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Cutipol in "Moon" is elegant and modern.

We registered for the Lenox "Pearl Platinum" flatware. It's stainless steel, and is really comfortable to hold. It is available at Macy's, but we also registered for it at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Had a similar problem recently! We went with Vera Wang's "Chime" flatware--available at Macy's. Clean lines, but with some subtle details that give it a more classic look--I think.

Gourmet Settings has some options that might work with both of these designs. I have the Vault and absolutely love it. I think one of the more delicate options that they have would be perfect.

I did the same thing. We registered for the Eva Zeisel Classic Century for our everyday china
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=14174&f=7859

I inherited a very feminine formal set from my grandmother (her name was also Margaret which makes it really special): http://www.replacements.com/webquote/N__MARGA.htm

We registered for Vera Wang Imperial Scroll. http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=105079&CategoryID=44491
The flatware we chose to go with all of them was stainless Vera Wang Grosgrain. http://www1.macys.com/search/index.ognc?SearchTarget=*&Keyword=vera wang grosgrain

It has just enough of a detail that is simple, can be modern yet remains classic. And I'm OBSESSED with the salt and pepper shakers since they look like spools of thread. Eee! Have fun registering!

Taking care of good quality silver-plate is no more difficult than stainless steel.

My recommendation for your patterns would be a heavy hotel-quality French "baguette" silverplate. The one I am thinking of is (or was) carried by Dean & Deluca (Soho store).

Here is an idea of what I mean, as well as information on how to care for such silverplate:

http://www.caterinaltd.com/chambly-silverplate-baguette.aspx

I think Nambe has a few patterns that would work well. Check out Glacier or Ridge.

"...Taking care of good quality silver-plate is no more difficult than stainless steel."

I disagree with mschatelaine unless she puts her silver-plate in the dishwasher?

Congrats on your wedding.

We got the Facets (Pattern #: T726) pattern by Towle. It's kind of trianglely, and it looks nice. We picked it out because neither of us could stand (or care about) the registering process, and that's what was in front of us when we decided that, and it was on sale, and we are cheap, so we registered for it. It has held up well for 13 years. As an added bonus, the spoons happen to hold ice cream really well. Which ever way you go, I figured I'd point you in the direction of Replacements http://replacements.com/index.htm, in case you ever need to replace pieces of your china collection.

I put my sterling in the dishwasher. Just remember to separate it from the stainless and use a non-citrus detergent.

For the OP, a rule of thumb is 2-1, that is, two fancy patterns to one plain (or the reverse). This is obviously tricky with your very different dishes, so what does your glassware look like?

We registered for Oneida "Prose". It is a simple pattern that can be both modern and traditional depending on what you put with it. We LOVE ours!

http://thebluepearlgirl.blogspot.com

Macy's has an endless choice.
Something classic with no patterns on it would be my choice.

You rarely use the china so get something that makes you happy to use with your everyday dishes.

I say go with something fairly ornate. It will look good with both sets of china. OTOH, I think too modern or too straight-lined of a pattern wouldn't look right with the Wedgwood.

I suggest Dansk-I had similar problems 15 years ago with an inherited floral set and simple modern everyday china. My pattern isn't available, but the style, quality and weight of my Dansk flatware has made it one of the best and longest lasting of my wedding gifts. Macy's carries several styles-make sure you handle them to see what feels right. I also spied some Jasper Conran, Sasaki and Vera Wang settings that would cross over between china styles.

I just finished registering for my wedding at Macy's also....I picked the Oneida set for 8 that also includes a 5 piece hostess set. There are a lot of different Oneida patterns available, but I really liked "Satin Bristol" the best. Kind of modern and traditional at the same time:
http://www.oneida.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/79C9D417-74FC-41F4-BAB5-8323530678E0/productID/14E952D2-3B95-47EE-B3B4-9CB6FC0804E5/?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=cse&utm_keyword=B296045A&ne_ppc_id=801&ne_key_id=3927190

Silver is no extra work at all, IF you actually use it. We use our sterling silver every day, for every meal. We put it in the dishwasher, and it's fine (that's not true with silver plate, though -- the plate can flake off).

Because our silver is constantly used, it doesn't tarnish.

LBhirise:

If you had bothered to click on the link I provided, you would have seen that the manufacturer of the silverplate I had recommended does state that you can put it in the dishwasher. (this doesn't hold true for all silverplate -- just the heavy French silverplate -- and sterling -- that I recommended).

As Lisa(Montreal) and others have posted, the key is that it be used as a regular set.

The simple classic design and heft of French Baguette silverplate make it an ideal partner for many different china patterns and dishware, particularly those in question here. It has much more impact and sense of solidity than stainless steel.

If you can splurge, Georg Jensen's Copenhagen stainless pattern is modern but classic and goes well with everything. You can even choose mirror or matte finish.

Alas, there is an enormous difference between paying $60/per place setting for stainless and paying $200 for each place setting for silver and silver plated.

A note on cost: silverplate is generally only around double the cost of high quality stainless, whereas sterling is much more (around 7 times?). A great idea for sterling is to find it in tag sales and go with a mis-matched look, much cheaper than new.

(there are always options)