Cute and Affordable Wedding Favors

March 24th, 2010

The wedding favors are a nice way to thank your guests for attending your wedding. Yet they need not be extravagant to be enjoyed, especially when you consider how many of the favors you will need to buy for your entire guest list. These are some great ideas for cute and affordable wedding favors.

Some of the best wedding favors are those which tie in with some other aspect of your plans. Let’s say that you like hearts, and are planning to use them for everything from your bridesmaid gifts (heart shaped crystal pendants make beautiful bridesmaid gifts) to your invitation motif. A very cute idea for the favors is a heart shaped cookie cutter on each place setting. It is something which will reinforce your theme, is romantic, and will cost less than $1 per favor. You can even make your favors do double duty by tying a card with each guest’s name on it to the cookie cutter and laying them on the plates at the dinner tables.

Candy is always a popular wedding favor; the trick is to present in a way that feels original. An adorable idea for a spring wedding would be to get tiny “nests” in which to place the candy. They will look very charming, yet are not costly. Their diminutive size also means that it won’t take a lot of Jordan almonds or chocolates to make the nests look nice and full. It sure beats a circle of tulle holding the candy for originality and style.

Some wedding favors look more expensive than they really are. A bride who has creative abilities could purchase a large quantity of plain bud vases or votive holders and paint them herself. A design which ties in with your wedding theme would be lovely, just be sure it is something that would be attractive for everyday use. In other words, a clear vase handpainted with morning glories would be very pretty and thoughtful, but one personalized with your initials and wedding date would not be something your guests would be likely to use in their homes. The possibilities are nearly endless, and remember that great wedding favors do not have to be costly or extravagant to be appreciated by your guests.

Casual Chic Rehearsal Dinners

March 24th, 2010

The rehearsal dinner is a wonderful opportunity for the family of the bride and groom to come together the day before the wedding. A relaxed atmosphere is often best, as it allows everyone a chance to mix and mingle before the big day. Take a look at these great ideas for casual chic rehearsal dinners.

For a spring rehearsal dinner, a really cute decoration would be small white ceramic flower pots with handpainted polka dots in lime, pink, yellow, and lilac. Any combination of the colors would work, or select one favorite to use throughout the room. Fill the diminutive pots with flowering bulbs like mini daffodils or hyacinth. Very sweet, but not too formal, perfect for a casual chic rehearsal dinner.

In the summertime, decoration options abound. For a rehearsal dinner at the beach, why not skip flowers and place hurricane lanterns in piles of sand with a few shells on each table?  Another idea is to place a bunch of freshly snipped flowers in a casual vessel, such as peonies in a pitcher or hydrangeas in a galvanized tin pail. The elegant flowers and the informal vases will help to create the desired atmosphere of relaxed elegance. Serve great food, like a crab or lobster boil on the beach, along with fresh ears of corn. The food is not fancy, but it is festive, which is ideal.

In the autumn, create a casual chic rehearsal dinner with colorful mums in wicker baskets. Hearty comfort foods prepared well will be crowd favorites. Things like homemade mac-n-cheese and apple pie would be big hits for the dinner menu. In the winter months, create a casual chic party with white branches instead of flowers for the table decorations. Hot cocoa with fresh marshmallows would be a terrific after dinner drink to serve.

Finally, always remember that the bride and groom set the tone for the rehearsal dinner. The bride should definitely wear a cute dress, even if the location is very casual. A white knee length sundress with a simple pair of pearl earrings would be lovely for a warm weather party. In the cooler months, if a dress felt like too much, the bride could choose to wear a beautiful cashmere sweater with a pencil skirt and stylish boots, along with her pearl earrings and a few charm bracelets. As for the groom, he can skip the tie if he wants, but it would look nice to wear a jacket for at least the beginning of the party. With the bride and groom looking so stylish, it will surely be a casual chic rehearsal dinner to remember!