Weddings are full of traditions: the white dress, the tiered cake, the tipsy uncles thrashing around on the dance floor.
There are traditions in wedding and anniversary gifting too, from 'something blue' for the bride before the big day to things like toasters and kettles for the newlyweds to enjoy in their new home.
But times change, and with most couples living together these days, they likely already have the material trappings of a shared home. That's not to say you can't wrap up homeware, because the gift of luxury china and a fancy dinner service is one that still has legs.
It may sound old-fashioned, but a good set of dinner plates will see the just-marrieds through a lifetime of dinner parties and hosting special events like birthdays and Christmas.
Wedding expert and editor of Hitched Zoe Burke confirms that wedding china is a gifting tradition worth hanging onto: "Once seen as the reserve of your grandparents, wedding china is definitely becoming cool again. Let's face it, as the cost of living continues to rise, more of us are choosing to stay home, and a fancy set of china makes hosting those budget-friendly dinner parties as newlyweds all the more enticing".
It helps that today's wedding china designs needn't echo the floral patterns of your grandmother's - unless you want them to, of course. There are luxury options to appeal to every taste and every style, as well as options for regular use, displaying only or saving for best. Many can become heirloom pieces, to be passed down through the generations.
We've rounded up the best china sets that every newlywed couple will love.
Shop the edit below
Rebecca Udall Set of 4 Olivia Scalloped Crockery
Sure, it's not a full set but if you're looking for fancy plates to elevate existing tableware, Rebecca Udall's designs are just the ticket. Hand-crafted in Italy and handpainted in green or raspberry pink, everyday meals get an easy upgrade with this scalloped set. Dessert and side plates and bowls are also available in sets of four.
Buy now £134.00, Rebecca Udall
Spode Blue Italian Dinnerware Set, 12 Piece, Blue/White
A set worthy of displaying proudly in a cupboard, Spode's old-school design is perfect for conservative couples who love to host. The durable 12-piece set is made from earthenware and will fare well in dishwashers, microwaves and even the freezer while it can handle temperatures of up to 180 in the oven. There's enough here to lay a dinner party table for four, or for the happy couple to reserve a few plates for their future family.
Buy now £162.00, John Lewis
Our Place Ultimate Hosting Set
Famous first and foremost for its incredible set of cookware, Our Place has branched out of the kitchen and into the dining room with a chic tableware collection. The Ultimate Hosting set is primed for fabulous dinner parties with 14 pieces to furnish four diners. The bundle includes linen napkins and glassware, alongside minimal ceramic stoneware.
Buy now £205.00, Our Place
Wedgwood Renaissance Grey 5 Piece Dinner Set
British heritage brand Wedgwood has long been the benchmark against which all fine tableware is measured. The company may have roots that stretch back to 1759, but the Bone China collection is beautifully modern with timeless designs raising the game for tables everywhere. Break-resistant and safe to use in the microwave, oven and dishwasher, its robustness defies the initial delicate look.
This five-piece set sports a timeless pattern in grey and gold on fine bone china and comes packed in a pretty Wedgwood gift box. All you need to do is hand it over and wait for your thank you card.
Buy now £205.00, Wedgwood
Portmeirion Botanic Garden 32 Piece Dinner Set
A dinner set that can be used daily yet still feels special enough to call a wedding dinner set. Portmeirion's 32-piece set includes dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and breakfast mugs, all finished with stunning illustrations of British flora and fauna. All the earthenware pieces are made in the brand's Stoke on Trent factory.
Buy now £256.01, Portmeirion
Adam Lippes Set of Four Coquille Dinner Plates - White
Scalloped edges are the interiors trend we can't get enough of. If you suspect the couple you're buying for is the same, they'll be delighted to receive this four-plate set from OKA. There's just enough detail to make it feel special to eat from and they can serve as a good starting point from which to build their collection.
Buy now £275.00, OKA
Emma Shipley Lynx 16-piece Dining Set
Offering a whimsical twist to traditional wedding china, this 16-piece set has been finished with illustrations by Emma Shipley. Pick out colours from the layered design for napkins and other pieces of tableware to help keep the final effect looking tied together. The set may look surreal but paired with practical functionality, they can be items for everyday use as well as special occasions.
Buy now £492.00, Emma Shipley
Dolce & Gabbana Casa Set of 2 Carretto Plates
Not exactly a set but a boujee gift that couples with a taste for the finer things will adore, D&G's Casa plates are the statement tableware pieces they never knew they wanted. Sold as a set of two matching designs, they measure 26cm across. Save them for date night, wheel them out as starter platters at parties, or display them on a shelf so you can enjoy them throughout the year.
Buy now £295.00, Harrods
Villeroy & Boch Breakfast for Two Christmas crockery set of six
Their first Christmas as a married couple is a landmark moment in their relationship. Make it feel even more special with this festive set from Villeroy & Boch which includes two salad plates, mugs and bowls to help December 25 get started in style.
Buy now £159.40, Selfridges
Mrs Alice White Lace Dinner Plate set
Mrs Alice's collection of exquisite crockery is worth tying the knot for alone. Mainly sold as sets of four or eight, the designs are straight out of an interior photoshoot with plenty of playful patterns and colours in the mix to stop anything looking stuffy. For newlyweds, the White Lace Dinner Plate set feels most appropriate - there are four and four more matching starter plates to layer on top. We've never seen anything like the lattice rim before - just gorgeous.
Buy now £208.00, Mrs Alice
