lots of people, lots of dancing, lots of drinking… and folks from the venue running around inbetween it all…
I’d so hate (and I know you would to) to end up finding your beloved Toasting Glasses broken… (I can so visualize the Waterford ones getting “jilted’ off the Cake Table)
So I suggest that you pick up an Inexpensive third set, and save the good ones for special occasions at home.
PS… When I got married the first time, Hubby and I had several sets… crystal, glass, and the ones that we did take to the Wedding were Sterling Silver engraved Bride – Name – Date. Other than a few scratches (improper dishwashing in the kitchen sink… without a sink pad) they are still around and in decent shape. Over the years we used all the sets quite a bit… Birthdays, Anniversarys, Christmas Eve, Baby Births etc… all the sets ending up standing up to the test of time (at home)
We ran in to a similar problem (both of our mothers purchased toasting flutes for us!)
We’re using one set to drink from all night (the ones we’re less worried about breaking) and one set to toast with. That way they both get table time.
This is really funny to me, as we are in almost the same position. We have custom engraved unicorn flutes that we got at the Renn Faire last year. Unicorns are kind of a running joke with us from like our second date, plus they’re really pretty. I’m dreading someone giving us flutes for an engagement/shower present because I know they’ll expect us to use them, and it’s tradition and all, but… we have our unicorn champagne flutes! Because we are grown-ups, dammit! Anyway, please post about what you decide and how it works out because I’m sure this is going to come up. I like the idea of using a second set at the rehersal dinner.
We received toasting flutes but went with our hearts and used the pewter dove ones http://salestore.com/pewter-dove-wedding-couple-set.html we had purchased earlier. I wanted something unique for us I say use the dragons.
The dragon flutes are so cool! I mean, I’m biased, but they’re awesome. 
I’d split things up — one set at the rehearsal, one set at the wedding.
I vote to use the two, maybe the ones your inlaws gave you for the toast, but make sure you get pics with both and definetley use the dragon ones for the rehearsal dinner.
Those are totally epic toasting flutes! And on another note, my FI DID come home with a sword last year from the highland games last year! He bought himself a claymore and this year he wants to get a broadsword. I think we’ll soon have a whole collection of swords on the wall of the apartment which we found today!
Use both!!! One set can be on the cake table, the other on your table. One can represent the nice gift you received and the other can show off your personalities! I love it. I should show my Fiance this post, he totally wanted to get married at Medieval Times at one point
Could you just talk to his parents and see if you can exchange the flutes for something else you’ll use at the wedding like the cake servers or a beautiful cake pedestal (they currently have one by Oleg Cassini that is GORGEOUS)? I know that those flutes are like $150 a pair (because their the ones I wanted but couldn’t afford, lol)
At our wedding, there was a different set of champagne flutes on our cake table…so I would vote for having two sets at the wedding.
We didn’t bring in any sets…I was too afraid to have my Waterford at the venue. BUT I kind of wish we had my Waterford on the cake table now.
I like the idea of having different toasting flutes for the speeches and the cake cutting. They’re both great and there’s no reason you can’t have them both!
Mrs. Coyote, Westchester, NY Age and Occupation: 26, Administrative Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Computer Programmer Engagement Date: August 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Franklin Plaza About Me: I am an overly-caffeinated, sports-obsessed history nerd who loves a good book and hates bananas. Originally from a small town in Upstate NY, I made the move to Westchester County and never looked back! My loves include NBC Thursdays, red wine, fleece pajamas, and my amazing fiancé. Together we are planning a formal evening affair for 175 guests with a mix of new and old traditions and plenty of personal touches.
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