Is Registering for China a Thing of the Past?

 (Mikasa 'Daylight')

Historically in American culture, one of the first things a newly engaged bride did was to register for her china.  The bride's biggest dilemma was how many pieces to register for; would service for 8 be enough?  Is service for 12 too much?

Times are changing and today's bride is not the same as brides 50 years ago, 20 years ago and even 10 years ago.  Brides are now asking themselves: Do I even need to register for china?

Here are some common reasons that present today's bride with hesitations when deciding whether or not to register for china:

1- She stands to inherit one or more sets from her mother, grandmother, mother-in-law or other relative.

2- She remembers her mother or grandmother's china rarely being used; it was more of a decoration and a space-waster than something practical.  She would rather receive gifts that she could use on a daily basis.

3- Space is at a premium.  Today's bride is getting married later than before and she will be bringing a lot more to the table (no pun intended!).  She may already have a stocked kitchen and basic everyday dinnerware which suits all her needs.

That being said, there are still brides who are making the trip to Macy's with mom to pick out their china.  Today's bride may not need China but she will still register for it because is that what their mother and grandmother did.  She may have had her china pattern picked out since she was a little girl and has been waiting for the day when it is her turn to register.

Here are some patterns that are catching our eye lately:

Vera Wang Wedgewood Blue Duchesse:

Kate Spade June Lane Collection: 

Crate + Barrell Regent Dinnerware:

 

By Julie Daniel, Splash Consultant

Photography for Splash Brides!

What a gorgeous day here in Northern Virginia!  It's been such a banner week for Splash, and I've met some really fabulous vendors who I'm going to showcase for you over the next week or so.  I had the grand opportunity to participate in one of my favorite showcases at Seasons Cards and Gifts last Wednesday (thank you, Kerry and the fabulous Seasons staff!) for their monthly Wedding Wednesday (the first Wednesday of every month, dear brides, don't miss it!).  While I met some great brides, I also met a fabulous photographer, Rose Towner Jones of Towner Jones Photography (http://www.townerjones.com/).  Rose was there with her adorable daughter, who regaled us all on how to be a proper flower girl!  As I perused the work that Rose and her husband put together for their bridal couples, it was apparent that attention to detail is at the forefront of their work.  And, as I listened to Rose confer with a bride, there was no doubt that this is a relationship I want to foster for our Splash brides.  We are always looking for that special vendor who will love our brides as much as we do, and Towner Jones Photography fits the bill ~ thank you, Rose!

Happy Snapping,

Bridal Market Week 2010!

Hello, dear brides!  It's Bridal Market Week 2010 ~ and, what does that mean to you?  This week kicks off the bridal season for 2010, which runs from this week through mid-November with a new and fresh focus for our 2010 brides.  From custom dresses by Ramya (pictured here) to photographers and caterers, your bridal vendors have fresh and new ideas for you.  So, gather your thoughts and call your favorite wedding planner to help you negotiate the maze of vendors and get the best value for your big day.

Congratulations and happy planning!

Limited Budget Solutions

I recently met with a bride who told me that she's on a limited budget, and wanted to know what her priorities should be for the money she and her fiance have to spend on their wedding day.  This is a common question today ~ everyone wants to stretch their dollars to the limit, and for good reason!  But, my answer to her and to any bridal couple is always the same in this area ~ what is the most important part of the day for you as a couple?  It could be the music during the service, the photographs or videography that you're going to have to remember your special day, or it could be a great party at the reception.  Whatever is most important to you is where your focus should be.  And, then decide how many guests you can realistically host.  It all comes down to a budget, and while this is difficult for a lot of couples, wedding planners deal with budgets all the time, and are always willing to help you in that area, even if it's for an hourly consultation, it's worth the money spent!

Happy Planning,