After the conversation about what do we give to brides and grooms nowadays…I started to think about what we received (in my case 36 years ago) and what we still use. I did a fast look and I discovered that a pitcher (wilton?) I use 10 times a day (dogs’ water filler), my everyday china, my wine glasses (long champs…at that time 15 for 6…I think) several vases…what I don’t use: or don’t have…stainless, my original pots and pans,
And those white baking dishes…corning ware…I think. We sophisticates HATED it…still have it…still use it…often.
My favorite gifts? A large waterford bowl…and a pair of Waterford candlesticks. The former? I use every holiday for salads. The latter I use to this day. Not just for a nice table…but we make smores with them.
I have beautiful glass pitcher from my mom’s cousin and a set of pyrex mixing bowls (actually a shower gift) that are still going strong after almost 35 years!
I also have a glass pitcher that I use weekly that I received over 30 years ago. Because of that I tend to give glass pitchers as shower presents when they are on the Bride’s registry. The other gift that I received as a wedding gift that is still going strong, believe it or not, is my food processor. I only use it a couple of times a year, but still impressive that it works.
We still use our wine glasses and our everyday stainless flatware, although I have replaced several pieces lost over the years. You would never know that it’s 43 years old.
I sometimes use the Heath Stoneware dishes that we registered for our every day and only china, but only occasionally because I have other china I prefer now. It’s great for the patio in the summer, however.
My son just broke a crystal bowl I got that I used quite a bit. I also still use my crystal and china. Perhaps my favorite is an engraved frame with our picture I keep in my bedroom.
I would say that the wedding gifts that I am getting the most mileage out of would be a couple of sterling sliver picture frames and 2 crystal champagne buckets.
My mother still has her silver silver flatware (which we all fight over and claim to be ‘ours’ in the will), many dishes, knives. But the thing she used for years and probably still has is an ironing board. One of my father’s friends asked what they needed and my father jokes an ironing board. He arrived at the wedding hauling this big old board. Weighs about 2 tons, squeaky, but it works 61 years later.
We are clumsy and break wine glasses. We do still have 2 of a set of 4 that we still use, and refer to by the name of the couple who gave them to us. We got a ceramic pitcher and 4 mugs that we love. Use the mugs for coffee all the time, and I make iced tea in the pitcher sometimes.
DH and I worked in the same office when we got married. The office gave us a beautiful Baccarat pitcher that I broke about 10 years in. >:P We also received a lovely pottery casserole from a good friend’s mother, whose last name was Potter. I use it frequently. To this day, we call it Mrs. Potter’s pottery.
We have a waterford cream and sugar set received as a wedding gift from my BIL’s parents, and a wall clock that was a shower gift from my great aunt. We have some other things that are still in use, but those are my favorites.
We still use a knife, cutting board, carving set, clock, everyday china and flatware, serving pieces. I use my china for holidays. We use our wine glasses too. Most of the appliances were used until they wore out after about 10 years but those were great shower gifts. And yes, I still have the ironing board I received at my shower but I do change the cover every few years.
One of my parents best friends sent us the most gorgeous fine wood carving block. I will serve on it, but never cut on it. This couple knew their wood. Their dining room furniture was custom made by this Japanese artist who worked in Chicago. And yes, every time I look at this I smile.
We use some of the fancy dishes we received (for potlucks), including a white covered cassarole dish we still love. We also use a wooden ice bucket and a carving set. We used the TV and VCR until they were replaced. One of H’s coworkers gave him a pierced pottery piece that has cutout hearts.
Our glass pitcher and glasses were broken at parties we hosted. We never used the China or silver or crystal we registered for and received.
I couldn’t attend a dear friend’s wedding so I sent him a super cool Nike duffel bag as a wedding gift. I take gift giving very seriously. I know it wasn’t something for both of them but I don’t really know her. Anyway, 20 years later we are talking on the phone after reconnecting on Facebook and what does he mention at some point … how much he loves that stupid Nike duffel bag and still has it and still uses it and still thinks of me every time he does. That is the hall of fame of gift giving.
In nearly daily use: Wooden cutting board that I received as a shower present in 1987 from a family friend who said that she chose it because she wanted to give me something I would use all the time, and would remember her by.
In daily use: Revere cookware that my mother got as a wedding present in 1950.
Temporarily not collecting dust on my coffee table because it’s still packed from last summer’s move: Silverplate and glass “bride’s basket” that my paternal grandmother’s parents received as a wedding present in the 1890’s.