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The Modern Guide to The Thing Before Preppy

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Reader Question for the Community: What would be a perfect, classic wedding china pattern?


A reader question for the community:
Do you have any suggestions for quality made china? Getting married this spring and shopping for something to last our lifetimes.

21 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. If you do not need the china to be microwave safe, I really like the Mikasa parchment. Subtle and elegant, but doesn't feel like you need to baby it.

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  3. Limoge is classic.

    Aiken

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  4. I'm thinking more about pattern here, or lack of them, because after decades of juggling china sets, I've come to realize that - if you only want one dish as your go to - it's best to use a classic neutral with little or no pattern. You can showcase patterns and colors by using all sorts of place mats, napkins and table clothes depending on the season and the occasion. For formal-ish dinners, I like Waterford Kilbarry - white with a thin silver rim (or you may prefer gold). But for most occasions, you can't go wrong with solid white, as mentioned earlier. It will fit in with nearly every setting and you can go wild with colors using accessories.

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  5. This is such a fun question! Let's first acknowledge that Hyacinth would only recommend Royal Doulton China with hand painted periwinkles. Now that we have that out of the way, we can begin.

    My grandmother was very much enamored with china of all kinds, and I was lucky enough to get quite a bit of her collection when she passed. She had two "everyday" types of china which I also use every single day and put in the dishwasher.

    My favorite is by the Royal China Co., and the pattern is Buckingham Rose. (https://picclick.com/Royal-China-Co-Americana-Buckingham-Rose-2-Dinner-322454669749.html) This is nothing fancy at all, but it has sentimental value to me. This one reminds me the most of my grandmother.

    The other is Homer Laughlin Green Band China Dinnerware
    (https://www.webstaurantstore.com/47733/homer-laughlin-green-band-rolled-edge-china-dinnerware.html), or at least I think it is. The label has worn off; can't be certain. If not, it's nearly identical. Also...far from fancy.

    The above pieces are very old. However, she did acquire another china pattern I think in the 70s, which for some reason, I also love but understand that it may be a bit much for others. It's Wedgwood's Runnymede Blue.

    All that being said, if I were to go out and buy brand new china today, it would most certainly be all white with perhaps a subtle texture. For reference, grandmother was born in 1929.

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  6. We were fortunate to receive a selection of Noritake China for our wedding in the "Aegean Mist" pattern. To be honest, it was the shape of the cup handles that attracted me. Echoing Susan's observation, the neutral white and grey palette with a platinum rim works with practically any seasonal setting.

    And while I'm pleased to learn that the company has been in continuous operation for ~115 years, I was amused to learn that china is only one of their business activities; like any sogo sosha, they parlayed their technical expertise into diversified fields, including industrial products, ceramics & materials, and engineering activities. How perfectly Japanese :)

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  7. Yay! A spring wedding! Enjoy! Whatever you choose, make sure it's open stock, so you don't end up with things of limited use that take up maximum storage (I'm looking at you coffee cups and saucers). Like Newport Girl, we have Wedgewood's Nantucket and use it every day. We also have an (inherited) formal set with a gold rim, that comes out from time to time, but I wouldn't miss it, if it disappeared one day.......

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  8. Wedgewood Edme is a good, attractive china to start with.

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  9. our regular dishes are an all-white type of 'China' that were made in Japan by Noritake. Dishwasher and microwave-safe, simple white with a bit of a pattern (in the china, no color). Have lasted for 24 years and counting, we use it daily. China we use for nicer occasions is a discontinued Wedgewood pattern - some blue and gold pattern around the edge of the rims. We only use occasionally and have washed by hand; they look like new. Simple is best, in our view, for dishes.

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  10. I have Spode's Chelsea Wicker and it is a classic white with a wicker pattern around the edge. Everyone comments on it and just how timeless it is. It may not be dishwasher safe, but I have used it and put it in the dishwasher with no adverse affects.

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  11. Does anyone still use Minton "Buckingham?" It's simple and elegant, and is good for either dressed-up or dressed-down entertaining.

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  12. An additional thought; select something you will use regularly. If this is a “save for a special occasion” set, then don’t bother investing in expensive china that is only going to collect dust. My .02 cents. Cheers.

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  13. For every day life, we use Pottery Barn’s Great White pattern (all white, very simple, and all food looks great on white dishes). We also throw in, seasonally, some transferware (like Johnson Brothers or Spode) to add some color - use mostly blue and white, but have red and white, as well.

    We were also very lucky to inherit a set of Syracuse China in the Countess pattern. A simple white set with silver edging - looks great with the silver candlesticks, too. For reference, I’m 31 years old.

    I know I’m young, but after having been married for 7 years, my advice is choose something simple and classic that you love. With recommendations from those wiser than I, that’s what I did, and love the items I received for my wedding, even though I chose them in my early twenties.

    Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

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  14. We have Williams-Sonoma's Plisse plates, which look fairly similar to the Wedgwood Edme. Now the ones I hope to inherit are white with a band of gold on the edge, which have aged remarkably well since my parents wedding many moons ago and if you want more of a pattern or are looking for good china, rather than something a bit basic, I would keep that kind of detail in mind. Florals can be lovely, but they tend to be easier to date than stripes and simple edgings if that matters to you.

    That being said, until we're in our forever home, the Plisse plates are elegant enough for any meal we serve but not too precious to put in the dishwasher and use every day. Anything with gilding really shouldn't go in the dishwasher (once or twice is probably fine, more than that may strip the gilding), and we just don't have the desire to hand wash everything.

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  15. I have and recommend either Royal Doulton or Noritake. I also suggest you purchase a service for 12.

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  16. Firstly , don't buy anything that can't go in a microwave ie gold/silver gilt .
    Secondly , stay away from fashion colours and "in" patterns ; they date quickly .
    Thirdly , less is better :
    minimalist mixes and stands the test of time . The wedding set for 14 ( 12+2 places for breakage ) that we got in '83 is this ( https://www.chinasearch.co.uk/paragon-and-royal-albert/holyrood/ ) and we nowadays use this 16 places : https://noritake.com.au/product/marc-newson-by-noritake-20pce-dinner-set/
    Crockery use to be expensive and one thought of it as a lifetime article , but you can move-on in reality . Heck , my wife's on her fourth engagement ring from me , as we have more means over the decades . Live for the moment . Congratulations to you both :-) Neil

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  17. Plain white to showcase the food. Accent with all other patterns for various events.

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  18. blue room Spode for everyday and All of Herend China is classic for formal ware. Blah Blah to the white china with a gold or silver rim. Herend is hand painted and beautifully patterned with birds flowers etc and absolutely lovely and timeless.
    I have Queen Victoria (made for her and she bought it at the Worlds Fair).
    Nothing better that beautiful china.

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  19. Buy vintage. Beautiful, better, cheaper, more sustainable, and more original.

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