Start your marriage on the right track with gifts from Mikasa By jo-ann lamon reccoppa Correspondent FARRAH MAFFAI Visit the Mikasa Outlet at Jackson Outlet Village for fine china, crystal, glassware and flatware. They also have a wide assortment of gift items such as vases and picture frames. Brides-to-be are particular about china, crystal, glassware and flatware. They dream of stunning place settings to showcase their cooking skills, and sparkling crystal accents to give their home the look of prosperity and permanence. The Mikasa Outlet at Jackson Outlet Village, Route 537, Jackson, has exquisite dinnerware and gift items that every bride will cherish for years to come. Dinnerware ranges from graceful styles such as formal English, Italian, and French Countryside, to the fun and informal lines such as Vitamin C, Lemon, Orange and Kiwi Zest patterns so appealing to young couples. Stainless steel flatware comes in many styles and patterns, from ultra-modern to perfect matches for the formal china. As an outlet store, the savings on these desired items are substantial. The wide selection might surprise shoppers. Traditional glass and stemware, always a popular gift choice for the bride-to-be, is giving up ground to the more modern square glassware that appeals to newlyweds. Vases, candlesticks, silverware, and crystal serving pieces are most welcome bridal shower gifts, as are etched glass and colorful glass serving plates. "Colored glass has become extremely popular, particularly for younger people who like the traditional look of crystal, with the added pizzazz of dynamic color," says Ethel Armitage, manager of Mikasa at Jackson Outlet Village. Noted for crystal and glassware, Mikasa has collections to start the happy couple off right with the perfect glass for every beverage, including fluted, snifters, wine, martini, cordial, and all-purpose beverage goblets in splendid colors to match any place setting. Brides who would rather not leave receiving their dream gifts to chance will be grateful for Mikasa's Gift Registry and Wish List Service. A bride can visit any Mikasa store location, make her perfect gift selections, and let the staff create a registry. Those who wish to purchase a gift for the bride can either come into the store, or can conveniently shop at home online at www.mikasa.com and select one of the requested items. The registry is also convenient for anniversaries, graduations, or any other special event where the perfect gift will be much appreciated. Every couple wants to give the wedding guests a special keepsake to commemorate the memorable day. Mikasa has a vast assortment of extraordinary wedding favors at reasonable prices. Votives, vases, candy dishes, bottle stoppers, potpourri baskets, and picture frames start as low as $1.99 per favor, and there is a bulk discount on orders of more than 100 - a cost budget-minded wedding planners can live with. The Mikasa Outlet store is also the place to find commemorative gifts for communions, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, confirmations, and milestone anniversaries. In addition, the friendly, knowledgeable staff can assist you in finding replacements for missing, open-stock Mikasa pieces, as well as updating place settings with the look of modern pieces such as square brunch plates - in the same elegant styles and patterns to match your dinnerware. The Mikasa store at Jackson Outlet Village is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.