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Dressing Your China Up Or Down
Nearly all brides and grooms experience the “china syndrome” -- the inability to commit to just one pattern or china type. The greatest concern is that if one selects very formal china, it will get tragically little use. Alternatively, if an everyday style is chosen, it may be too casual for formal affairs. Take heart. Rules are made to be broken, and your dinner table is one area where you should allow your creativity to bloom. The following are some suggestions to help you get the most out of your china by learning to dress it up -- or down.
 Informal China Goes Uptown
Always a bit on the practical side, you may have selected simple, yet classic everyday china, in shades of white or cream. White china is an ideal basic set, considering how effortlessly you can dress it up or down. Here are some tips on dressing it up for a more elegant occasion.
- A fancy charger. An elegant charger in silver or gold leaf instantly dresses up an informal setting.
- Silk place mats and napkins. Matching place mats and napkins in luxurious fabrics such as silk or satin create a rich, formal look. Monogrammed napkins are another sophisticated option.
- Napkin rings. Classic sterling silver napkin rings lend elegance, but you may also create exquisite napkin rings out of fresh garden roses and ribbon. If you do not wish to use napkin rings, consider folding your napkins in any number of formal designs.
- A beautiful tablecloth. If you aren't using place mats, your tablecloth can be the perfect backdrop for your table setting. A silk damask tablecloth is a wonderful choice for a formal occasion. However, if you want to show off a beautiful table, you needn't use a tablecloth at all.
- Silver candelabras. Soft candlelight is key to any elegant dinner table, and silver candelabras add a luxurious touch.
- Flowers. Splurge on an extravagant arrangement, or place lush garden roses in a sterling silver vase or bowl.
- Formal sterling silver flatware. Invest in some beautiful silver, or hunt some down at your local flea market. Consider placing it face down, as the French do, to show off the pretty pattern. Another formal look is sterling silver with gold accents.
- Glassware. Use the grandest stemware that you own, fine lead crystal being the most elegant. Gold accents on glass are always stunning, but you might also experiment with various jewel-colored hock and wine glasses, such as those made by Waterford.
- Place cards and holders. Invest in classic place card holders, perhaps in sterling or gold plated, either modern or vintage. They not only look beautiful, but they are extremely practical.
If you have selected an informal china that is not solid white, such as a pattern of blue and white variety, consider placing it on silver chargers, and then onto a backdrop of a white organza tablecloth.
A Casual Affair
You're having friends over for a midsummer al fresco meal, but you're tired of using your everyday pottery. You'd love to use the gorgeous, elegant china that's been gathering dust in your hutch, but it's so formal. What can you do? The good news is, there is no such thing as the dish police, so feel free to break the rules a bit, mixing your formal china with less formal accessories. The following are the best bets for getting the most formal china to go poolside, or just casually elegant.
- Use your china as a charger. Place a less formal piece of pottery on top of a formal china dinner plate. Rustic pottery against an elegant floral or banded china backdrop will create the much-coveted "shabby chic" effect.
- Casual place mats. A straw or bamboo place mat is a quick, wonderful way to dress down your fine china. You might also consider using something like a flat Philippine basket as a place mat.
- Informal flatware. Rather than set the table with your precious sterling silver, consider investing in some less formal cutlery, perhaps some bamboo-patterned flatware to complement the above straw or bamboo place mats. If you're not a bamboo fan, there are various whimsical cutlery designs available that can help give your good china a less formal look.
- Simple flowers. For a casual table, fill a rustic bowl with freshly picked daisies, or place assorted wildflowers in a ceramic milk pitcher.
- Linens. Choose a tablecloth and napkins in the same color scheme, but in mismatched patterns (i.e., stripes, checks and solids), and mix and match for a casual, colorful table. Make sure they blend with the color of your china and other accessories.
- Rustic candles. Put the candelabras away, and instead, place chunky unscented candles on a bare pine table for a beautiful, informal look. You might also use rustic or whimsical candleholders for the same purpose.
- Casual chargers. If your china has a wide border of color, place it on top of a gingham charger in the same hue. A large tin cooking plate also makes a great informal charger.
Vintage Touches
Whether you are dressing your china up or down, don't hesitate to mix vintage and modern pieces. Antique stemware, silverware, and accessories such as tiny salt and pepper shakers, make lovely, unique accents. Dressing your table, like dressing yourself, is all a matter of personal style, so don't hesitate to experiment.
You will undoubtedly create many gorgeous still lives with your own unique table settings. However, don't forget to keep in mind that it is not the price of the china, but the warmth of the hosts that will make the evening memorable, and keep your guests coming back.
Brought to you by Wedgwood.
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