Wedding Gifts for Every Season

I consider myself still relatively young. Going on 26 and being actively involved in the production and distribution of fine china kind of feels like an oxymoron at times. Isn't fine china meant for older women? I mean, isn't my mother supposed to hand me down her china that she received from her mother, who received it from her mother? Isn't china supposed to stay within the family for generations?! In a lot of families, that tradition is still alive and well, but for more and more young adults, fine china has lost its charm. We often don't see a value in it, and therefor have no desire to register for it or buy it for ourselves.

However, in being married over a year, and not receiving any china (because let's face it, I work at Mottahedeh, why would anyone give me porcelain?) I ran into a small dilemma. When I would have guests over for a meal we'd be sitting around the table afterward chatting. Like clock-work my husband and I would clear the dishes and then offer coffee or tea along with what-ever dessert we may have prepared or was brought as a hostess gift. It soon became apparent that we had no matching mugs or tea-cups to offer our guests. Big, clunky, mismatched mugs would be handed out. With close friends, this wasn't such a big deal, but it certainly felt awkward when we had our parents over, or other couples. After a few of these interactions we finally purchased a set of 6 matching Propserity mugs (CW1604). And let me tell you, people compliment us all the time on them. "Ohh, I really like these mugs!" Plus, I no longer feel embarrassed to offer after dinner coffee, and it elevates the mood because we're using our best on the people we care about.

So with this new found appreciation for the art of fine-dining & hosting, my friends and I have begun pitching in for porcelain starter-sets, because let's be honest here - we're not financially at a place where we can drop $800 on a gift for a friend alone. But "with our powers combined!" we're able to get them something truly special. So in thinking about wedding gifts; purchasing things for the bride & groom that they may not purchase for themselves, or wanting to get them something nice - I encourage you to think about dessert sets. Starting with a set of four or six dessert plates, cups & saucers, and/or mugs (along with a large matching plate to serve cookies or cakes) makes the perfect jump-off point, because it allows for couples to start hosting, but also for expansion as the couple matures and our attitudes around hosting develop.

Scroll Dessert Set/4 plus Cinnabar Red Dinner Plate (Can be used as a cake plate) - $705
Divided between 8 people = $88 per person
Scroll Dessert Plate (S8932) - $65 each
Scroll Cup & Saucer (S8934) - $90 each
Cinnabar Dinner Plate (S8931) - $85

Set of 6 Prosperity Mugs and an Apple Lace Dessert Plate (to be used as a cookie plate) - $345
Divided between 4 people = $86.25 per person
Prosperity Mug (MV1604) - $50 each
Apple Lace Dessert Plate (S1352) - $45