Bridal Club Magazine

Gift Registry Guide

Next to planning the actual wedding, most brides-to-be will tell you the next hardest thing is figuring out what to put on their gift registries. And one of the big mistakes brides make is not registering for enough.

"It's definitely a lesson in compromise," says Taryn Abbott-Wilson, Visual Merchandising Director for Pier 1 Imports. "When my husband and I got married, he had traditional, upholstered furniture and several wooden pieces in the same light finish, while I had a lot of dark antiques. We ended up utilizing almost all of our furniture by combining what worked together and then purchasing a few items to finish out the look."

"Couples need to think 'complete' and register for the smallest accessories to the biggest items. They are doing their guests and themselves a big favor by giving everyone a good range of gifts to choose from and assuring themselves that they'll be ready for their new family life together," says Roseanna Robinson, bridal director for The Pfaltzgraff Co., America's oldest continuously operating pottery company.

According to Robinson, the average age for couples getting married, today, is in the late 20's. "Most brides and grooms-to-be have lived on their own for a while and accumulated several household items," says Robinson. "So they need to be strategic about planning their registries."

Robinson says that means taking inventory of what each person already has, picking out their favorite pieces, and discarding the rest. "Couples should also ask themselves three questions - what are your favorite foods, what does it take to prepare them and what is the best way to serve them? This is a good starting point," says Robinson, who has been advising brides-to-be on how to complete their gift registries for more than two decades.

She says choosing an everyday dinnerware pattern is usually the main decision that helps structure the registry. "Traditionally formal china was a "must-have" and most often was very expensive, making it feel like another big commitment. Today the overwhelming trend is towards casual dinnerware at affordable prices, which gives registering couples many different options to suit their lifestyle. I encourage brides to have fun, choose pieces that complement the things they already have, and if they want, register for several different patterns," says Robinson

One pattern Robinson says is gaining in popularity is Pfaltzgraff's new Pistoulet collection, based on illustrations from the Jana Kolpen book, "The Secrets of Pistoulet."

"From the moment we discovered the book, we envisioned a beautiful and romantic casual dinnerware collection that would bring to the table Jana Kolpen's central theme and message - the powerful role that food and meals play to nourish our souls and unite us with friends and family," says Marsha Everton, president and chief executive officer at Pfaltzgraff.

Each piece in the collection is brightly decorated with freely rendered flowers, vines and vegetables drawn from or influenced by the book's illustrations, also by Kolpen. Bright, colorful drawings are set against wide watercolor washes that evoke the light and colors of southern France.

"The design is sophisticated in a warm and inviting way, allowing for great mix-and-match possibilities," says Robinson. "It appeals to both brides and grooms, who are increasingly more vocal in the bridal registry process. The chip-resistant, highly durable Pistoulet collection stands up to everyday use and is safe in the dishwasher, oven, freezer and microwave."