Table Talk: Home Expert Shares Tips for Selecting Wedding Registry Tableware

Home expert and Villeroy & Boch ambassador Kate Rumson shares her tips for selecting your registry tableware.

When it comes to building the perfect dinnerware collection, there’s a lot more to it than just picking out pretty plates. Whether you're setting up your first home or giving your kitchen a fresh update, selecting tableware that fits both your style and everyday needs can feel overwhelming. We chatted with home expert and Villeroy & Boch ambassador Kate Rumson (@the_real_houses_of_ig) and got the scoop on her insider tips for creating a table setting that’s not only beautiful but practical for everyday life. From the must-have pasta bowl to making bold choices with your salad plates, Kate’s advice will help you craft a collection you’ll love using for years to come.

1. White Base. Every great design starts with a strong base and in this case, that's your dinner plate. “It's nice to build your table with a really nice, clean white foundation.” Rumson also notes that an off-white hue makes food look best.

2. Lasting Style. Registry tableware is no longer saved just for special occasions. “[Register for] durable, hardworking, beautiful, dinner plates that are dishwasher- and microwave-safe, chip-resistant. They will be something you'll be able to use every day.”

3. Have fun with your salad plates. Use these as an opportunity to change it out the design by the theme or season. ” Maybe you wouldn’t order your entire dinnerware collection in hot pink or navy blue, but those bright and vibrant colors on salad plates are guaranteed to make a statement and look stunning when mixed with white or neutral dinner plates!”

4. Don't skip the pasta bowl! Often overlooked, the wide, low and shallow plates are not to be missed. “I guarantee you'll find yourself reaching for this plate- – it's perfect for cereal, pasta, salad, oatmeal. We use pasta plates in my home more than salad or dinner plates.”

5. Mixing and matching. “It's so beautiful to create that eclectic look mixing and matching different patterns and colors, so go for whatever you're drawn to.”

6. Understand your needs. Rumson recommends prior to registering for new dinnerware, spend a few days paying attention to what you already have. “Figure out what is and isn’t working perfectly for your lifestyle and preferences,” she says. “If you’re getting up during dinner to refill your drinks, then register for larger glasses. If you don’t like sauces touching food on your dinner plates then it's a good idea to register for dip bowls.

This feature originally appeared in Love Inc.'s V9 print issue. Grab your copy here.