We are Not Your Grandmother’s China… although, I love my Grandmother’s China.
This past weekend I flew home to visit my parents in Arizona. I ran into my childhood friend Emily, who had just gotten engaged, and naturally I asked her what she and her fiancé were registering for! She replied bitterly, “We aren’t registering for fine china… we are inheriting my fiancés’ Grandmother’s set…ugh!”. Of course I thought this was super exciting and asked her if she knew the name of the pattern or the manufacturer. Emily, of course had no idea, and described it as a floral paisley pattern with a gold rim that was very old fashioned and was just NOT her style. She and her fiancé were worried that they might offend his Grandmother by registering for something else, so instead they conceded and determined that they would just live with it and bite their tongues on the matter.
I told Emily not to fear… for I, the Gearys’ Bridal Blogger had a solution to this problem! It’s simple really. Fashion for the table can be just like clothing…it’s all about accessorizing and how you combine different components, that make the outfit complete (or place setting in this instance). This blog is dedicated to Emily and her fiancé in hopes that I can show them (using MY Grandmother’s china) how they can give an old pattern a modern flair by simply adding tabletop “accessories” in the form of colored chargers and linens, mixed with more contemporary stemware and flatware.
My Grandmother’s china, that has since been passed down to my parents is beautiful and holds great sentimental value to my family and me. It is an old retired Rosenthal pattern called “Meissen”. This dinnerware has shared many holiday meals and memories, beginning when my Dad was a kid continuing on throughout my childhood, and hopefully will be used by my children some day as well. Although this pattern is lovely, it wouldn’t have been something I would have personally selected to register for myself, because I prefer a more modern look. However, if I were to have received it for a wedding gift, here’s how I would have made it work for my lifestyle, while still incorporating and maintaining the integrity of my Grandmother’s china pattern.
Gearys Dinnerware Makeover:
BEFORE:
The “traditional look” as my Grandmother had used when she set the table with her china shown with her Wallace Grande Baroque sterling silver flatware and Waterford stemware.
AFTER:
With the help of our Bridal Staff at Gearys, we breathed new life into my Grandmother's china pattern. By adding just a pop of color, a textured placemat, napkin, napkin rings and a less traditional stemware pattern, we have given this pattern a completely different look.
Shown above with a sparkly beaded placemat, a brick colored Haviland charger, wood flatware and clean modern stemware from Steuben.
When we framed the dinner plate with a sky blue charger, the colors of the flowers popped!
Playing with colored chargers and linens:
Hopefully after reading this blog, and witnessing the transformation of my Gram’s dinnerware, Emily and her fiancé will find comfort and excitement about inheriting and personalizing their own Grandmother’s china. You see, there is a dinnerware solution to anything!
Xoxo,
Annie
