Anxious Bride
Over the years, the rules governing flatware and its uses have changed considerably. Over 75 years ago, a formal table setting would have as many as 16 pieces of silver per person. Mercifully, today’s dinner party uses half of that. One piece of advice: The traditional service for 12 is the most practical as it gives you flexibility. Kinds of forks that one must have are oyster fork, fruit fork, dessert or ice cream fork, lettuce fork, ramekin fork Flatware: tomato server, cheese knife, butter knife, sardine fork, large tomato server, or small pancake server, a butter pick could be used for spearing olives too.
Tiny spoons or demitasse spoons could be used to scoop out the marrow in osso bucco. Or to scoop out salt and spicy sauces that are poured sparingly.
As for dinnerware, the best dishes are those which combine beauty and usefulness. Choose a design that comes in open stock so if you break some of them, you can always replace them. Fine bone china for your elegant dinner parties is a good choice.
For your glassware: Beer glasses, brandy snifters, champagne glasses, Collins glasses, cordials (very small which are filled with wood matches or toothpicks) and on side of the bar you should have highball glasses, (ice and liquor mixer) juice glasses, martini glasses, old-fashioned glasses, (for scotch on the rocks), shot glasses (this is the one-sip-only glass, like gulping down vodka, or tequila and could also be used for measuring), and wine glasses. (For good reason, red wine is best in a balloon shaped glass, white wine in a smaller glass, typically with a narrower nose.) Non-drinkers appreciate their bubbly water in a wine glass with a pinch of lime or fruit.
Miss Heart Less
The reason men and women feel the way you do about getting married is because of uncertainty about what they really want in life. There might be some other reasons that you refuse to admit. These could be some of them:
A) You have lingering feelings for some one else. Sometimes the reason we do not feel right about the person we are with is because we want to be with someone else. Are you secretly pining for an ex love? Are you still smarting from a recent break-up?
B) You are not ready to settle down. Do a quick check of your emotions. Perhaps you still want to play the field because commitment is not in your vocabulary for now.
C) Incompatible personal styles. As the relationship unfolds you realize that you really have nothing much in common. He loves the outdoors, you don’t – his idea of a great vacation is chilling out in Boracay, getting a tan and doing water sports; your idea is going to Bangkok or Hong Kong and shopping till you drop. This could prove disastrous in the future because it will always be a compromise situation.
D) You were once burned badly so you built a wall around yourself. You are so guarded with your emotions that not even a Brad Pitt could crumble the wall.
E) Insecurity about yourself perhaps? You feel that you could not cope with the pressures of being a good wife, to this man, or perhaps you don’t think you will be accepted by his rich family.
Does the prospect of being married to this almost perfect man make you break out in a cold sweat? Maybe you don’t hear wedding bells because there is a louder voice telling you to get out while you can. But if any of the above reasons are not there, perhaps you just need time to fall deeper in love. Some people take time to fall, others do in a jiffy. Talking openly about your emotions with him will draw you closer and help you deal with your issues better.