Nearly every store a bride can imagine outside of her local supermarket, drug store and gas station offers or will offer a bridal registry. Lawn mowers, shrubbery, electric appliances, pottery, furniture, airline tickets, oriental rugs, beauty and bath products, lingerie, antiques, art - the list of items a bride can register for is endless.

Yet, traditional registries featuring china, crystal and silver still flourish. The most popular china patterns for first time brides remain banded china, plain white or off white china with a silver or gold band, perhaps augmented by an additional band of color.

Older brides or second time brides are more apt to trust their taste and take risks in choosing patterns with more color and design. Much of today's fine china is dishwasher safe provided it is allowed to air dry.

While most brides ordering formal china still specify service for twelve, Cheryl Green of Lux Bond & Green prefers selling most china by gift card, encouraging brides to wait until they receive all their cards before turning them into merchandise. Since dinner guests can only be invited up to the limit of place settings, she recommends buying 12 plates and cups and saucers in preference to four complete place settings. Many brides are skipping bread and butter plates completely.

Green has noticed that many brides choosing discrete banded china use it very infrequently, if at all during their first years of marriage. By the time they are ready to use it, they are older and regret choosing such a plain pattern. Other brides have china from an earlier marriage or china they inherited through a family connection that they don't use because they don't like its look.

The eclectic look of mix and match was made for these brides. Before a bride places these items in deep storage, she should bring a place setting into the bridal consultant at a quality store for help.

Colored glass or linens including napkins and place mats may be enough to revive the interest level of the china.

Charger plates are another way to add excitement to a table arrangement. Because these plates never actually hold food, they have more varied design possibilities. They capture your guests' first impression of the table. Within the place setting, different dessert or salad plates may add new interest to the china. Colored wine glasses are used side by side with clear, crystal water goblets.

Registries are seeing a return to tradition and a desire to purchase heirloom quality items. In the last six months, registrations for sterling silver have surged. High quality stainless steel remains strong as well.

Steve Pennimped of Longs Jewelers has noticed couples registering for the figures to top their wedding cake. These might be Lladro porcelain figures or a pair of Swarovski crystal swans. These figures become permanent remembrances that are reused within the family as a new tradition takes root. Brides are also registering for fine handmade clocks such as all brass Chelsea clocks similar to those used in the White House.

Brand recognition has become important again. Fine jewelry stores may carry exclusive brands a bride won't find in department stores. "Our best selling china for brides is Louvre by Bernardaud," Green noted. "Each of the all white pieces is modeled after the architecture in the famous Paris museum. It works well for casual or formal dining." "Don't be afraid to put different things together," Green advised. "Step out of the mold. Use color, use anything with anything. Be imaginative. There are no crystal (or china) police."

While many brides are choosing to register for their everyday dishes at separate store registries,unusual pottery may also be found at fine jewelers. Besides Tiffany crystal and china, Lux Bond & Green also carries pottery by MacKenzie-Childs described by "JQ First Edition" as "Pippi Longstocking meets Martha Stewart." Individual, hand made pieces of pottery have become whimsical works of art that add humor and enjoyment to even formal tables.

While couples are registering at multiple stores for multiple needs, they might want to stop at a fine jewelers as well. The old stuffy corners with the old snobby bridal consultants are gone. Expect to find exciting displays, possibly even arranged by color, and understanding consultants who will help you add wit and whimsy to your table.

Always ask if the store has a toll free number for out of town guests. Many stores that are part of a chain may not yet have their computer system interlinked. Ask which stores will have a copy of your list. Determine how effectively the procedures work for indicating a purchase to your list. Most storeseep your list active for one year following your wedding. Check on each store's policy. Check the return policy for brides which may be more lenient than the normal store policy. If gift certificates are purchased, find out for how long they are valid and if they will be honored at any store in the chain or just at the point of purchase. Don't be afraid to register at more than one store. Keep in mind the means of all your guests and register for at least some items each guest can afford.