Why I Didn't Register for Fine China (or, how I didn't spend my summer vacation)
I am not a cut woman. I have never owned fine china, and do not plan to in the future. I suppose this means that I have no real appreciation for the finer things in life. I suppose I should just cruise around in stir-up pants and puff-painted shirts, hot-rodding in my minivan with "Hall & Oates" on bass boost. I mean, without fine china in my cabinets, to what else can I aspire?
So I didn't include Kate Spade's newest china set on my wedding registries. It simply seemed impractical. For reasons of cost, fragility, and space, I opted to request tupperware over chinaware, and have not regretted my decision yet.
Before you register for china, ask yourself the following question: how often do I plan to move in the next 10 - 100 years? I knew that John and I would be moving, perhaps more than once in the five years that followed our wedding day. I knew that moving would mean UHauling all of our possessions over patchy roads and potholes. I also knew that Crazy Glue can revive many a casualty of moving. I just didn't want it keeping my brand new $100 plates together.
Aside from transporting china, consider the space you will have to store it, should you receive it. If you are living in an apartment the size of a kitten's litterbox, you are unlikely to boast a proper china showcase. You may end up having to store your china off-site, which is really inconvenient when guests drop by and you have to ask them to "Sit Tight. We just have to go to Marv's Self-Storage across town to get the china." If your apartment does come with a china cabinet (Built in? Jealous!), you will probably need it to store all of your footballs and yoga mats and kitty litter, anyway.
The other disadvantage of registering for wedding china is that sometimes guests don't so much like to give it. You may only receive a few pieces and then, what do you do with a gravy bowl, bread plates, and serving spoon? Do you spend the rest of your gift money on the set's completion? Or would you just take back the few pieces and cash in on the new blender that also makes pasta bowties and calligraphs all of your thank-you notes?
I won't judge you if you give in to this aristocratic tradition of registering for china. I will just request that you invite me around for a fine supper sometime so that I can enjoy with you the material treasures that your marriage has afforded you!
So I didn't include Kate Spade's newest china set on my wedding registries. It simply seemed impractical. For reasons of cost, fragility, and space, I opted to request tupperware over chinaware, and have not regretted my decision yet.
Before you register for china, ask yourself the following question: how often do I plan to move in the next 10 - 100 years? I knew that John and I would be moving, perhaps more than once in the five years that followed our wedding day. I knew that moving would mean UHauling all of our possessions over patchy roads and potholes. I also knew that Crazy Glue can revive many a casualty of moving. I just didn't want it keeping my brand new $100 plates together.
Aside from transporting china, consider the space you will have to store it, should you receive it. If you are living in an apartment the size of a kitten's litterbox, you are unlikely to boast a proper china showcase. You may end up having to store your china off-site, which is really inconvenient when guests drop by and you have to ask them to "Sit Tight. We just have to go to Marv's Self-Storage across town to get the china." If your apartment does come with a china cabinet (Built in? Jealous!), you will probably need it to store all of your footballs and yoga mats and kitty litter, anyway.
The other disadvantage of registering for wedding china is that sometimes guests don't so much like to give it. You may only receive a few pieces and then, what do you do with a gravy bowl, bread plates, and serving spoon? Do you spend the rest of your gift money on the set's completion? Or would you just take back the few pieces and cash in on the new blender that also makes pasta bowties and calligraphs all of your thank-you notes?
I won't judge you if you give in to this aristocratic tradition of registering for china. I will just request that you invite me around for a fine supper sometime so that I can enjoy with you the material treasures that your marriage has afforded you!
posted by The Grammarian @ 6:33 PM
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