Design your own mix & matched collection by Lindsay Landman

One trend we’ve seen gaining a lot of momentum in the last couple of years (and really love) is that of mixing and matching dinnerware to create a collection that truly represents couples’ needs and style, and what better time than your registry to build a collection that you’ll love and use for years to come! We asked our good friend, renowned event designer, Lindsay Landman (who has a small obsession with tabletop), to share her thoughts on how to build your own mix-matched dinnerware collection.

Welcome Lindsay!

Thanks, Amanda and hello NewlyWish-ers. The idea of mixing and matching dinnerware is near and dear to my heart, not only when designing for events but in my home as well. When I got married, I inherited my grandmother’s beautiful Royal Doulton china. It has a sage green border and a traditional gold pattern along the edge. Every piece was in perfect condition and it was just what I would have picked if I were to register for china.

Photos courtesy of Sofia Negron (left image) and  Sharon Schuster (right image)

How I modernized my grandmother’s china…

Since I was just in my early twenties, I had this inkling that it would be a very, very long time until I was able to use my china in a formal, traditional setting. So, with my mom’s help, I looked for crystal that would both complement my china and add a youthful flare to my table – make it feel a little more like me and my husband and a little less like my grandparents. I ended up selecting beautiful, handblown art glass from a small artisan in California which was detailed with gold leaf. It didn’t “match” the formality of the china, but it coordinated stylishly and added just enough of a modern touch to give me the freedom to set a beautiful and unique table with confidence.

Now, more than ten years later, I am so inspired by the endless possibilities available through creative wedding registry channels like NewlyWish. Gone are the days when you have to buy every matching piece in a set to make your registry complete. By thinking about how you want to live, to entertain, and to enjoy your tableware, you can step out of the box and create a look that is customized to you and your style, and that you will actually use before you have grandchildren!

Tips for creating a mix & match china collection you can live with and enjoy:

1. Select pieces that are similar in weight as some plates tend to be “chunkier” than others and can be difficult to layer.
2. Check to see if the base colors of the pieces from different collections are similar – sometimes “white”, “white”, and “white” can be three entirely different colors!
3. Consider the types of meals you most often prepare and how you like to present your dishes – if you prefer to start a meal with soup rather than salad, avoid selecting a salad plate as a main accent piece to your collection (many times the salad plate is the one with the most detailing!) as you will rarely have the opportunity to show off your tableware just as you intended it!
4. Don’t be afraid to take a risk and add in a bold piece or two! That is the beauty of this concept – you don’t have to use those bold pieces every time, only when you want to add a little “wow” to your table.

 Design your own mix & match collection…

To help inspire you as you set out to build your registry, NewlyWish and I created three looks that share a base china pattern, Vera Wang’s Gilded Weave, and mixing and matching it with contrasting patterns to create three looks: one ‘Casual’, one ‘Chic’, and one ‘Classic’.

Photos courtesy of Allan Zepeda

Thanks so much for sharing your story, tips and guidance with us, Lindsay! We invite everyone to share their thoughts on mixing and matching. Are you a fan of it?