29 Apr 2024 Happily ever registered

For decades, creating a wedding registry has been part of the rite of passage for any couple heading to the altar. While it may feel odd to formally ask for gifts, people love to give presents to engaged and newlywed couples and providing a list of needs and preferences is appreciated.

Nowadays, some brides opt for registering online, while others still seek the opportunity to view items in person, to linger over china patterns, crystal glassware, flatware and table linens. Women love choices and like to see and feel textures. A few stores still offer the personal registry.

While modern brides may opt for different patterns than their mom chose, most still seek guidance from their mom as they craft a custom wedding registry for the unique home they’ll develop with their spouse.

We asked bride-to-be Josie Hurst and her mom Stacy Hurst about her wedding registry, and we feature recently married Ann O’Neal Carroll.

Josie Hurst – Daughter

Did you seek your mom’s advice, and why?

Absolutely! I don’t think a detail goes by in this process that I don’t consult my mom on. I look to her both for style and design guidance and for her deeper understanding of table-setting rules, like what all of the pieces are and where they all go. It has been really rewarding to be part of this longer tradition, where I get to learn from and do this with my mom, who learned from her mom, and so on through the generations.

What pattern did you choose?

We haven’t yet finalized our registry for our wedding in 2025, but I put together a full set mixing and matching some of my favorite patterns. I included Blue Wood-Aster from Herend’s American Wildflowers, Royal Limoges’s Nymphea Olivier in Gold, Ginori 1735’s Oriente Italiano in Pervinca (Periwinkle) and Herend’s Silk Ribbon in Olive.

Was it fun to select items for your future home?

It’s so fun! I love playing around with different combinations of china colors and patterns and the finishing touches with linens, glassware and other accessories. Knowing that I’m making decisions on items that Harris and I may pass down to our children one day is definitely an exciting part of the wedding planning process.

How do registries today differ from their mother’s registry?

For one, we have the internet and social media these days, so we have access to a whole new world of inspiration. I follow my fair share of tablescape Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards that I’m finding new ideas through.

Stacy Hurst – Mother

Did you give your daughter advice on what to include in her registry?

I have so enjoyed talking with Josie about her bridal registry. She has a great eye and understanding of trends. My advice has been to lean into your creativity and personal style and choose pieces that you love. 

Based upon your years of entertaining, what items do you feel are essential for a new bride?

If you enjoy hosting large gatherings, remember the serving pieces that will be needed to accommodate larger amounts of food and beverages. These might include platters, pitchers and larger bowls. For more intimate gatherings, don’t forget beautiful linens. Placemats and gorgeous monogrammed napkins are must-haves. Fun and colorful glassware is always a hit. 

As an owner of Tipton & Hurst Florist, you are knowledgeable about many beautiful china patterns. Which one did you recommend to Josie?

There are so many gorgeous china patterns that the variety can be overwhelming. I recommend doing a few walk-throughs at our tabletop section in the Heights location and jotting down the patterns that appeal to you. Soon, you’ll identify the patterns that you can’t live without. Every bride, including our dear Josie, must make their own choice based on their personal preferences. 

Have you collected any items over time for your daughter?

My mother collected Buttercup by Gorham sterling flatware and I have done the same. When my mother died in November 2022, she willed her flatware to Josie, knowing that I would do the same one day. I have several china patterns that I’ve collected or inherited over the years, including Portmeirion Botanic Garden. Josie uses the Botanic Garden now at her home in Virginia.  

What should a bride consider before selecting her registry?

A bride should consider her current lifestyle but also longer-term lifestyle goals. Although “home” might be a small apartment now, a larger home might be the goal in the not-too-distant future. Do you like to entertain? What does your future spouse like? What is your personal aesthetic? What will you inherit from your parents or grandparents? These are all things to consider as registry decisions are made. 

How do bridal registries today differ from their mother’s registry?

Although it has changed over the decades, we Southerners have long loved a bridal registry. For my generation, we registered for a specific pattern of fine china and everyday dinnerware, and the pieces we received were all within that pattern. Today’s generation likes to mix and match patterns, which is fun and exciting.  

Do you recommend an everyday china?

Absolutely! The everyday dinnerware is the one that gets the most use and is the easiest to care for. Find one that makes you happy. 

Ann O’Neal Carroll

Where did you register for china? 

Tipton & Hurst in the Heights.

Did you seek anyone’s advice before or while you were registering?

Aaron and I talked about what we liked before we registered and knew that we wanted to choose something traditional yet still fun. Karla at Tipton & Hurst helped me mix and match the different patterns and colors to give some variation in the look of the place settings.

Was it fun to select items for your home?

Yes, it was one of the most fun parts of wedding planning! I loved getting to pick out unique pieces to have in our home and traditional items that we could pass down one day.