• by Jennifer Berger , August 23, 2006

Back in the day, it was customary for new brides to invest in fine china. These days, with Condé Nast's Bridal Group finding 48 percent of them nixing Noritake and the like upon registering, it appears that designer dishes have become passé.

Still, today's bride is quite domestic. Though 55 percent of brides claim that fine china doesn't fit their casual lifestyle, the average wife-to-be expects to entertain at home twice a week, and half are even planning to regularly host formal, sit-down dinners.

So how can marketers of fine china build their market? Cure bridal ignorance. When queried about their knowledge of fine china, 68 percent of those surveyed by Condé Nast were unaware of its durability, and 58 percent didn't know it's often dishwasher-safe.

According to Daniel Lagani, vice president and publisher of The Condé Nast Bridal Group, targeting these women has never been easier. While 92 percent of brides register overall, 37 percent of them are managing their registries online.