Registry Basics: Serving Platters Slideshow

Every bride and groom should have a couple of big white platters, one round, one rectangular, and/or one oval — or a combination of your favorite shapes.

These are a two of our current favorites, but the idea is to go for basic white so they mix easily with all your other dishware and you can use the different shapes interchangeably. 

Great White Rectangular Serving Platters, $12-$40. Juliska "Berry and Thread" Large Oval Platter, $95 (at left).

You've got platters. Now you need serving bowls. We use low-sided multi-taskers like these for nearly everything, from serving pasta to a crowd or an entrée-sized salad for one. 

Pottery Barn Great White Coupe Serving Bowls, Set of 3, $58.

Perfect for sides, salads, sauces, and mashed potatoes for two. They look stunning on a big buffet, but don't be fooled by their beauty — you'll use these bowls constantly.

Heath Ceramics Deep Serving Bowl, $60; Vegetable Bowl, $75.

For many, you know the drill. The rest of you? It's a lot easier to have a special salad bowl solely for serving greens (rather than a kitchen bowl).

Williams-Sonoma 12-inch Cherry Wood Salad Bowl, $65.

We love a good cake plate and this beautiful glass one works for cakes, stacks of cookies, and cupcakes. Plus you can flip it over to make a beautiful punch bowl. 

Williams-Sonoma Domed Cake Plate/Punch Bowl, $30.

Adds height to your party buffets and can display both sweet and savory items. 

Crate and Barrel Cambridge 2-Tier Server with Plates, $34.95.

Use for serving everything from cheeses to flatbread slices. We also love it for displaying deviled eggs in long rows.

Crate and Barrel Acacia Flatbread-Pizza Board, $19.95

A really stylish way to serve a baguette next to your cheese plate or sourdough with your soup.  Doubles as a centerpiece when filled with lemons or satsumas.

NapaStyle Vintage German Bakery Board, $89.

These are the mini workhorses of our kitchen. You'll pull them for prep while cooking, use them for baking soufflés or coddled eggs, and use them for serving mustards with charcuterie or olives with cheese. Oh, these are a must for butter and jam with scones, too!

Crate and Barrel Small Ramekins, $2.50.

You'll use this more than you know. It is a lively alternative to your boring kitchen fruit bowl, looks gorgeous piled high with tomatoes, and shows off any vegetable, like haricot verts, to their best.  Also, there is no other way to serve a chocolate pudding piled high with whipped cream or a classic Christmas trifle.

Vera Wang Wedgewood 11-inch "Classic" Footed Bowl, $140.

Every girl needs a tray! We use ours to line up champagne flutes for a self-serve prosecco bar. And we keep hoping someone will use it to serve us breakfast in bed. Or you can just pile it high with coffee table books.

Pottery Barn Hotel-Silver Plate Tray, $79.