Gift Registry Guide

A Bride to Be's Gift Registry Guide

Selecting the Right Dinnerware Pattern

Next to planning the actual wedding, most brides-to-be will tell you the next
hardest thing is figuring out what to put on their gift registries. And one of the
big mistakes brides make is not registering for enough.

"Couples need to think 'complete' and register for the smallest accessories
to the biggest items. They are doing their guests and themselves a big favor
by giving everyone a good range of gifts to choose from and assuring
themselves that they'll be ready for their new family life together," says
Roseanna Robinson, bridal director for The Pfaltzgraff Co., America's oldest
continuously operating pottery company.

According to Robinson, the average age for couples getting married, today,
is in the late 20's. "Most brides and grooms-to-be have lived on their own for
a while and accumulated several household items," says Robinson. "So they
need to be strategic about planning their registries."

Robinson says that means taking inventory of what each person already has,
picking out their favorite pieces, and discarding the rest. "Couples should
also ask themselves three questions - what are your favorite foods, what
does it take to prepare them and what is the best way to serve them? This is
a good starting point," says Robinson, who has been advising brides-to-be
on how to complete their gift registries for more than two decades.

She says choosing an everyday dinnerware pattern is usually the main
decision that helps structure the registry. "Traditionally formal china was a
"must-have" and most often was very expensive, making it feel like another
big commitment. Today the overwhelming trend is towards casual dinnerware
at affordable prices, which gives registering couples many different options to
suit their lifestyle. I encourage brides to have fun, choose pieces that
complement the things they already have, and if they want, register for
several different patterns," says Robinson

One pattern Robinson says is gaining in popularity is Pfaltzgraff's new
Pistoulet collection, based on illustrations from the Jana Kolpen book, "The
Secrets of Pistoulet."

"From the moment we discovered the book, we envisioned a beautiful and
romantic casual dinnerware collection that would bring to the table Jana
Kolpen's central theme and message - the powerful role that food and meals
play to nourish our souls and unite us with friends and family," says Marsha
Everton, president and chief executive officer at Pfaltzgraff.

Each piece in the collection is brightly decorated with freely rendered
flowers, vines and vegetables drawn from or influenced by the book's
illustrations, also by Kolpen. Bright, colorful drawings are set against wide
watercolor washes that evoke the light and colors of southern France.

"The design is sophisticated in a warm and inviting way, allowing for great
mix-and-match possibilities," says Robinson. "It appeals to both brides and
grooms, who are increasingly more vocal in the bridal registry process. The
chip-resistant, highly durable Pistoulet collection stands up to everyday use
and is safe in the dishwasher, oven, freezer and microwave."

Featuring a broad range of dinnerware, serveware and accessories, pieces in
the collection range in price from $7.99 for a single bread plate to $359.88 for
a 36-piece dinnerware set. The Pistoulet collection is available at major
department and specialty stores nationwide, including J.C. Penny,
Amazon.com and more than 70 Pfaltzgraff stores at outlet malls across the
country.