Bridal Registry Basics - Selecting Your China Pattern

Hey there princess!

We are quickly approaching my 1 year anniversary to my sweet husband, and I wanted to revisit one of my very favorite things about registering for wedding gifts - selecting a china pattern. I have had a love of tableware for as long as I remember, but I totally understand that not everyone lives and breathes Limoges. This is a little guide to those just beginning to explore the wide world of tablescaping. 

Now, when selecting dishes for your wedding registry you need to keep your preference and your home in mind. The china you choose will be used at your table every day, so it needs to be something you won't get sick of looking at and that will be practical for the meals you plan on serving and the events you plan on hosting. 

When I got married, I already owned a set of solid white dishes (which are an excellent thing to have), so for my registry I chose to focus on fun patterns and festive holiday items. We can focus on holiday china in a later post, but today, let's just take a look at some wonderful registry choices for the bride looking to spice up her table. Here are my 10 favorite china patterns for the bride to be!

For the elegant bride: Green Leaf Lace by Mottahedeh

Click here to be directed to this classic set. Green china can be combined with all kinds of other patterns to create unique place settings in your home. The original cobalt based Blue Lace teardrop border was inspired by Ch'ing dynasty (1644 -1911) porcelain pieces. The fine pattern is highlighted by bands of 22 carat gold. Can someone say fabulous?!

For the modern bride: Wedgwood Intaglio

Click here to view this perfect blend of classic and contemporary lines. The embossed pattern you see here was incredibly popular during the Georgian era, and is reminiscent of classical Grecian pottery and architecture. The clean, white glaze makes it an excellent choice for any home, and it being Wedgwood is just an added bonus in terms of quality and durability. Plus, it's microwave and dishwasher safe!

For the classic bride: Blue Italian by Spode

Click here to be directed to this cheerful set. The benefits of Spode Blue Italian are limitless. They can be cleaned in the dishwasher, they are a popular set - which means there are ample serving pieces available online, and it has been around for a long time so you can count on high availability for replacement pieces.  It checks off tons of boxes, and is a great choice for all brides-to-be!

For the Autumn bride: English Countryside by Mikasa

Click here to be directed to this clean and classic set. Mikasa is another brand that makes their dinnerware dishwasher safe (yay! Future you will rejoice!), and also has tons of options for serve wear. This set is so beautiful for autumn, and would look wonderful on the table for thanksgiving. Since it is white, it looks wonderful every day, and the intricate leaves and embossed fruit bring a sense of nature into your home. 

For the girly bride: Chinese Bouquet in Raspberry by Herend

Click here to see this beautiful pink set of dishes (they also come in blue, orange, and multi-color). The flowers, the colors, the gold accents - this has everything a girl could ask for. This pattern has been around since the 1930s and the classic raspberry color is my ultimate favorite. Also, did I mention the accents are done in 24K gold? Each item is hand painted in Hungary and I would highly recommend hand washing and treating with great care!

For the extravagant bride: Tobacco Leaf by Mottahedeh

Click here to be directed to this over-the top gorgeous set. This is a total favorite of mine, and would be such a stunner for a bride-to-be who plans on entertaining. China like this deserves to be seen and shared with others - it's art you can eat off of! It comes with a no-nonsense price tag, and is something that would be ideal to purchase with the plan to pass down to future generations to enjoy. 

For the monogram-loving bride: Federal Platinum by Lenox

Click here to be directed to this uniquely personalized set. Lenox has a reputation for creating unique and beautiful dinnerware, and this set is no exception! Federal Platinum is one of the most popular china patterns in America today, and the addition of the monogram is just the perfect touch to create something memorable and personal for your dinner table. You can choose between 1 and 3 letters for the monogram, and is just the thing elevate anything from an intimate family dinner to a party with friends and family.

For the sophisticated bride: Renaissance Gold by Wedgwood

Click here to view this elegant and timeless set. With bold patterns and luxurious gold trim, these dishes will elevate even sandwiches and frozen pizza to the next level of grace and sophistication. The wonderful thing about this set is not only how classical the lines are (promising to stay in style season after season) but also offers many different serving selections. This gives you the opportunity to be creative with your table and customize it to your personal tastes. To top it off, plates are dishwasher safe!

For the preppy bride: Weave by Tiffany & Co.

Click here to view this beautiful pattern. Tiffany's has been a staple in the world of fine decor for generations, and their designs are always beyond classic. This beautiful china pattern is elegantly embossed and can be used in both simple and complex tablescapes. This Irish bone china was inspired by traditional Celtic designs. Remember to be cautions with newer patterns like this one, if they become discontinued and you find yourself wanting additional settings, it can be challenging to get ahold of them. 

For the fanciful bride: Butterfly Meadow by Lenox

Click here to be directed to this fantasy-filled set. If you are looking for something more whimsical for your table, this is the perfect option! I have always loved Butterfly Meadow, and it is still on my list of sets that I would love to collect someday. It is dishwasher and microwave safe, and is oh so girly through and through. I personally wouldn't recommend this to someone who is brand new to the table game, but it is a great staple for a collector. Just look at those scalloped edges! 

Whatever china pattern you choose, it should be the perfect one for your marriage and the life that you plan on building with your spouse. Choose something that you will both enjoy for years to come, that will bring you sweet and special memories from your first years together. 

If you're looking for an amazing wedding registry checklist, click here! It will save you hours while planning, and it's only $0.25!

As always, sparkle on!

A Palm Beach Bridal Shower

Hey there princess!

About a year ago, my younger sister, Coco (who was my Maid of Honor) and my mother threw me a 1960's Palm Beach themed bridal shower at my family's home in Houston, Texas. It was honestly one of the best times ever, and such a beautiful party. 

I painted a centerpiece for the party based on my engagement photos (featuring my favorite Lilly Pulitzer maxi skirt), and bought a fun frame for it at Hobby Lobby. 

My mom found these adorable invitations on Etsy and they are my absolute favorite. To me, invitations are super important to any party because they set the tone for the event. Guest know from the invitation what they should expect in terms of the level of formality, and who is hosting the event, and it is also a great keepsake from the party! I love holding on to invitations from past-parties that I loved attending!

Regarding decor, my hosts fancied-up my family's dining table with a Lilly table runner from Etsy (can you tell we are all huge Etsy addicts??). One of my favorite touches was using the depression glass that Coco and I have collected since we were young to serve the sandwiches and food. We both have the cameo ballerina dishes, mine in yellow and hers in green.

Look at how beautiful that table is (and in the background you can see me sneaking a bite)! We had tiers of sandwiches from Chicken Salad Chick and tons of snacks, beautiful flowers, and an unbelievable macaroon tower. 

I mean look at how stunning it is! I could die! This tower came from a shop in Houston called Sweet, located in City Centre and the flavors Shailee chose were lavender, rose, and lemon (they were all divine). I felt just like Marie Antoinette!

One of my bridesmaids also put together some amazing charcuterie boards, and my mother and sister put together plates of Lilly shift cookies, candied pecans, and tons of bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cake. 

Just for fun, Coco and I made some white chocolate-covered popcorn and then absolutely drenched it in pink sprinkles. It tasted pretty good, but mostly it was just super festive! 

I am so thankful to my sweet friends and family for making my bridal shower such a special day. I know that I am going to remember this party for a long time! 

If you want to see more of my little parties and celebrations, please follow along at @heythrprincess on Instagram!

I would love to hear about the special parties in your life - whether it's a bridal shower like mine, a birthday party, or just a party for the sake of a party. How are you celebrating?

Sparkle on!

A Surprise Engagement - Our Last Party Before Social Distancing

Hey there princess!

Since March, all of our lives have been turned completely upside down. We are all getting used to our "new normal" and I have to say that the thing I miss most is having parties with my family. Don't get me wrong, wearing leggings and a t shirt every day has its charms, but there is nothing quite like getting all dressed up and tossing some confetti. 

Before we all went into hiding, I got to celebrate the engagement of my younger sister, Coco with a surprise party in Waco, Texas! My mom and her (now) fiancé's mom got together in February and helped her betrothed plan a dinner with all of their family and friends (from Houston to Georgia to Minnesota) at Vitek's, the best barbecue you'll find in Waco. 

One of our favorite trends right now are boxwoods, and my mom had the perfect idea to pot up a few to place on each table. She handmade table cards with the couple's monogram, and finished the look with green gingham ribbon around each pot. 

Coco and her fiancé met freshman year at Baylor back in the fall of 2014, and are now planning for a wedding in August of 2021. For this party, we chose a theme of pink and green, and were sure to provide lots of snacks and sweet treats to go along with the barbecue. We kept everything individually packaged so that whatever wasn't eaten could be packed up and sent back to the hotel with all of the bridesmaids-to-be for a slumber party. 

I loved these "We're getting married y'all" cups and napkins from Natalie Chang, and thought they were the perfect pop of color agains our more rustic backdrop (hello, Texas)! I don't know if you know this about me - but I absolutely love popcorn. I serve some kind of popcorn at practically every party I throw. It is always a crowd pleaser for picky eaters (a.k.a. me) and it's just cute!

It is so crazy to look back at these pictures and think that it was the last time we would all be gathering together as a group. It was such an incredibly happy, and silly time - and I am so thankful that we were able to have all of Coco's friends come together and celebrate her and her fiancé's next steps in life together. Also, look how cute my mom's monogrammed button down is?! I want one! If she is reading this - don't be shocked if it goes missing. 

The next morning, we all went out for pancakes and walked around the Baylor campus to do a mini engagement photo session. If the engagement party was this much fun, I can't wait for the wedding!

What are you celebrating in your life? I know that celebrations are becoming more and more complicated with each passing week. A close friend of mine has had to postpone their wedding twice now, and I can't imagine how difficult it has been for them. What are you doing to keep positive in an ever-changing landscape?