32+ years later I am still using the pizza cutter that came with several other kitchen tools from a beloved family friend. I used it tonight, actually, and thought of Judy. It’s not fancy or anything, it just works.
I use my (inexpensive) china and Waterford, but not as often as I could. The relish/dip platter, anchor-hocking lasagne pan, and Pyrex bowls are used all the time.
The obligatory re gifted princess house crystal thingy (still with card from the original gifter) was donated at some point.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I still have and use just about every single thing we received, all of which was along the lines of silver/crystal/platters.
The exception was a large, very ordinary spathiphyllum in its plastic grower pot given by a couple we were close friends with, First I had to go out and buy a pot to put it in, then it inevitably died. Since she was normally very extravagant, I can’t imagine why they gave us that plant,
Ah, the Salton food warmer! @choatiemom, we just found ours (unopened!) as we were cleaning out our basement. For some reason, and we entertain frequently, it never seemed to come in handy.
Favorite gifts: Waterford stemware (I use the champagne glasses regularly ), large crystal salad bowl, a set of signed Elizabeth O’Neill Verner prints, sterling flatware.
Most useful: a set of Revere pots and pans. I used those for many years until I could afford higher end cookware. Pyrex dishes and stainless mixing bowls.
Worst gifts: kitschy salt and pepper shakers. There were a few other strange or ugly things but it’s been so long I don’t remember!
I would have to think about my own answers, but I think I know immediately what would be the answer for D’s worst gift. It would be the monogrammed door mat from her registry that friends gave (per Williams Sonoma notification), but that never came because the wife cancelled the gift a few days later. They came to the wedding (ate, drank, danced, & were merry) and never sent a gift. Others failed to send a gift, but in those cases, we can imagine that some simply forgot (that happened with weddings of both my kids). D had given this couple a nice gift a few years ago and traveled to Texas for their wedding. D & SIL are approaching 1 year anniversary next month, so maybe this rant will let me release that grudge into the universe:)
I am in the process of trying to sell some of the crystal/silverware/china I received as gifts early in my marriage (not wedding gifts). We are very informal and use the same corelle dishes we got when we were married 33 years ago! I have only broken 2 dishes in all that time.
I volunteer in a charity thrift store. We get fabulous donations…and very often get complete service for 12 of beautiful china (and yes…good high end brand names) including serving pieces.
We can’t give the stuff away. Right now, there is a complete service for 12…and we just marked it down to $50.
And if you have silverplate anything…same thing!
Some of our wedding gifts from years past are just not wanted by the current generation…or anyone else…
@2VU0609: Just curious. Why would you be bothered whether or not someone gave a wedding gift to your daughter? I know it’s polite, but isn’t the attendee’s presence present enough?
Lol Romani! Those super specific kitchen gadgets seem so useless, especially when the recipient has little space.
I remember once receiving a contraption designed to hold taco shells upright (for easier filling, I guess). My fingers could do that job quite easily. I gave it away.
@kiddie - thanks for the Corelleware mention. I thought I was exceedingly lazy and out of fashion since our 30+ year old Corelle is still my favorite!
I remember my mother’s 1960’s philosophy - Brides deserve pretty things. It didn’t matter what the bride registered for, she gave the couple something silver. I can imagine now that many brides would be returning these items, but I grew up thinking that you had to have a silver coffee server once you married and “set up housekeeping”. How times change!
My favorite wedding gifts are still the special Christmas ornaments we received for our December wedding. I’ve used them every year and remembered the giver as they go up.
Worst Gift: My sister gave us a doorstop in the shape of lobster. You cram the claws under the door and then proceed to trip over the tail that sticks out about a foot. Went directly to garbage; did not pass go; did not collect $200.
Second Worst Gift: Our “arts-and-craftsy” friend gave us a pillow with a pillowcase covered in rhinestones. It looked like a colorblind chimp was left alone with a fully-loaded bedazzler. I guess she was trying to be unique, but who the heck wants to sleep on a pebble-covered pillow?
Best Gift (expensive): A family friend gave us a bottle of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild from his cellar. We were too intimidated to drink it for about 15 years.
Best Gift (thoughtful): A high school friend took video clips of all my friends at the wedding and asked each one three questions - what’s your funniest memory of him, what’s the nicest thing he’s ever done for you, what should he name his first child. She spent half the wedding interviewing people.
Best Gift (overall awesomeness): Lookout Mountain hang gliding gift certificate. Words cannot describe the feeling of soaring in the sky. Words also cannot describe how angry my mother-in-law was for taking her newlywed daughter hang gliding.
Oh I forgot…favorite aunt gave us a card for our wedding…and her gift was a bottle of Moët and Chandon to be given to us to celebrate our first anniversary…yes…she remembered! And for us…that was quite the treat!
We really need a china and silver clearing house thread. Would it be against the TOS? What’s the pattern of the set you have, @thumper1 ? Where’s the charity store? I wouldn’t mind hitting it the next time I drive down to CT. You can PM me if you don’t want to broadcast it.
Most favorite was an insulated water bottle that kept stuff insanely cold forever-remember, this was 1993, long before the super-coolers that are everywhere today. We could stick that bottle in the sand, go snorkeling for hours, and come back to icy cold water. It was miraculous and useful (we still have it!).
Least favorite was a used ice cream scooper in an opened plastic bag that had been wrapped. Luckily, it didn’t come from my side of the family [-X
Other runners up for good gifts were a very cool glass egg sculpture that just seems to go with everything and always look good no matter where you put it, and a set of (real) Pyrex dishes that are indestructible.
Thumper- what’s your Orrefors pattern, maybe we can get it sold for you
My worst gift that I recall was a beautiful crystal ashtray, so pretty and so never going to be used, it took me decades to dump it because it was so small. I do have a crystal miniature ice bucket, so maybe 6-8" tall, what am I supposed to do with that?
), large crystal salad bowl, a set of signed Elizabeth O’Neill Verner prints, sterling flatware.
(we still have it!).
