Everyday Dishes for Those Who Refuse To Add China to Their Registries

By Madeleine Luckel

 

While fine china services remain fairly ubiquitous on wedding registries, let’s face it: many people have no desire to use chinaware anymore. Thankfully, brides- and grooms-to-be who choose to skip the porcelain saucer sets and silver trays nowadays can find plenty of alternative, high-quality dishes that can be used on a daily basis and will still last a lifetime.

Most couples mistakenly think that there aren’t special pieces priced in between Ikea and Limoges dishes, but au contraire. While Juliska’s berry & thread collection is a classic, Williams-Sonoma’s Open Kitchen line is a new go-to. Jadeite green-tinted glass dishes are beloved by many, as are ABC Carpet and Home’s ethereal wares. And you can’t discuss non-china dishes without bringing up earthenware, and the pioneering company Heath Ceramics, which you’ve probably seen all over Instagram.

Registering for mid-priced dinnerware that you’ll actually use comes with a couple other hidden benefits. For worldly appreciators of design history, it’s a chance to purchase plates from classic Scandinavian companies like Iittala and Marimekko. And what’s more, when you steer clear of flowery porcelain, you are helping support a much smaller brand, like the online-focused upstart Year & Day. Within the burgeoning world of contemporary ceramicists, you’ll find everything from dishes inspired by traditional Italian splatterware to marbleized plates. Above, a few of our favorites.