Rory and I were NOT a fancy-pants bride and groom. We registered for ultra-simple dishes in a white-on-white pattern and totally plain flatware. Five years later, we're still totally happy with both and use them daily. We didn't register for fine china or crystal goblets or a real-deal silverware set (despite Rory's mom's insistence that we'd regret it), and we're still totally happy with that decision too. And still, there was one super-fancy gift that I'm happy someone got us.
One of my mom's friends mailed us a fancy-shmancy bottle of champagne and two handblown crystal champagne flutes from Tiffany & Co. We NEVER, EVER in a million years would have asked for them, but I kind of love pulling out the big blue Tiffany box on those rare occasions that we deem bottle-of-champagne-worthy and sipping from grown-up crystal instead of our mismatched wineglasses. (We registered for decent wineglasses, but we've broken and replaced so many that I don't know if we have a matching pair anymore!) Even if we're having champagne and Thai takeout to celebrate a promotion—or, you know, surviving the week with a two-year-old—it just feels special. And it's a gift I bet even your no-frills friends would wind up loving.
Here's the set that we were gifted:
Tiffany Champagne Flute Set, $125 for 2.
And some vintage-y looking ones from BHLDN:
"I Do" Flutes from BHLDN, $128 for 2.
But I'm kind of more into old-fashioned champagne coupes these days. One of the designers at Bridal Market was serving bubbly in these super-simple Efva Attling coupes. You can't really see the best part in this photo, but each glass is wearing a little removable "bracelet" that's inscribed amor vincent omnia, which fellow high school Latin students will know means love conquers all. So romantic!
Efva Attling Champagne Coupes, Efva Attling Boutique (36 Little West 12th Street, New York, N.Y. 10014, 212-510-7071), price upon request.
Here's a pretty set from Williams-Sonoma:
Dorset Champagne Coupes from Williams-Sonoma, $59.95 for 2.
Obviously these are spendy options—and obviously you can find less-expensive alternatives—but I think there's something extra awesome about being gifted something you'd never in a million years splurge on for yourself, ya know?
Would you like to receive fancy-pants champagne glasses, even if they're not something you'd ask for? Would you give 'em as a gift?
Now that I've reminded myself how much we love our set, I'm totally splurging when a friend gets engaged!