7 Tips to Getting the Most Out of Your Tableware Wedding Registry

I love this guest post by Su Sazama, co-owner of Fitzsu.com, an online and by appointment design boutique specializing in contemporary home accessories and tableware. Enjoy! 

Registering gifts for your wedding is awesome. It is one of rare times you actually get to choose your gifts while giving your guests the comfort in knowing that their gift will be well received. So don’t deny yourself the pleasure.

If you are planning a wedding, making sure every detail expresses both of your personalities, then you should give equal if not more consideration to your wedding registry. After all, you will be eating at home, entertaining friends, and hosting family holidays much more often than you will have wedding days. So here are 7 things you can do to make registering fun and fruitful in the long run.

1. Know when to register. You want to register after you book the wedding dates with all your vendors and before any scheduled wedding showers at least two months before the wedding. And you really don’t want to be registering during your last two weeks before the wedding. There is a nice lull after the rush to book your favorite band and caterer to start planning and putting into action your wedding gift registry.

2. Do some research and find your collective style. Just as you plan every detail of your wedding you should plan your personal tableware. It is an expression of your combined personalities, not just about plates and flatware. Figure out how you want to put it all together to create your own unique experience for yourselves and your guests. Pinterest is a great place to create a wedding registry inspiration board to pin your favorite table settings, tableware and kitchen accessories. Here are a few sites where you can find table setting editorial and ideas for the kitchen: Elledécor, Houzz, Fitzsu, Foodandwine, MarthaStewartLiving, andn Remodelista. Also, type the word “tablescapes” into Pinterest and you will not be disappointed.

3. Commit to spending the day registering together without other responsibilities. Feeling pressured, ultimately leads to indecision, frustration and dissatisfaction. Whether you are registering on line or in a store, it takes time, so make it a vacation. Go out for a nice brunch, so you don’t register hungry. Bring your inspiration with you. When you are done, go to the spa. You will always look back on this day fondly whenever you use your wedding gifts.

4. Be realistic but plan for the future. Tableware is meant to last. You may be only two now, but are you planning on having a family? Do you already have a big combined family of parents and siblings and possibly their children? You may not have 10 for dinner, but is having at least two more couples possible? 12 is the standard starting point for place settings and glassware, and for good reason. You need more than you will use in one meal and you will grow into it. At minimum I would consider at least 8. Decide if you need both fine china and every day dinnerware. 95% of couples who register with fitzsu trade up the everyday and forgo the second special occasion set. This way they can take pleasure every day in their nice dinnerware and dress it up for their guests with cloth napkins and interesting table accessories. Be realistic. How are you going to entertain? Nowadays, a dinner party is perceived special by the overall unique experience and not so much by its opulence as it was in the past.

5. Register for what you can afford to replace. Dreaming about your future dinner parties is fun and you should enjoy it, but if you don’t expect anyone to buy you a $500 gift, don’t register for the $500 per glass crystal stemware. On the other hand, if your friend drops your $500 wine glass after a few glasses and it doesn’t devastate you, then by all means put it on your registry.

6. Take into account how many guests you have and register accordingly. Yes, it is nice to give your guests some options so that they feel like they get to decide what they give you, but it is also wise to guide them towards what you really want or need. I have seen couples who really need a matching set of dinnerware in all its 12 place settings, just register for that and be so happy to get it all. On the other hand, unprepared couples register for a whole assortment of random items and are disappointed because they didn’t get flatware but have enough platters to serve an army.

7. Read stores’ registry policies, especially return policies; and be wary of websites that let you register everywhere. These websites are in no way connected to the sites you ultimately register with through them. Places like myregistry.com and amazon expect you to go to each store’s website and read their policies. You may register for items you plan on returning or exchanging to find out later you can’t. They also do not always keep track of your purchases. You might end up with 10 more dinner plates than you registered for and cannot return. You also cannot exchange items from one store for items you registered at another. If you find a store that speaks to your aesthetic, then I suggest you go there directly. The customer service will be better and you can ask them about returns and how their registry works.

For example, we offer an “alternative” registry for couples who want to be able to exchange gifts or change their mind later. It takes the pressure off the couples who are still uncertain about their choices and takes the work and waste out out of shipping returns back and forth. The couple knows who is buying them what items for their letters of appreciation, but they can decide what they want to do with all their gifts after the wedding. This requires the type of customer service you want in a registry that an affiliate website like amazon cannot provide.

Your wedding registry is a great opportunity to design the world you want to live and entertain in.
If you pick a time to register when you have finished most of your wedding planning, research and visualize your ideal table, decide ahead of time your quantities, and make a fun day of it, you will be happy remembering it every time you sit down and eat in the future.

Su Sazama is co-owner of Fitzsu.com, an online and by appointment design boutique specializing in contemporary home accessories and tableware. For over 13 years, Su has assisted hundreds of couples in creating their wedding registries. In addition, she provides personal service to homeowners, designers, architects, and estate managers globally in selecting tableware and kitchen accessories to suite their unique styles and personalities. Her experience offers sage advice on how to register your gifts with your fiancé and enjoying the process. Find me on LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook and Pinterest.

One Solitary Life

Many years ago someone wrote a very famous essay about the impact of Jesus’ life. It goes like this: 

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. 

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executors gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth—his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed tomb, through the pity of a friend. 

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone and today he is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life. (Evidence That Demands a Verdict, p. 140) 

There is seemingly no better time than the Christmas season to envision the glory of God. As we wonder at the nativity scenes and decorations throughout our city, in stores and shopping malls, homes in our neighborhoods, all aglow with the twinkling lights are our attempts to capture the glory, but ultimately we must remember that Christmas represents God's gracious plan of redemption. 

In Jesus we see both man and God. We can relate to Him as a fellow human being, but always remembering He is God! Proclaiming Truth, He taught us how to live. Radiating grace, He showed us what it means to forgive. And as the only begotten of the Father the unique Son, His coming into our midst showed us that God has a plan for us...to be with Him forever! 

John 3:16"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)
Merry Christmas!!

Recipe for Lovers: Fresh Cranberry Salad

The recipe for lovers series provides a fun and easy activity for newlyweds to do together, or for each other as a nice gift... tested and tried, straight from the Powers' Kitchen!

Fresh Cranberry Salad/Relish for the Holidays

Photo Source: Real Mom Kitchen

This is so good it could be dessert. Everyone will want to take some home!

4-cups (1-lb.)fresh- cranberries

1-cup sugar

1-envelope-Knorr unflavored gelatin

½ Cup Orange juice

1-Cup chopped celery

1-cup chopped apple (-I like Granny Smiths)

1-cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Wash cranberries: drain and remove stems. Put through food processor or just chop until coarse.
Add sugar stir let stand for 15 minutes
Stir occasionally
Chop celery, apple, and nuts coarsely
Sprinkle gelatin over orange juice in a small pan to soften.
Place over low heat stir until gelatin is dissolved.

Add gelatin mixture to chopped cranberries, apples, nuts and celery mix well –pour into an oiled mold Bundt cake pan or loaf pan and pat down into the mold –Refrigerate 6-8 hours (you can make this a day or two ahead).When ready to serve dip the mold bottom into a sink of hot water… just for a minute –place red leaf lettuce on the top of the mold (lettuce leave tops extending a bit over the edge of the mold) and a plate on top of that and flip over. Serve with real whipped cream –we love it!

Lasts for several days to have with leftover turkey.~ Kathleen Powers

L'Auberge, Del Mar Wedding

This wedding was last month at L'Auberge~Del Mar. The couple and the attendants were from Las Vegas and are entertainers. It was a blast and very beautifully decorated!

To See or Not to See: Should You Have a “First Look”

Here is a short and sweet guest post from So Eventful.

The tradition of the bride and groom waiting to see each other at their wedding until the walk down the aisle is just that- a tradition! It's one that started many years ago and for some, has either remained a tradition or has turned into a superstition. However, a “First Look” is a special few moments before the ceremony during which the bride and groom see each other for the first time. Many people choose not to have a first look because of a superstition that seeing each other before the ceremony will bring upon bad luck to the couple.

However, the tradition of a first look came along way before this fear of bad luck. In fact, the superstition stemmed from tradition which began because of arranged marriages. Men and women were set up in arranged marriages before ever meeting or seeing each other. This was to ensure that the groom would not run away after seeing his future bride; hence the veil to cover the woman’s face. Traditionally the bride wore a veil over her face from the beginning of the ceremony, through their vows, up until they were officially married and the groom would finally lift the veil to kiss his bride. Nowadays things have changed. Marriages are no longer arranged and traditions are not always being withheld. Couples are changing things up and now instead of waiting until the end of the ceremony for the reveal, they are having a First Look and enjoy a few special moments together alone.

So Eventful is a professional, full service company that does everything from weddings, social events and everything in between. www.so-eventful.com for more details.

Beautiful Couple

"Laura and I are so blessed to have had you perform our ceremony. You really helped make our special day perfect" - Joshua

Sip, Surf, and Say "I Do"

There's a new adventure in the La Jolla wedding scene! Thanks to Paige Nordeen for sending us this custom crafted message for you guys, announcing the new package.

If soon-to-be brides and grooms are looking to celebrate an over-the-top wedding in La Jolla, a newly released adventure, ‘Sip, Surf and Say ‘I do,’ will definitely fit the bill. We wait our entire lives for this one day, so why not indulge?

As if the beautiful beaches of La Jolla and high-end boutiques aren’t enough to satisfy couples, Kimpton’s Hotel La Jolla has added a few additional perks to celebrate matrimonial bliss in style. Helicopter rides, Rolls Royce cruising and surf classes, oh my! The Southern California wedding package, designed to complement the special day, offers newly-to-be-weds unique adventure elements while keeping things upscale. The best part? A perpetual anniversary, where married couples can return to the hotel every year to celebrate their anniversary in a deluxe suite. This will take the worry (and cost) out of planning future romantic getaways to celebrate the day the couple said ‘I do.’

An intimate rehearsal dinner for up to 30 people with views of the Pacific Ocean is also included. The wedding party can dine on delectable bites on the hotel’s 11^th-floor Starlight Ballroom and pop a little bubbly to toast the bride and groom. Ever taken a surf class? Well, why not start days before your ‘I do’s’ with the included lessons from Surf Diva for two at La Jolla Shores Beach. Hanging ten with your honey will offer a new and fun way to connect, and what better place to do so than La Jolla Shores. After a little action, couples will be delighted to take off in a scenic helicopter ride and two-hour wine tour to enjoy before or after the wedding. Making things even more special for the two, a full day of Rolls Royce transportation is included as needed.

Surf Diva Photo

Guests will also find fun amenities stocked in their rooms like champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and a personalized gift, to keep the pair smiling during their stay. Also, perfect for the out-of-towners celebrating the two, the hotel offers special rates. The coastal chic town of La Jolla is a romantic wonderland where couples can enjoy moonlit strolls along the coast, dine at exceptional restaurants and peruse countless art galleries featuring internationally acclaimed artists. So if soon-to-be brides and grooms are looking for something over the top, keep the ‘Sip, Surf and ‘Say I do’’ package in mind.

Contact 858.551.3627 for bookings and information.