^hysterical
My every day dishes are a set of Royal Douton porcelain dinnerware. They are plain white. Very simple design. No gold or anything. They were my mother’s “good China” but you know what? They make excellent everyday dinnerware also.
The stuff was sitting in boxes, and our everyday stoneware was chipped. We’ve been using the Royal Doulton now for about 12 years…and not one piece has broken or chipped. Porcelain dinnerware is actually very durable.
This is it.
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/rd_stm.htm
And we are not special in any way.
^^Me too. My regular pattern was a fine china all white. Married 27 years and use the dinner plates daily (although don’t put them in microwave.) Not one piece broken. On about third set of stoneware since it chips after a while.
My sister lost one of her dinner dishes when her hubbie threw it at a snake that had gotten in the house…
I got her a replacement…
Replacement snake?
Hey, whatever works for you as far as dinnerware, go for it. We eat out on our patio 90% of the time and I’ve always liked stoneware so that’s what I use. I recently passed the Wedgewood stoneware set we got for our wedding down to our daughter-all there, no chips. My only requirement is that everything has to be dishwasher safe. I do have my Mom’s china from their wedding but is packed away.
Even though we are casual, our kids did have to sit at the table, ask to be excused, and eat with good manners. I’m glad to see that as adults the manners have stuck.
I do have Waterford crystal glasses that my MIL bought for me when they lived in Belgium; red wine, white wine, water, champagne, etc. 8 each of 6 different types. Neither of us drink alcohol so most have gone unused. Occasionally I will pull a few out for guests, mostly they are just packed away.
So waving swords/cutlasses/sabers over one’s head at a dinner table is not observed? 
@Marian - your post about the window treatments haunts me. Why not register at bed bath and beyond and at least have some curtain rods on there? I would be happy to buy someone curtain rods!
Even Santa needs a list to know what to give children.
I didn’t register, back in the day, and I feel like I got some re-wraps. Who needs a crystal clock? How about 2 crystal clocks? H and I could have used some practical things. Registries used to be all china and crystal but now they have spatulas and towels, lol. That’s better than crystal clocks and hibachis!
Back in the day, I went toma really good friend’s shower. This was in 1970 or so. No registries, and certainly not computerized ones.
She got three blenders, three toasters, it seemed like she got three of everything. She was amazingly gracious as she opened each gift (while I’m sure gift givers 2 and 3 were not happy).
After opening gift one “thank you so much. We will certainly use this blender”
After gift 2…“fabulous. We keep kosher so now we will have one for meat and one for milk”
After gift 3 “how wonderful. We will have a blender to use during Passover”
Honestly, I don’t know how she thought of those responses on the fly. But I will add…she only kept ONE of each item. I helped her load them up to return.
I think most (all?) people are on board with a registry, but some feel the HoneyFund is pushing the envelope.
The best gifts are gifts given or received for no reason. Of all the gifts DD1 (17yo) received from her then bf, the one she was happiest about was a box of kinetic sand left at our door. DD2 was most touched when a classmate gave her a jar of passion fruit juice she bought at a Portuguese market. In both cases, they were things dds mentioned, in passing at some point a while ago.
As far as registry, I am all for giving the gift of experience rather than stuff. I had not heard of honeymoon registry but I think it’s a great idea. IMO, gift giving is about the recipient, not the giver. So give them what they want.
Times change and so do people’s needs. I still think there’s something – uhm – a bit crass about asking guests to finance a honeymoon. But I’m working on it. Hopefully by the time I’m confronted with such a request (haven’t yet) I’ll be ready to be gracious.
Definitions of what’s crass has changed over the decades as shown in this very thread by some posters who felt/still feel having a registry was crass when the practice first started a few decades ago and a few who still hold that perspective.
Some of it may also differ by individual. For instance, I personally feel it’s crass some prospective couples and their families feel that invited wedding guests must not only bring gifts, but that the gift should at the very minimum…“cover one’s plate/costs of the wedding”. THAT feels like a money grab of an exceedingly crassier kind and goes against past notions that weddings should be paid for by the couple to be wedded and/or their families.
Nonsense. As others have pointed out, bone china and porcelain are actually LESS likely to chip than stoneware or pottery-type dishes. Take it from those of us who actually have it and use it.
Even my H, whose propensity to break glassware I have documented, has only managed to break one plate since 1983 when I met him.
The ability to sit down to a meal with people and converse, show an interest in each others’ lives and thoughts, is something I consider valuable. To each his own.
I wasn’t referring to chipping. I was thinking of kids/adults accidentally or not so accidentally dropping and shattering them.
Actually, I do the above…provided it comes naturally and isn’t forced by formalistic social convention or rules which IME actually stifles meaningful conversation and genuine insight into each others’ lives and thoughts to the point it sometimes comes across as “fake”.
Since in HI, monetary gifts are VERY common, there is often a nice box wrapped up or decorated in some manner that the envelopes can be deposited into for many events. When I was married over 30 years ago, a relative made a lovely wishing well with a slit for envelopes. At the wedding last night, it was a pretty box with a ribbon that kept it from opening all the way. When the reception began, uncle of the bride took the box to his home (2 miles away), for safekeeping and will give it to the newlyweds at brunch today (or give it to parents if the bride to put in their home for safekeeping).
Cash tender is my preference. I just gave 2 small envelopes to 2 college graduates last night. I don’t like boxes with fancy gift wrap that have impractical value or will never be used.
My SisIL and brother have long given cash. I try to give a small gift with cash or sometimes just cash.