There was a girl who I found insufferably snobby (even though she was barely middle class, like us at the time), who bragged endlessly about how she had the same china “as the queen”. It was a Windsor something or other. I really wanted to say to her “you know, this doesn’t mean you’re royalty”, but I just bit my tongue.
I have a few “tacky wedding stories” about that particular wedding/shower that I should post over on the other thread.
I still love the china I selected in 1987 and use it every day – Haviland Imperatrice Blanc. Actually my (now-ex) husband picked it out – he’s the porcelain expert in the family.
It is a very versatile pattern that works well with food since it is all white. The reason my ex- liked it is because the porcelain teacups are so thin that they are translucent. They are such a pleasure to use – it is like drinking out of an eggshell.
We had to split the set up in the divorce and unfortunately the pattern has been discontinued.
Notelling- there are places on line where you can buy discontinued china patterns. Try replacements.com
I literally just bought on replacements.com in the last 5 minutes! I was filling in my everyday silverware (Oneida Tudor - teaspoons have disappeared over the years) and everyday dinnerware (Denby Harlequin).
Nottelling, I had to google it, what an elegant pattern. So pretty. 
Thanks! And thanks for the Replacements tip; just got the last two large dinner plates (11" ones). I like the idea of slowly building back up my set, without making the investment all at once.
I’m googling all the china patterns too. Oh the places CC will take you…
I actually wanted to sell some of the stuff I have but it costs more to ship the items to replacements.com
It is a good place to find additional pieces to add to what you have.
Honestly my corelle dinner/lunch plates get so much use daily. I have some nice Mikasa serving dishes that mostly sit on the shelves taking up space.
I know my own kid would prefer practical daily use stuff and would prefer a honeymoon registry instead.
She has no interest in expensive place settings that she would have to hand wash and I don’t think she is interested in polishing silver either. I am glad I haven’t collected to much stuff over the years.
Side comment: The Replacements.com founder/CEO made a really good impression in pushing back on the North Carolina discrimination law earlier this year. Since I teach business, I posted a video about their company for my students. Seems like a great place to work and I always like hearing good things about them.
@mathmom, that’s my China pattern also. I still use it a time or two a year. I also got Orrefors Prelude crystal. 1987. I didn’t really want China or Chrystal, but my ex and I lived together and had many household things. It was easy for people to buy. My every day dishes are Denby Azure Coast. I really like that pattern. This could be a tacky wedding story. My friend’s daughter was getting married, and it on her list. So I ordered her a couple of place settings, and ordered 12 for me.
My MIL asked us if we wanted china or Crystal. We said…neither. So she bought us the crystal. I hate it and always have. It’s an Orrefors pattern…very Danish modern. Not my taste. Our 35th anniversary was yesterday. Most of that crystal still has the little stickers on it. Never used.
It’s going on eBay.
We use Royal Doulton St. Moritz for,our everyday dishes. It’s a white porcelain china…and is great.
We also have a set of Franciscan Apple which looks nice in the china cabinet. And 12 plain Lenox dinner plates.
I have a dozen Cobalt Florentine dinner plates and salad plates, and a platter. My parents gave it to me. I never get full sets of anything. 
@notelling, love the Imperatrice Blanc. Coincidentally, I’ve loved the Haviland Imperatrice Eugenie pattern for decades, ever since I first saw it in once of those gorgeous Gourmet photoshoots of old. Never been able to afford to get any, though. 
@raclut, the only china that has to be hand washed is vintage stuff that may not be glazed over the pattern. And If she likes silver but doesn’t want to polish it, a) use it frequently, and b) get a quiksilver plate.
This isn’t tacky, it’s funny. Some of my DS’s friends took some of the extra/leftover wine from his wedding weekend, and gave it to them on their 1 year anniversary.
@Consolation – I love the Haviland Imperatrice Eugenie, too! (Totally different from Imperatrice Blanc, obviously). I have a funny story about that; when we registered, the store initially registered us for the wrong pattern and several place settings of the Imperatrice Eugenie appeared in the mail. it was GORGEOUS. My mom took one look at it and tried to get me to change to that (ie to stick with the mistake). But it was (1) twice as expensive; (2) not nearly as versatile and not really in keeping with my fairly clean, contemporary aesthetic ; and (3) most important, my spouse-to-be didn’t like it. But I did own some for a short period (until we returned it) and I have had a soft spot for it ever since. I’ve always thought it would be great to have a set of dessert plates in that pattern.
(Plus, now I think it would be great in a contemporary setting; I would like the contrast between a highly decorative, old fashioned pattern in a modern context).
(Now that I’m in downsizing mode, it is hard to imagine that I’d ever actually acquire a set of those dessert plates though.)
Interesting–the cobalt is my favorite version of the Wedgwood Florentine.
Oh my…what an out of the box radical was I 27 years ago…I registered …and now have 15 settings of…Lenox solitaire. Ha…silver rim so much more ‘with it’ than gold rim.
We have18 settings of Miller Rogaska crystal…never use it.
Auntie worked at Rosenthal in Germany. Auntie has no kids. So I have…
About 12 settings of various Rosenthal Cobalt Blue/18 K settings.
2 sets fr Thomas (subsidiary of Rosenthal) dinnerware.
several tea sets of Rosenthal/Thomas lineage
Will eventually inherit more Rosenthal from mom.
It all fills a great big antique which lives in our unused dining room.
We are in the process of cleaning out our lives…these items are on the short list.
I used to collect little porcelain boxes- Wedgwood, Herend, etc. I maybe have about 30. Most are in a curved armoire in my dining room or on a tall secretary desk in my living room. I’m hoping that D takes some as decoration for her new place and I really would like to get rid of most of the rest, but the resale value is just so low.
Same with Lladros. I have a few with sentimental value (mostly of twin babies) but the rest don’t mean much to me.
I am going to have the house to myself for a week and I am going on a decluttering rampage!
^^I have had the house to myself until tonight, and I’ve been on a decluttering rampage this week as well 
The Goodwill people recognize my car now, lol. Sorry, I should post this over in Bag a Week-it’s been like Bag A Day!
Tacky wedding story-I was the source of the tackiness, but it wasn’t my fault. We went to a wedding that was outside in the pacific northwest, and there was no way to hide from the weather. We all got rained on, and I was wearing a mint green dress that went completely sheer when wet. @-)
We had a very small wedding–all the china we have we purchased ourselves. We have Wedgewood (Amherst) china, which we use fairly often. Also, two sets of everyday dishes–Wedgewood Nantucket and Jars Vuelta (white) pattern–I really love the Jars dishes. My D decided not to get china and registered for one set of dishes–Williams Sonoma Apilco Zen (they’re plain white dishes, which are square). I like them, but don’t need more dishes.
I would love to be home alone for a week to declutter