Those of you who've read my book know that our guests drank out of "Muglies," used mugs from second hand stores that we then decorated with wedding stickers. For those of you who are considering going a similar second-hand route for your wedding flatware, OBT member Cassie offers some encouragement….
I just want to say that I am having an absolute blast finding awesome, unique, and totally, insanely cheap dishes and silverware for our wedding.
Last weekend I went to a thrift store and got 40 pieces of silverware (in good condition), 10 wine glasses, and about 5 coffee cups (all attractive, in very good shape) for freaking FOUR DOLLARS AND SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS. I actually cackled on the way back to my car.
Every time I make a purchase like this, I take the stuff home, wash it by hand, and then wash it in the dishwasher, too. Then I wrap it in clean towels or clean "batting" stuff, pack it away in a box and carefully label what exactly is in there.
I originally thought all of this would be way too much of a hassle, but I love it. Since my wedding is still seven months out, I have plenty of time and don't feel rushed. I also thought that it would be a pain carting everything to the reception site. But you know what? If I rented stuff, I'd have to drive 25 minutes to the rental place, pick it up, and then drive it to the reception site. And then take it back the day after. So this will actually save me time when the wedding comes.
I just wanted to post a quick pep talk for people who might be considering second hand dishes and/or silverware but are feeling unsure. My wedding has taught me that, as with many things, if you take the time and energy to really search and put effort in, you end up with way, way cheaper and — more importantly — more interesting results. And the fact that I'm having a blast in the process doesn't hurt. If you'd view this kind of thrift store hunting as a chore, then obviously don't do it! But if you're like me, then I suggest you give it a shot.
Comments on "In Defense of Using Thrift Store Dishes/Silverware At Your Wedding, by Cassie"
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arielletk
April 1st, 2009 · 12:36 PM · #
I too am getting thrift store plates for my wedding! We're having a pretty small wedding (only 22 people in total) so it's not so bad..so far I've gotten 18 big plates and 22 appetizer plates, and we have 6 weeks to the wedding (I plan to make another trip later this week). We are using plastic silverware and cups probably..still debating whether to get paper plates or real plates for dessert.
Another great things that most thrift stores have are mason jars, which make great candle holders for centerpieces- I put some ribbon around the rim and am holding candles in place with river rocks I picked up at a crafty store. http://abandoningeden.blogspot.com/2009/03/centerpeices.html
Beti
April 1st, 2009 · 12:59 PM · #
Good for you! I love this thrifty, creative, eco-friendly, supporting-charitable-organizations way to subvert the WIC! Hurrah!
Berlin
April 1st, 2009 · 1:36 PM · #
I've been buying vintage bone china, silver and crystal to use at our wedding. Our guests will be taking demitasse saucers home as keepsakes and are more than welcome to take the china they used for their meal as well. There will be both a tattoo artist and tarot reader/shaman during our reception. It's these little bits that make a celebration memorable.
Doni
April 1st, 2009 · 1:51 PM · #
this is amazing. i love this!
Melli
April 1st, 2009 · 1:56 PM · #
I am SO emailing this to my mom and my fiance, who think I'm insane for wanting to do this!!
AnArtfuldodger
April 1st, 2009 · 2:38 PM · #
That's adorable! I love that look!
TMae
April 1st, 2009 · 2:53 PM · #
We used thrift store / garage sale flatware and muglies at our wedding. It was inexpensive, typically benefitted a good cause (the thrift store), environmentally friendly, and when we were done with it, It was perfect for us.
Heather
April 1st, 2009 · 3:04 PM · #
Hell yes! I think a great thrift store find is the modern equivalent of the "hunt"… it fulfills some deep primal urge – and nothing makes me giddier
Another note to the "thrift store dishes at your wedding" nay-sayers, the mix-and-match vintage look is so totally IN according the wedding style gurus. So while the box brides are paying out the nose to have that look, a resourceful offbeat bride can get hers for pennies!
Heather
April 1st, 2009 · 3:08 PM · #
I think it's a great idea! I got all my centerpiece decor at thrift stores, over the last 12 months. I chose not to do the dishes b/c our wedding was quickly approaching 140 peeps and carrying, washing, storing them was too much for me (and ended up not saving much money – other than I could have resold them).
I agree, though, MAKE IT FUN! If you think of it as another thing on your "To Do" list – skip it. But if it's crafty and a fun adventure – it's the LOVE that will make your wedding memorable.
kingdaughter
April 1st, 2009 · 3:20 PM · #
Where are these thrift stores that give such ridiculously good deals? All the ones around here are much more expensive…
erica
April 1st, 2009 · 3:29 PM · #
Don't forget that if you re-donate the dishes, you get a tax benefit for the donation to a charitable organization. Money to the organization from the purchase, dishes back to the organization for others, and a tax benefit for you — so much better than paying for rentals and the ultimate in eco-friendly re-use.
Lilia Ahner
April 1st, 2009 · 3:59 PM · #
That's a great idea. I've seen so many cute vintage plates at thrift stores in my area.
Sarah Beth
April 1st, 2009 · 4:19 PM · #
We must all have the same things on the brain – cheap! upcycled! – because I too thought of this idea a couple of days ago!
I really like the idea of donating what you don't keep – that's the ultimate in good karma points.
Great to see other peeps so into alternatives to "china service" (What is that, anyway? Is it actually real china, or just cheap chinette?)
Liz
April 1st, 2009 · 5:51 PM · #
Ha!! We are doing the same thing! That's great!
amber
April 1st, 2009 · 6:23 PM · #
hahaha this is too funny! i just went today and picked up 101 plates for $26!! i'd been going back and forth debating weather to do it. mis matched china was the ONLY thing i was really excited about, but thought $$$$ might get in the way. 101 plates found….i only need 99 more!
Vera
April 1st, 2009 · 6:58 PM · #
Where does the term muglie come from?
Ariel
April 1st, 2009 · 7:04 PM · #
Vera, "Muglies" is a portmanteau word that I made up to describe the ugly mugs that we were using at our wedding. Ugly + Mugs = Muglies. If you want to know the full story, it's in the book.
kelly
April 1st, 2009 · 9:14 PM · #
I gave vintage tea cups with a 2oz decorated bag of loose tea, all wrapped in tulle with a satin bow as my "tea party" wedding favors. It brought down the house! It was beautiful, unique, memorable; best of all it was cheap!
Valarie
April 1st, 2009 · 11:30 PM · #
I've bought some dishes at yard sales…great stuff…for next to nothing…I, too, am excited about having real plates…without the hefty price tag…
Sarah
April 2nd, 2009 · 4:39 AM · #
I would totally love to do this, but I fear – who will do the dishes after?!
Bianca
April 2nd, 2009 · 4:41 AM · #
How many guests are you guys having? I have been seriously considering this for our BBQ wedding (to avoid disposables. ugh, the waste!). But I have 250 guests. Is anything doing a wedding that big?
I also have reservations about the glasses. Do people only use one during the whole reception?
Arden
April 2nd, 2009 · 6:13 AM · #
I too have been excited about the thriftstore thing, but have found that my local Value Village and Goodwill prices aren't better than rental prices, and I have been a bit daunted by getting enough plates for 80-90ish folks. So, I've decided to start with 3 things: small coffee cups, silverware, and mason jars for center pieces (which are all consistently priced below rental prices).
Maybe when yardsale season is here I will feel up for giving plates and wine glasses a go. And if someone in the Seattle or Bellingham area was interested in combining efforts and using at each of our weddings, I'd be game (will have to post on Offbeat Bride Tribe).
As for what to do with the plates afterwords, I read in Conscious Choice that a environmental org called Sustainable/Vashon has a "Trash-Free Bash Stash" of a bunch of mismatched dishware people can borrow. Brilliant! I was planning on seeing if my local GreenNeighborhood group would be interested a similar thing, and I could give it to them.
Cassie
April 2nd, 2009 · 6:31 AM · #
For those who mentioned prices, it's true not all thrift stores will give you a good deal. One of my local Goodwill stores prices every glass at a dollar, which is more expensive than rental prices. I happen to be lucky enough to live by a few independent thrift stores that are much cheaper. One of them does the "colored tag 1/2 off" sale, with a different color every day. Most of the coffee cups I buy are originally priced at about 30 cents, so they end up being 15 cents when I buy the right tag color. Another thrift store had a "spring cleaning" 75 percent off sale, which is where I got a lot of the stuff. But in general, these stores prices their wineglasses at about 40 cents, silverware at about a dime, and so on…so it's much cheaper.
I haven't checked out garage sales yet, but I'm hoping that will be another way to rake in the inexpensive stuff. And there you can haggle!
We're going to have our wedding helpers rinse everything off at the end of the wedding. My FMIL volunteered to take about half the stuff home to wash (gradually) in her dishwasher, and I'll do the other half. We are going to redonate everything. Of course, guests are welcome to take home whatever they want.
Also, FYI, I'm shooting for 60-70 people at my wedding. If I had over a 100 or 200 people, I don't think I'd be doing this. It all depends on what you think you can do.
Erin
April 2nd, 2009 · 7:25 AM · #
Like Cassie said, keep an eye out for the special deals at the thrift stores. Goodwill here has a couple of days a week where the color tag of the week is on sale, but the better deal is at Savers, where 4 days a week the color tag is 50% off, and 1 day a week the color tag is 99 cents.
50% off days are perfect for glasses and single plates (normally $1), 99 cent days are perfect for tablecloths and sets of dishes. And yes, some of the independent thrift stores are cheaper. The thing I'm finding harder is silverware, as they wait until they have a big quantity of it and then sell a tray's worth all at once. I've only found those once so far and bought 5 trays of silverware. The cashiers think I'm nuts.
jx
April 2nd, 2009 · 10:48 AM · #
once you take it home and wash it, it's just like all the other stuff in your cupboards: used, but clean. I really dont understand the people who are so negative "how could you use USED stuff for your ______ (wedding, party, home, whatever)" ?????
for me, I started going to the flea market with Mom when I was 7. it didnt take long to realize most of the things I like are not made anymore so thrift shops, yardsales, and fleamarkets are a resource to be treasured!
I would like to add that if you are collecting such things, it is worth the time to send out a general email to friends and family because they might be ready to donate those extra plates or 3 wine glasses, to the local charity, and happy, or even happier! to give them to you.
Bittenby Brenda
April 2nd, 2009 · 5:45 PM · #
We're doing the same thing too. We'll have about 100 peeps. And yes, everyone looks at me a little sideways til I explain the triple goodness (no disposable waste, no brand-new/rental truck carbon footprint, and donate back to a good cause). Then I see the light dawning on their heads.
As far as used, do people think that rented plates and silverware are only used once? Really the only *beauty* there is that it all matches.
Colleen
April 2nd, 2009 · 6:41 PM · #
Don't forget thriftstores might also have great finds for the bachelorette party as well- our local Salvation Army gets all Target clearance items and discounts them even further, so I was able to get super cute party favors for my friend's wedding that were totally brand new. . . so tell your bridesmaids
Karena Jane
April 2nd, 2009 · 8:54 PM · #
We are doing the same…and I love hearing that others are doing it. It makes me feel like less of a freak when people give me funny looks!! :p
J . Gomez
April 3rd, 2009 · 6:48 AM · #
I wanted to do this with mugs for the coffee and mason jars (not nec. used; probably from a wholesaler) for drinks. My caterer, who I have to use for the food, has discouraged this idea however. He said it would make a mess, people may get too drunk and break things, and "who do you think is going to clean up the mess?" The more I think about it the more I think my caterer is kind of a jerk.
amelia
April 3rd, 2009 · 7:29 AM · #
We're doing this for 70! Honestly, if you got rental plates, someone would have to wash them, wouldn't they?? And I'm planning on donating ours to a soup kitchen afterwards. So far I haven't gathered nearly enough, but I'm working on it… bag sales, half off sales, garage sales, you name it, I'm there… scrounging the internet for them. If I buy in bulk from a wholesaler or from the local thrift store, doesn't matter, we're not renting! Of course, we have no caterer, just a motley band of line cooks and a dishwasher I work with… but they're awesome people and I'd love to have them at the party anyhow.
Jaime
April 3rd, 2009 · 1:43 PM · #
This has to be one of the best ideas I've heard in a long time. I'm impressed that Amelia is doing this for 70 people- but I can only imagine how colorful and wonderful it will be!
Allison
April 3rd, 2009 · 1:49 PM · #
I just told my mom last week I wanted vintage plates for everyone! She jumped right on board – can you imagine how cool the set up will be with funky plates of different designs and colors? That's what our cupboard looks like now (I'm a sucker for a cool anniversary plate) so I'm just dreaming of it on a much larger scale. I guess that's why we peruse this sight though – anything too matchy matchy just doesn't have that offbeat vibe!
Trillian
April 3rd, 2009 · 2:12 PM · #
I love this idea. If I wasn't having my wedding 500 miles away, it'd be the way to go for me, cause hell, after you're done, anything left at the party is then used (at least it would be for me!) to revamp your kitchen!
Ash
April 3rd, 2009 · 3:18 PM · #
I totally love all of the thrifting ideas! I am one of those crazy people who is doing all of the flowers for my wedding (hey, it was my job in high school, I can still do it now, right?) Instead of renting the vases from some other shop, I got them all in one trip to Goodwill for super cheap. For the many sweetheart friends and family members who helped put the while show on, they each get to take a couple home. They look lovely as centerpieces, then serve as sentimental gifts. Let's be honest, with the economy and environment in the shape they're in, thrifting couldn't be a better idea!
Ritamarie
April 3rd, 2009 · 10:36 PM · #
We did Muglies for our wedding and it was FANTASTIC. We used all sorts of interesting and eclectic glasses, mugs cups etc. Everyone loved it (a few of our close friends skipped the receiving line to run off to the reception to snag the "best" Muglies). If we had time we would have done plates and silverware too. It was a "little" pricey as we bought some stuff here in LA and had to ship it to Illinois where we were married. We also had some family scouting for us in Illinois too and that made it fun – a family affair. We did have some leftover – and now my husbands brother is doing it for his wedding and they are using those. If you have a larger wedding, you just need to get started a bit earlier or plan well.
Muglies were one of the best parts of our wedding and if you can I highly suggest them. Thank you Ariel for sharing this idea!!
Mariesa
April 5th, 2009 · 7:36 AM · #
I just started thrifting for vases yesterday, to "go with" ones we already have around the house. The wedding coordinator sent me a link to ones at Michael's for $12.99 each. I got 5 for about $4.75 at America's Thrift Store – and it will be a unique and interesting combination. Next I'll start looking for linens. We only have about 3 tables we need to cover for the ceremony, why on earth would I pay to rent? Thanks for the ideas, ladies, it never would have occurred to me to let guests take things like this home with them. Then I guess whatever's leftover can go back to the thrift store – and I can write it off on my taxes next year. Yeah! Now I'm excited!!! I think I'll check freecycle.org as well. Nothing really beats FREE!
Amanda
April 5th, 2009 · 1:25 PM · #
I'm doing this too… is there a tribe topic on this? There should be, but before I create one, wanted to check. Not only for the deals, but for after to try trade/sell/donate what we've already spent so much time putting together to other brides.
On that note, I am already having a hard time thinking about parting with my oddball collection of dishes. It's been awesome for parties (i.e. Christmas) to have no worries about having enough dishes for folks. If I can find the space I might just keep them.
Jeannie
April 10th, 2009 · 1:40 PM · #
We were married in October 2008 and we purchased disposable faux china from a wholesale club & "plastic" silverware from a restaraunt supply store. We had so many people hold up the "china" and "silverware" and go "Wow! I thought this was real!" We spent less than $150 for all the dinnerware. Hats off to any couple who has creativity and does thing their own way!
Amanda
April 14th, 2009 · 3:43 PM · #
I've started collecting plates for our wedding, too. We're inviting 250 guests (really big families). I've got around 120 plates so far. Luckily, I have a year to go before the wedding. I think searching for the plates is so much fun! My friends, family & coworkers have even started bringing me plates! It takes a lot of work, but the little details like this make all of the difference. I've also been collecting mason jars. They can be used as candle holders and flower vases. I'm going to buy new mason jars in bulk to be used for iced tea, water and lemonade. Next up…flatware!
Here's a photo of some of the plates: http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntnanny/3363043519/
Brigette
July 24th, 2009 · 4:58 PM · #
I've been collecting all of my barware for our wedding at thrift stores – everything's glass, so it creates continuity, but the shape/design of each piece is so different. It makes for a unique and interesting display!
Jasmine
August 3rd, 2009 · 12:15 AM · #
What did you decide to do for your centerpieces? I want to, but can't find a look/ideas online that I like that is still fairly cohesive. Any ideas would be great!
Jasmine
August 3rd, 2009 · 12:15 AM · #
What did you decide to do for your centerpieces? I want to, but can't find a look/ideas online that I like that is still fairly cohesive. Any ideas would be great!
DigJess
August 11th, 2009 · 7:31 PM · #
I have one important question:
Did you use a caterer and if so, were they willing to wash the plates and give them back to you at the end of the night? I just started wondering what to do in this situation because I feel like most brides I know had their plates provided by their caterer. Wasn't sure how supplying your own would go over with them…
Anyone have experience in this realm?
I really love this idea, btw!
Alicia
August 11th, 2009 · 9:32 PM · #
That is a super good idea. I am doing this for vases for centerpieces in my outdoor wedding. Picnic tables are so big and long, I decided to group 10 or so mis-matched vases on each table. Using resources like Craigslist and Freecyle, I've recieved most of my vases for free or 25 cents each! So far I have 100. To avoid the dish washing nightmare – and still help the planet, we're getting biodegradable/compostable silverware and plates made from sugar/starch. You can do disposable wooden stuff too. They're not too expensive and you can compost them or whatever.
http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=pro...
http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=pro...
Xian
September 9th, 2009 · 8:06 AM · #
Hi Jeannie, just wondering which restaurant supply store you went to (any links online?). I have been considering getting "elegant" disposables for my wedding but afraid that it might look cheap….
Xian
September 9th, 2009 · 8:09 AM · #
You guys just gave me an idea… nice, non matchy-matchy plates… hmm…
Are you planning to donate all of these when you're done with your wedding?
Jean
November 20th, 2009 · 12:17 AM · #
Kelly! Where did you find the vintage tea cups?