Like Fine China

Most girl’s dream about their wedding day practically from the moment they are born! I’m one of those girl’s, but one who also dreamt of my own fine china some day! Silly, I know….but I have always loved looking in my mom’s china cabinet and seeing all the beautiful things she has there from her own wedding. Her china is very basic and simple, but because so many of the accent pieces say my maiden name on them, I won’t be the one inheriting her main set! I have however already staked my claim on a smaller set of dishes! Don’t worry, my mom is well aware of it!!

So right after I got engaged, along with looking for a dress and locations and all those other things a girl needs, I started looking for China! This set above was one of the first ones I saw and quickly fell in love with!

Don’t be shocked by the price!! This is a picture from Macy’s. I ended up not registering there (awful customer service and there just wasn’t a lot there I wanted!). Instead, I’ve registered for these at Bed, Bath, & Beyond where they are half the price at Macy’s!! You know I love bargains like that!! (Plus, everyone can use those 20% off coupons we all get in the mail from BBB!!) I didn’t even know that BBB carried china, since I’d never really looked, but as soon as we walked into the office they have to help you set up your registery, there they were! In pink…but I knew they just had to have the blue too!! It was a sign that I HAD to register there and HAD to get those plates!! I did spare Ray from having to eat off the pink ones though!

They are from Wedgewood China’s Vera Wang Collection and is called Blue Duchesse. How elegant does that sound? And Vera Wang??!! Sweet!! It has just a tiny bit of blue around the edge of each piece. A very subtle way to show off my personality!

I also chose this individual plate from Waterford’s Ballet Collection, which I LOVE, but I felt that the ballet loops on every piece would be a bit too overwhelming! This plate perfectly compliments the Vera Wang set!

 

I can’t wait to have people over for dinner to serve them with my new fine china!! (And to have the time to actually cook dinner!!)

The great registry debate!

or or neither??

So, Ray and I are full-on into registry mode! I didn’t realize so many people would be asking about it so soon, so we are getting at it as fast as we can! We’re already totally set on Bed, Bath & Beyond and getting everything we can there! So far we’ve nailed down our bedroom linens, bathroom stuff, china, and lots of kitchen gadgets. We haven’t chosen lots of decorative stuff, or any basic kitchen theme stuff- pot holders, dish towels, everyday dishes, etc. I wasn’t crazy about any of what they have, so I thought we’d do Target. However, in talking to several recent brides, I’ve hardly heard one good thing about their return policies and their registry updates! In the store they even tell you it takes up to 3 hrs for it to update online. Every thing at BB&B is real time updates, they have NO problems with exchanges even without receipts, and they even give cash for returned items. I’ve heard nothing but good about that store!

I have had hassles in the past with returning stuff at Target. They only allow you two returns a year without a receipt- even when you are just getting store credit! And I tend to get lots of gifts from there! I looooooove the store! I’ve mentioned lots of good stuff I’ve found there on my blog already! But I do hate their return policy! I’ve been stuck with two pairs of the same shoes from Kerri’s wedding, well since last summer!! They still have them, still regular price and they’ve never been worn and I can’t return them!! Keep meaning to get Ray to do it for me, but until then, they sit in my trunk!

I know that Walmart is getting tougher on returns, but I’m just wondering about their wedding gift return policy and how good their registry is. I did think it was kinda ghetto to register at Walmart, but hey-that’s where I do a lot of my shopping on a regular basis. They are getting much cuter stuff in the home sections, and some of the stuff I actually like better than Target! And I’ve heard lots of people say lately that they WISH they’d registered at Walmart- at least just to get the gift cards!

So, what’s a girl to do?! I do have several things on my Target registry, but the only thing I just can’t do without from there are these picture frames….

 

 (plus a few more!)

which go oooooh so well with our Nautica bedspread we picked out (Ray’s favorite thing of ALL! He loves Nautica like I love Roxy!)

(believe me, I will totally girlie this up!! ) )

Do I stick with Target? Or drop it for Walmart? I’d like to give people more choices than just BB&B, and I’m not too fond of registering at any department stores, which I never shop at otherwise!

Help!!

Fun shops for gifts, invitations, and more!

 

I looooove to shop! I don’t know many girl’s who don’t!! There are a few shops in Nashville that I love, but I am starting to discover more throughout my wedding planning! I’m also a sucker for little beach or gift shops in and around Wilmington, NC (one of my fave places in the world!)

The other day my mom had me check out the Puffy Muffin  on Franklin Road in Brentwood, TN for our bridal luncheon. It’s cute, but I think their room is too small for us! Anyways, next door is an ADORABLE store- Hot Pink. I’d seen it before, and always wanted to stop in, but I hadn’t  yet! Kerri was with me, and well…I didn’t have to twist her arm to go into a cute store and do some shopping!! We really just browsed because we’d already both spent too much money at the mall, but I did see some beautiful stuff!! I’ve heard that the sales people aren’t that friendly, and they didn’t really talk to us, but I was too interested in browsing around to really notice!

I especially liked the new collection from Mindy Weiss- an elite wedding planner! Lots of her stuff is in shades of blue and is totally adorable! Slippers that say “I do,” wedding organizers, and lots more! Her stuff should be available soon online in her shop!

Here’s a small pic of her wedding organizer…

Her stuff isn’t cheap, but isn’t too overly priced either!

Here are some of my other favorite stores, or stores on my research list that carry either gift items, stationary supplies, or both!!

Hot Pink
231 Franklin Rd
Brentwood, TN
(615) 376-5552

Papyrus
The Mall at Green Hills
2126 Abbott Martin Road, Space 244 
Nashville, TN

 **Some of their stuff is also at Target and Swoozie’s (see below!), but I looooove looking around at all the stationary, cards, etc. there!!

I can already tell…this is one of those places that although I really want to go….maybe I shouldn’t!! I will want to buy it all!! ) Also in Green Hills! Check out the post and wonderful pictures from a guest blogger on Ashley’s Bride Guide

Swoozies
4015 Hillsboro Pike, Suite105
Nashville, Tennessee 37215

Bella Carte
212 White Bridge Road
Nashville, TN

There are also several stores at The Factory at Franklin that I love…..I can’t tell you the names though because I don’t think I’ve ever really paid attention!! Guess that means I have to go back. There is one in particular that sells everything from gifts, to clothing, to jewelry, to bags, that I’ve found some adorable stuff at!

That about rounds out my list for now, as my brain is telling me to stop writing and listen to my hungry stomach and feed it dinner!! Let me know some of your favorite stores like these that I can add to my “to explore” list! )