Coming Soon!!

Our apologies for being quiet this past Friday.  Normally we would do a post, but we were on a mission....at The Mart!  We were there for a total of four days selecting everything from new serving pieces to Christmas items to children's clothes.  The original plan was to stream photos on Facebook as we went, but the lack of service inside hampered our efforts.

To say we are thrilled with the new items we selected would be quite an understatement.  We can only hope that you love them as much as we do.  Some of the items will be in as early as next month, while some of the Christmas items will not make their debut until mid-October.  Can you wait that long???  We're not sure we can either.

Below is just a sneak peak of some of the pieces we will be adding to the store.  We took too many snaps to squeeze them all into one post, so we'll cover the rest of them in our regular Friday blog.  There are many, many more to come, so stay tuned for other previews!

Juliska has done it again.  We are always taken back by the absolutely

gorgeous pieces they introduce with each new season.  For Christmas, they have

designed a play on their Country Estate pattern and will be offering

the below piece featuring a festive red color.  And because these items

aren't strictly Christmas themed, you can use them all throughout

the winter months.

Also in the new red pattern are individual ceramic candles.  Each candle comes 

wrapped in a similarly printed box complete with a ribbon.  

Our thoughts?  What a perfect gift!

Juliska has tackled the dinnerware world and now they are

extending their offerings to your furry family members as well.  Let

Fido dine in style alongside you with his very own

ceramic berry and thread patterned dog bowl set.  Scoop one up for

your own pet or for an animal lover friend.

In an effort to offer a few more home decor items, we ordered several

of these beautiful pottery pieces from Skyros.  We believe the cream color

will prove to be extremely versatile while the beautiful pattern adorning

the pottery keeps it fresh and unique.

We've seen many a glass dome, but we have yet to see one

with a precious bird atop.  Use this piece to cover

cakes, cookies, pies and other goodies in style.  

Looking for a fun and functional gift?  These beautiful ruffled

baskets come complete with a set of champagne glasses.  Add your

favorite bottle of wine and you've got a gift that is sure to

leave a lasting impression.  This basket can be used as decor or as a serving

piece for the next holiday bash.

We fell in love with all of these copper pieces.  From the stocking hangers to 

the Christmas tree candle pillars, these pieces are traditional, yet cozy and will

add the perfect festive flair to your mantel.

The stocking are hung, the tree is lit, but what about Little Miss 

Sugar Plum?  Deck her out in this one of a kind ensemble 

that is sure to put her in the Christmas spirit!

A burlap bow adorns these beautiful wood picture frames.  Add a

photo of your own for a personal and thoughtful gift.

More to come!!  

Our Picks ~ Designs by Beverly

We hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July and enjoyed some great fun and great food alongside loved ones!  We certainly enjoyed the (slightly) milder weather here in Gainesville that gave us a chance to get outside and soak up some sun.

We realize we've brought you some features on new baby and children's items here at The Crystal Plate in a few previous blog posts, but we couldn't help but revisit the topic just because these new items are so incredibly adorable.  If you missed our last two posts you can check them out here and here.

Designs by Beverly does it again with this fun summery top complete with a picnic theme.  The bow on this top pins on, making it a breeze to wash.  The absence of the feminine bow would also rework this item in such a way that it could be worn by boys as well.

Adorable ants taking part in a

picnic theme

Remember the bee hive dress from one of our previous posts?  A similar design has now been added to this top for a slightly more casual look that's still sweet as honey.

Also from Designs by Bevelry are these handy and convenient, yet still stylish as ever, wet bags.  These bags feature a cloth outside and lined inside that seals in liquids.  These large pouches are perfect for bathing suits or shirts that suffered the fate of a grape juice spill.

Throw them in the washing machine and dryer afterwards for a quick and easy cleanup.

Have a wonderful weekend and make sure to stop by the blog next week for more featured items!

Our Gift Picks for the Groom

For the most part, items on a bride's registry are chosen by and for the bride.  Your fiance might care about your china pattern, but more than likely the only thing he cares about is the food that goes on that china.  Dishes, cooking utensils, bedding and towels are not likely to spike a great interest from him, but we've put together a list below of a few items that your guy will enjoy just as much as you do.

Not a bride to be yourself?  These are wonderful options for couples shower gifts or wedding gifts.

This copper beverage bucket and stand is a must-have for 

entertaining.  The bucket can also be used on its own depending

on the setting.

This beautiful mouth blown glass decanter set

from Juliska is sure to be a favorite among grooms.  Set includes 4 glasses.

This patterned silver ice bucket is the perfect

place for chilling a bottle of wine.  Include a bottle of your favorite vino for a

unique and complete gift.

The footed stand adds a nice twist to these 

pilsner glasses and dresses them up just enough.

If deer and ducks are featured, your groom just may

be interested in china after all.  This Spode Woodland line also

includes larger serving pieces as well.

Many more similar items can be found in our store, so come by and take a peak!

Our Picks of the Week ~ Baby Gifts

Last week our post featured these amazing baby announcement door hangers.  Have you come by to pick yours up yet?  We only have a few left!

This week we're featuring a few of our must-have baby items here at the Crystal Plate.  We have an array of items ranging from unique one of a kind clothing options to car accessories and even plush toys for little ones.  Stop by to pick up the perfect gift that's sure to leave an impression.

Clothing

These adorable gingham outfits from Mudpie are sure to keep

your little man running around in style.  The breathable fabric is perfect

for summer temps.

A Bee-autiful light cotton dress for a little

girls who's as sweet as honey herself.

Sugar and spice and everything nice.  Bright blue adds a 

great pop of color and the fun tutu keeps your 

little girl feeling like the princess she is.

Toys

These plush animals snap on perfectly to your stroller

and provide the perfect distraction on any outing.

Old McDonald had a farm!  These squeaky toys are

made for rub a dub time in the tub.  Pick up your pack of 5!

Accessories for Mom and Dad

Keep the car seat from damaging your car with these

seat protectors.  They fold perfectly into the seat to protect the leather

and they also serve as a much needed barrier to keep any stray

Cheerios from slipping between the crevices.  

We have them in multiple patterns for everyone, including paisley for

the moms and a black and red football print for the dads.

We have many more gifts here in the store, so make sure to stop by and take a peak!

Announcing Your New Bundle of Joy

Looking for a fun and fresh way to announce the arrival of your new bundle of joy?  Come check out our adorable door hangers from Mud Pie Designs!  These are a wonderful and chic alternative to the blue and pink bows most typically seen and are sure to make an impression.

These one of a kind items would be a great way to spruce up your delivery room or the front door of your home to announce the birth of your newest addition.  Then incorporate it into your little one's room as part of the decor later down the road.

Not expecting a little one yourself?  Give one as a gift!

The Crystal Plate carries an array of lovely gifts for little ones......come check out our shop to take a peak in person!

Registry Basics

You've got the ring on your finger and are ready to begin one of the most fun activities of the engagement period:  registering for gifts!  While very exciting, this can also be incredibly overwhelming.

Where do you start?  How much do you register for?  And which china pattern are you supposed to choose when there are over 100 on display???  It's a enough to make even the most sane bride's head spin.

Below are a few tips to consider when building your registry that will hopefully assist in the process....

The Basics
~ Registry early!  As soon as your hubby-to-be pops the question you can bet that some family and friends will begin the search for that perfect gift.  Go ahead and register sooner rather than later so that they have something to choose from.
~ Register together.  Your fiance very well may not care about the pattern of your china, but he might he might want to pick out a few grilling accessories.  What one person might miss, the other will likely catch.
~ Register for more than you need.  You might be surprised at how quickly gifts get picked up from your registry and this way your guests will have plenty of options left even if they wait until the last minute to do their gift buying.
~Update your registry as needed.  As you receive gifts, you may find that you don't need other items on your registry.  This will save you the headache of having to return items.
~ Keep an eye on your registry for accuracy.  If a loved one purchased an item for you in-store, it may not have been recorded on your online registry.  Contact the store if this happens to avoid receiving multiples of one item.

Choosing Stores

~ Make sure and register at more than one store.  Ideally at least one of these stores would have an option to purchase online (for guests out of town), while at least one other would have a physical storefront (where a guest could select a gift in person).

~ Ask about the store's return policy.  It's better to know up front if a store has certain restrictions (i.e. exchanges only, returns within 30 days, etc) on the front end.

Picking out Specific Items
~ Take a look at what you already have.  Already have a great blender?  Then register for something else that you don't already own.
~ Along those same lines, consider what you want to upgrade.  Yes, you very well may have a blender that works just fine, but if you're really itching for that new model with 6 speeds go ahead and register for it.
~ What will you truly use?  The shiny new KitchenAid stand mixer may sound wonderful, but if the most baking you've ever done involved a can of Pillsbury biscuit dough then you're probably never going to use it.

The Ever Present Price Range
~ Make sure to choose gifts within a good range of prices.  Go ahead and register for that lovely $200 crystal punch bowl, but also make sure to add the $14 napkins rings as well.  This way your guests can choose a gift you love no matter their budget.
~ Don't shy away from big ticket items.  You might not have one guest splurge on that $400 grill, but you very well may have a group of several friends who want to go in together on such an item.

Happy Registering!  If you're in the Gainesville area, make sure to stop by the Crystal Plate to do so!

Welcome to the New Blog!

Welcome to The Crystal Plate's blog!  New to The Crystal Plate?  Keep reading for a quick intro...

The Crystal Plate is a local bridal registry store in Gainesville, Georgia.  With everything from fine china  to crystal, and flatware to everyday serving pieces, we have everything a bride-to-be needs to begin her life as a newlywed.  We are sure that you will find patterns and pieces among our 125+ lines that you will fall in love with.

For those not looking to make a trip down the isle any time soon, The Crystal Plate is also host to an array of unique gifts and jewelry.  From baby gifts to hostess gifts, we are your one stop shop if you are looking for that perfect way to say "thank you" or "congratulations".  And if you just want to splurge on yourself we can help you with that too!

Even though most of you readers may already be familiar with our store, we hope that this blog will serve as a creative outlet through which we can expand on various aspects of bridal registries, entertaining and the joy of giving.

This is just the first of many regular posts to come!  Stay tuned for updates from us each week.