I am excited to see the current American trends in dinnerware selection- more open minded and exciting!  It used to be that a bride and groom registered for one formal china pattern, one pottery pattern, one crystal, etc, and that was it-they were done.  Serving pieces, everything, "matched" in the same patterns.  While a table filled with a single pattern can look beautiful, it is inevitably boring, boring, boring.  I cannot count how many people have told me that they haven't pulled their china out in years!

Now, couples of all ages seem determined to put their own marks on their dining styles and add some pizzaz to their tables- what fun!  The beauty of a fine traditional china is complimented and softened with a richly glazed pottery charger rather than with a tablecloth.  Hand thrown pottery is dressed up with sparkling glassware or formal crystal.  Beautiful ceramic and pewter platters and bowls bring a splash of color, texture and individual style to the table. The addition of a single textile from African, India, New England or the American Southwest changes the look of the table from one meal to the next.

No longer are we following the staid British mandates of what is proper, but we are back to our adventurous roots!   Many newly weds forgo the fine china altogether, choosing a beautiful, microwavable pottery for everyday and special occasions.    And at least part of the credit for the change in attitude may come from the designers themselves.  Fine lines like Vietri, Match and Jan Barboglio have been designing dinnerware which encourage the imagination and lend themselves to individualistic interpretation.  International trade has made gorgeous Mexican, Italian, Indian and Asian lines accessible as well.   Mixing ceramics, pewter, iron and hammered metals into the equation makes setting a buffet a much more interesting proposition as well.  Ah, life is good, and sometimes it only takes a small addition to make our dining experience seem fresh and new.