“The Registry” Essentials – Part 3 – The Groom

In our final guide to registry essentials, we want to bring the groom into the process as well as highlight a few sundry items. Seems like we have left the groom out totally…not yet!  There is always barware.  We suggest that you let your guy choose the barware.  Family and friends of the groom really LIKE to purchase gifts for HIM.  Here’s their opportunity:

• 4 double old fashioned glasses
• 4 highball glasses
• 4 casual white wine glasses
• 4 cabernet glasses
• 4 pinot noir glasses
• 1 wine decanter/carafe
• 1 corkscrew
• 1-3 whiskey decanters
• Ice bucket
• Acrylic barware is also nice for outside/poolside entertaining

Remember, all of the above are not necessary.  It simply depends on what and if the couple enjoys alcoholic beverages.

Featured: Harry’s Goblet $170; Pewter wine coaster with wood insert $130; Crystal wine decanter with pewter collar and base $110; Convivio ceramic dinner plate rimmed in pewter $101; All items by Match and made in Italy (Photo by Katie Adler).

And finally, for the truly miscellaneous!  Here are items you won’t think about, but will use day in and day out:

• Crystal/glass pitchers, ceramic or metal pitchers, vases, candlesticks, trays (large trays can turn an ottoman into an instant coffee table), casserole dishes/bakers, cheese boards, chip & dips, salad servers

We hope this helps the latest brides-to-be!  Remember to register for items that reflects your lifestyle. Now is the time to “stock up” on the essentials. Please drop by The Registry and let us help you put together your perfect registry!

Did you know? “Harry’s Goblet “ by Match, as featured in the above photo, are the ACTUAL goblets used in all of the Harry Potter movies. You can see the goblets featured when the actors were sitting at the dining room long tables at ‘school’. They are made of pewter and gold in Italy.

“The Registry” Essentials – Part 2

Today we focus on designing the perfect table to complement your lifestyle. From fine china to casual entertaining, flatware to stemware, we continue our guide to your registry essentials.

Jars: vase $207 (florals available in store); Juliska: Country Estate Pitcher - $150; Emerson large & small mouthblown goblets $89ea/$84ea; & Pewterware nut bowls $12ea. Julia Knight: 12” beveled handled tray $248. (Photo by Katie Adler).

If you think your lifestyle will involve lots of entertaining, register for fine china. This is YOUR time. In general men don’t ‘get’ china, just like in general  women don’t get golf clubs…so acquire your china through your registry now…eliminating future monetary arguments over what ‘he’ might consider a ‘frivolous’ purchase.

• Register for no less than 8 dinner plates, 12 is the optimum.  Register for equal numbers in salad/dessert plates.  A smart choice is to register for TWICE the number of dinner plates when choosing salad/dessert plates.  Remember, you will use your salad/dessert plates for just that, salad AND dessert.  So unless you plan to have a kitchen staff to wash your plates between courses, this can be a great idea.  This also gives you a chance to choose TWO different coordinating plates.
• Bread & butter plates are optional…but always nice to have.
• Cups & saucers are also optional.  Even today many couples retire to a more casual space for dessert and the kitchen mugs are used for coffee.  But if you do choose cups & saucers, you will probably not need 12…6-8 is optimum.  Remember, not everyone drinks coffee.

Flatware --the ultimate essential!

Flatware…well, many women still consider sterling a must…and we love sterling…the older, the better!  Patina! Patina! Patina!  Lucky is the bride who inherits grandmother’s silver.  But, realistically, sterling is expensive and more so each day, so remember there are many, lovely 18/10 stainless patterns that pair beautifully with both fine china and casual dinnerware.

• IF your mother and/or grandmother have a sterling pattern, choose that pattern if you like it even a little bit.  It is a wonderful opportunity to have sterling, and have quite a bit…and make the generations happy too.
• Be sure to register for at least the same number of flatware place settings as you did dinner plates.  And again, twice as many salad forks and teaspoons can be a bonus.

Landon glassware, Juliska. Goblet and small stemmed goblet $100ea. (Photo by Katie Adler).

Glassware can be difficult to choose.  Do you want lead crystal? (Lead crystal sold in the US has to pass criterion that meets total safety standards.)  Crystal is for the most part heirloom in quality, but you will pay a price for that.  IF crystal prices are not in your budget, there are many mouth blown glass products that are simply beautiful and pair perfectly with fine china.  If you are worried about breakage over the years, other options include sterling silver, silverplate or pewter water goblets or julep cups…still hand wash only, but not breakable.

• Register for the same number of glasses as your dinner plates.
• It is not necessary to have a ‘suite’ of glasses:  water, wine, ice tea.  Today’s bride might choose one larger wine glass that could be used for either white or red wine and she might choose either a tumbler or short stemmed glass for water or ice tea.   AND the glasses can coordinate.  They don’t have to MATCH.  Mixing and matching adds an eclectic flair and interest to the table.
• Champagne flutes are truly a personal choice.  IF you love champagne, by all means choose them; otherwise, choose a pair of especially beautiful flutes to use for your wedding toast.

Simon Pearce - Cotton Napkins SET/4 ($88)

Then there are table linens.  Often the younger couple doesn’t even have a dining table yet, so tablecloths are very difficult to choose.  BUT, lovely linen napkins are invaluable.  They will last for years and can make a table sparkle.

• Possibly choose a red, gold or silver napkin for use during the holidays.
• Pastels look great in the spring.
• Brighter colors for summer.
• Always have 12white linen napkins for use anytime and throughout a lifetime.

Think we have covered all of the registry essentials? There’s still more to come! We haven’t forgotten about the GROOM. Stay tuned for Part 3 in our “registry essentials” posts.

The Registry is here to serve you. Visit our store location or call us today at (615) 595-2323. Shop online 24/7 at www.theregistryfranklin.com.

“The Registry” Essentials – Part 1

So you’re engaged!  Congratulations!  Now the fun begins!  There’s the date, the dress, the church, the place, the flowers, and yes, THE REGISTRY. Where do you begin? Welcome to “Registry 101″ where we will guide you through the registry process.

Let’s begin with Part 1:

• Be sure to register at least 1 month before your first bridal party, or if no parties are given, at least one month before the wedding invitations are mailed
• REMEMBER!  Don’t worry about the cost too much.  First of all, you are not responsible to the retailer to purchase the entire registry, unless it is monogrammed.  It’s just a wish list. Choose items in all price ranges.  Choose items you and your friends could/would afford and also what your parents/parents’ friends could/would afford

Your bridal registry is more important today than when your mother got married. Today’s registries should include not only fine china, crystal and sterling silver, but everyday items that you will use everyday. Register for:

• Fine china, crystal, sterling silver (optional)
• Serving options: platters, bowls, bakers (especially useful if they coordinate with both fine & casual options)
• Casual dinnerware for casual entertaining and daily home use, stainless flatware, including hostess set, everyday sturdy glassware

The Registry has all of the essentials for YOUR registry. We will help you discover your needs and create the perfect wish list that suits your life! (Photo by Katie Adler)

Featured in the above photo, we highlight a few registry essentials available at The Registry in store and online. The mouth blown glass is by Simon Pearce, a brand known for its tradition of simplicity (Madison Carafe $150, Hartland Decanter $165, Cavendish stemware $65 each). We adore the cheese board by Vagabond (pewter olive branch handles $289), and the chic Dransfield and Ross pillow ($225) which is sold in stores like Saks, Gumps, Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Horchow and now available at The Registry!

Stay tuned because in the upcoming days, we are going offer you more tips to consider and we will continue to help guide you through the “essentials” that should be on every couple’s list. As always, The Registry is here to serve you. Visit our store location or call us today! You can shop online 24/7 at www.theregistryfranklin.com.

What do you consider is a “registry essential”? Leave your comment below.

Holiday Gifts for the Newest Member of Your Family

Have a new baby in the family?  We have lots of precious gift ideas!  For the newborn, we have receiving blankets, Christening bibs, silver rattles and baby cups.

For the toddler we have dinnerware in pottery and melamine. For the preschooler, we have Lily Pulizter lunch boxes…and children of all sizes will love our ‘kennel’ of Ditz dogs and our ‘zoo’ of polar bears & moose….or even sock monkeys, alligators, turtles, dogs, cats, and frogs!

Click on the Gallery below to view these perfect gift ideas for baby and toddler.

Feeling inspired and want to see more? For fabulous gift ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list, browse our collection anytime online at www.theregistryfranklin.com -OR- visit The Registry,  located in Historic downtown Franklin, TN, just west of the town square at 335 Main Street. We can also be reached at gits@theregistryfranklin.com or at 615-595-2323.

Remember, we always elegantly wrap your purchases, free of charge!

Holiday Ideas for Your Equestrian

Have an equestrian on your holiday shopping list? Well look no further than The Registry for you shopping needs. We’re showing you just a small sample of the many gifts we offer for the “Horse Lover” on your list.

This combo is perfect for any occasion!

Julie Ware

We offer elegant decorating extras for your Equstrain's home.

Wouldn't this tray be the perfect touch for a Derby party or watching the races?

For even more fabulous gift ideas for the Equestrian on your holiday shopping list, browse our collection anytime online at www.theregistryfranklin.com -OR- visit  The Registry,  located in Historic downtown Franklin, TN, just west of the town square at 335 Main Street.

Remember, we always elegantly wrap your purchases, free of charge! Let us make your holiday season easier on you because that’s what you deserve! (Who doesn’t love a Christmas Tree with gifts from The Registry?)

Who doesn't love a Christmas Tree filled with gifts from The Registry?

Making a List and Checking It Twice!

So the stockings are hung.  Your Christmas shopping is underway. BUT does your family know what YOU want for Christmas? Of course not! Why not make their Christmas shopping a breeze this year? Drop by The Registry. Let us ‘register’ you for holidays, birthdays and anniversaries.

Maybe you want to start a new collection of dinnerware, stemware or even new flatware. Let your friends and family spend their money on something you REALLY want. Hey, then they will even know what to give you on Valentine’s day, Mother’s Day and beyond.

Remember, The Registry is now open on Sundays through the holiday season. We hope you will stop by soon and “register” for everything on your Wishlist.

The Registry is located in Historic downtown Franklin, TN, just west of the town square at 335 Main Street. We can be reached at gifts@theregistryfranklin.com or at 615-595-2323. You can also shop our online store 24/7 at www.theregistryfranklin.com.

Shop “Small Business Saturday”

The Registry is once again participating in “Small Business Saturday”…Saturday, November 26^th.  What’s that?  First there was Black Friday, and then came Cyber Monday…and NOW there is Small Business Saturday!While this may seem like just another shopping holiday nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the significance behind this specific Saturday goes much deeper than trying to drive up sales. Small Business Saturday seeks to recognize and highlight small businesses that are the heartbeat of the US economy.

Did you know that, according to U.S. Small Businesses Administration, Small firms:

• Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.
• Employ just over half of all private sector employees.
• Pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll.
• Have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years.
• Create more than 50 percent of nonfarm private gross domestic product (GDP)

For the second year American Express is sponsoring this event. To start, American Express is giving Card members who register their Card for the Small Business Saturday offer a $25 statement credit when they spend $25 or more at a business like The Registry.

American Express is supporting the small business movement all over America.  Without small businesses, many towns small and large would not have the specialty items they desire.  By shopping at your local small businesses over chain stores, you are helping to keep small businesses alive.

The Registry was founded in October of 2003 by two very industrious and ingenious women who had worked as full-time stay-at-home moms and quintessential volunteers for 25 years. As they became “empty nesters,” it was time to start a new chapter, and thus The Registry…a place of visual beauty, that has something for everyone…was born.  The Registry employs 8 people. This number has increased from our original 3 when we opened in 2003.

So this Saturday, November 26th, remember us – the small businesses that were created by people who had a dream, took a risk and created their business. Remember The Registry.

Located in Historic downtown Franklin, Tennessee, just west of the town square at 335 Main Street, a mere 18 miles south of Nashville. We can also be reached at gifts@theregistryfranklin.com or at 615-595-2323

Wine Down Main Street

If you live in the Franklin area, don’t forget about Wine Down Main Street tonight starting at 7pm! This event benefits the Franklin Boys and Girls Club. You can shop, eat, and taste fantastic wines all while helping out a good cause! The Registry will be open during this event with additional shopping hours 7pm-10pm, so after you’ve tasted your favorite wines, visit us. You don’t have to attend Wine Down Main Street. Just stop in. We have all the Wine and Barware you need. From Beatriz Ball wine coasters to Michael Aram Decanters, we have it all. Stock up just in time for the holiday season.

This is an event not to be missed.

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Simply Decorating OR Decorating Simply

The holidays are here whether you like it or not.  Most of you will be doing some sort of entertaining.  And, most of the time your entertaining revolves around the dinner table…like it or not.  So of course, you will need a centerpiece.  We know what you are thinking,”…I am terrible with flowers!  Flowers are expensive!  Will they last all weekend long?”   There truly is an easy answer.

First of all relax.  Entertaining should be fun and enjoyable, and doesn’t require the expense you might think.

Secondly, set your table.  See how much room you will have left for a centerpiece…do you need low and long, or tall and narrow?

Now find a container to fit your needs and the rest is easy, and not too expensive.  Take a look at our suggestions below. Shelby, our resident floral designer, suggests using items from nature.  See where she has used bittersweet, dried pine, green pine and simple green leaves from the yard.  Great for Thanksgiving.

Check out the Christmas arrangement with nothing more that lots of red berries, and various twigs/sticks from shrubs and small trees. Colorful, yet airy, not too heavy.

And of course, magnolia adds a sophisticated touch always.

See where Shelby simply just gathered various stems and – with NO ARRANGING – placed them in two different containers on the floor for added holiday warmth.

And now, it’s time to trim the tree. Easier said than done? YES! Take a look at these ideas…See where Shelby has added simple birch bark branches in this tree to give it a ‘woodsy’ lodge look.

Or even simpler, see where she has used two pine branches upright and trimmed it with felt owls and penguins and even attached acrylic wine glasses for a sense of whimsy.

 All of these items can be gathered in nature…for free!  But if you love the look and want it to stay fresh throughout the holidays, all the items are available for purchase at The Registry..and they will last for years and years.

Visit The Registry for more holiday inspiration or to purchase a similar arrangement. Or, shop our store online at www.theregistryfranklin.com.

So Layaway is Once Again in Vogue?

Layaway is once again in vogue, so we hear…and rightfully so as the economy struggles to return to normal.

But, think again…here at The Registry, we have our own sort of “layaway.”  We have helped people decorate their tables and homes for the past eight years…without the fees or maintenance associated with the traditional layaway.  We created the personal gift registry.

$20 - Case Fina Fortunata Dinner Plate

It started with our employees letting their wishes be known. They all have a “wish list” or “registry” for birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. This is a great way to start a collection of any kind.  Come in and let us help you create a gift registry.  Send your friends and family our way.  Then they will never be stuck trying to think of the perfect gift…we will tell them EXACTLY what you want!

$45 - Juliska Country Estate Dinner Plate

We also have found that choosing a new pattern of dinnerware can SEEM impossible to afford.  Actually, if you think about how much you spend on “drive thru coffee” each month, you can easily purchase one dinner plate each month…finding yourself with 12 by year’s end…just in time for next year’s holidays.

Green Panel | Dinner plate: $140| Salad plate: $110 | Cup & Saucer: $160

Come visit our store or shop online at http://www.theregistryfranklin.com.