23. Bringing family out of China
You typically rent table settings at a traditional wedding venue. That's because most people don't have 200 sets of plates, bowls, forks, knives, and spoons ready to use at any time. However, if you plan to hold a backyard wedding, you can also take advantage of that. If you're lucky, you might inherit a set of "heirloom porcelain" - plates passed down from generation to generation from mothers and grandmothers. In my family, I have my great-grandmother's dishes from France. They are exceptional, so instead of using them, I usually display them.
Use these plates for a "special occasion" like your wedding day is a great idea. In most cases, you can have unique sets from both sides of the family, as well as your partner's family. It doesn't matter if they don't match. Bringing together and checking all of your family's unique dining table settings together is a delight, and it makes your guests are sure to remember. However, it would help if you only allowed adults to use porcelain. If you're bringing young children to a wedding, it's a good idea to give them inexpensive items, like the white set available at Dollar Tree. This way, if something breaks, there's no need to worry.
