Do Good While Getting Married

Planning a wedding can feel like a charmed time in your life. While you are in the midst of all that bridal bliss, why not find a way to share your good fortune with others? From charitable donations to environmental good deeds to helping animals, there are numerous ways to do good while getting married. Take a look at these suggestions to get ideas that you can use to “pay it forward” as part of your own wedding.

Start with supporting local vendors in your community whenever possible. Get your bridesmaid gifts from the local boutique which handcrafts jewelry right in their back room. Hire an artist to handmake letterpress wedding invitations for you. Order a wonderful blackberry jam from someone at your local farmer’s market. When you do good in this way, it is a win-win situation for your wedding and your community.

Charitable donations are becoming increasingly popular for wedding gifts and favors. Perhaps you already have a house full of stuff; why not request that in lieu of gifts a donation be made in your name at your favorite charity? These gifts can also come from the bride and groom. In lieu of traditional favors, make a donation to a charity. Put out an elegant card at each place setting informing guests that a donation has been made in their name. Just be sure to select a charity which is going to be acceptable to everyone (animals are good, political causes are not).

After the wedding, there will be even more opportunities to do good works. You can donate your wedding gown to Making Memories, a foundation which raises funds for victims of breast cancer. Make arrangements to have surplus food donated to a food shelter at the end of the reception. You can even have your wedding centerpieces delivered to a nursing home to brighten the day of the residents. With so many easy and meaningful ways to make your wedding a time to share your good fortune, it will be simple to find a couple of things that you can do to pay it forward.

Quirky Wedding Ideas

Every wedding shares many elements in common, but that is no reason that you have to do them in the expected way. Most brides will give their attendants bridesmaid jewelry, but instead of giving each girl an identical set, why not have custom bridesmaid jewelry made with unique variations for each attendant? What a simple way to show each of your bridesmaids that you see her as an individual, not just as part of a matched set.

Your wedding favors are a great place to try something a little different. No matter how traditional the wedding, it is always okay to go out on a limb with the favors. At one wedding I attended in a mountain resort, the newlyweds gave pens from the resort as their favor; not just any pens, but the retro kind filled with liquid and a moving scene. To dress them up, they handmade special clear triangular tubes which fit the gifts to a “t”. It made a nice presentation for favors which were inexpensive, but also fun, unique, and enjoyed by all the guests.

Centerpieces are one of the main forms of decorations for most wedding receptions. Flowers are always gorgeous, of course, but blossoms in a vase do not always look so original. Think of new ways to display your flowers, like putting them under a sheet of Plexiglass on the table or inside clear boxes. Or skip the flowers altogether and design centerpieces around something that is near to your heart. Book lovers can stack up piles of their favorite classic stories (pick up vintage hardcover versions in second hand shops) and top with a ribbon or a few loose cut flowers. Or maybe you are headed to Paris for your honeymoon. Attractive Eiffel Tower replicas would look marvelous as centerpieces. Almost anything goes, as long as it looks stylish or beautiful.

Allow your mind to wander and your creative juices to flow, and before you know it, you will have planned a wedding which is quirky, fun, and entirely you.

Cute and Affordable Wedding Favors

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.

Great Wedding Favor Ideas

Most wedding favors will fall into a few basic categories. There are theme favors, keepsakes, home décor, and of course edible or culinary favors. Of all these categories, the edible favors are far and away the most popular, both to give and usually to receive. The trick is to find that one favor that will in some way tie in with the rest of your wedding and will feel like a personal thank you to your guests.  When choosing your favors, always keep in mind that following trends is not nearly as important as following your heart. These are some ideas for great wedding favors that your guests are sure to love.

Boxed candies have always been a traditional wedding favor. Even when they are not particularly original, it is a treat that guests are happy to receive. However, you can make your candy gifts more special by personalizing them in some way. For instance, if you are being married at the beach, fresh salt water taffy is nice. Vermont couples could give maple candies, or if you were a Mississippi bride, custom chocolates in the shape of magnolia flowers would be lovely. Anytime you can impart a local flavor to your wedding, it is going to be special.

Keepsakes are another way to go for your wedding thank you gifts. These can range tremendously, and will often tie in with the theme, location, or season of the wedding. If you have artistic talent, you can even consider making these types of favors yourself. At Christmas wedding, beautiful silver plated ornaments would be wonderful. A bride from the Southwest might think about choosing handcrafted Native American ceramic ornaments for her guests.

Décor items are another favor idea. Candles are always a good possibility because they can suit so many different wedding styles. If your wedding is very elegant, with lots of sparkling crystal details and jewelry, cut crystal votive holders would be an appropriate accent. Or let’s say that your style is more relaxed, and you are wearing a casual bridal gown with handcrafted wedding jewelry; a unique handmade bark candle holder would be a fun favor idea. Theme favors are also popular, and they can come from across any of the other categories.  It is fine to have some sort of personalization on your favors, but be sure that the wedding date or your names is not so prominent that it distracts from the beauty of the gift.

Ideas for Displaying Wedding Favors

The wedding favors you give your guests will make a lasting impression. Make sure it is a great impression by offering thoughtful thank you gifts which are beautifully displayed. These are some great ideas for displaying wedding favors.

Many wedding favors come in small boxes, especially candy. Think about how the gifts can be displayed in a way that ties in with the rest of your wedding. For instance, if you are having an Asian inspired wedding, wrap the boxes in exquisite pieces of patterned origami paper or delicate handmade rice paper. Tie a thin silk cord in a rich red or gold around each box (these are the lucky Chinese wedding colors). To make a real visual impact, stack the beautifully wrapped favor boxes in a pyramid on a specially designated table. Add to the theme by decorating the table with lucky bamboo in pots.

Beach theme weddings are a special category. A destination or beach wedding is so much fun that you will want to enhance the theme whenever you can. For the wedding favors, think about choosing something like a votive candle in a frosted glass holder accented with a silver starfish charm. To display the gifts, create a low wooden tray, fill it with sand or unique smooth sea glass, and nestle the votives inside in neat rows.

Candy bars are one of the most popular wedding favor ideas these days. Think about how you want to arrange the candy for the most attractive display table. For an elegant wedding, use tall clear glass apothecary style footed vases with lids. Take a silver link tag and print the name of each candy on it, then hang it around the neck of the vase. If you were having more of a casual backyard wedding with a simple handmade wedding dress and informal jewelry, opt for a more down to earth style of candy bar. How about tiny galvanized tin pails painted with a gingham check? You can fill the candy bar with your favorite childhood candies or make it extra stylish by choosing only candies in your wedding colors. Of course your guests will need a way to take home all of their sweet treats, so provide them with something like clear Chinese take out containers or clear glassine bags. Put out a stack of customized stickers with your wedding monogram to seal the bags or boxes once they have been filled with loot!

Favorite Fall Wedding Favors

Autumn is a great time of year, and there are all sorts of things that evoke the spirit of the season. When you are selecting your wedding favors, it is nice to seek out those with an autumnal flair. They will make an especially nice token for your guests to take home from your wedding.

When it comes to wedding favors, what guests particularly enjoy are edible treats. There are all sorts of tasty fall treats that you can offer. Pick one that fits the general style of your wedding as well as the time of year. For instance, if you are having a fairly casual wedding, with the bride in a simple dress and silver handmade wedding jewelry, you can go with a fun and casual fall favorite, like a big, beautiful candy apple or a caramel dipped apple. Your guests will adore the sticky, nostalgic take-away.

Personalized wedding favors are always pleasing. For an autumn wedding, one unique idea would be to present each guest with a small bottle of a fruit wine, such as one made from Northern Spy apples. You can have custom labels printed for the bottles with your names, wedding dates, and a brief message to your guests. To make the gift even more special, tie a decorative wine stopper to the neck of each bottle.

Of course, one of the most distinctive things about fall is the characteristic autumn leaves. A simple but charming fall wedding favor would be a pair of leaf shaped cookie cutters tied together with a piece of plaid ribbon or raffia placed at each guest’s seat. Use the copper cookie cutters, which are much prettier than the plastic or tin ones. Attach a small tag to each set of cookie cutters with a thank you message on the front, and your favorite cookie recipe on the reverse. This is a favor that can be assembled inexpensively, but it is something that your guests will actually find useful and enjoyable.

These are just a few of the top ideas for fall wedding favors. Feel free to design your own special favors that explore the scents, flavors, or colors of the season. Your guests will be sure to enjoy your carefully selected favors.

Beachy Wedding Favors

Beach weddings are as fun and lighthearted as summer itself. When you are choosing favors for your beach wedding, be sure that they capture that sunny spirit. These are some great ideas for beachy wedding favors.

Edible favors are always a hit at a wedding. There are a couple of great options for tasty favors with a seaside theme. Cookies can be made in the shape of sailboats and fish and presented in a glassine bag. To take it up a notch, put the bag of cookies in a mini canvas tote with a nautical motif like an anchor or a beach umbrella. If you grew up on the East Coast, then you probably know that one of summer’s sweetest treats is fresh saltwater taffy. This is the perfect sort of nostalgic thing that guests love to receive as favors.

It is always fantastic to combine your escort or place cards with your favors. After all, who doesn’t love to kill two birds with one stone? One beachy wedding favor that is sure to wow your guests is a small brass compass with their name inscribed on it. It has the perfect nautical feel and it also makes a really cool and unusual keepsake from your wedding.

Candles are popular favors, and there are some great ways to make your candles tie in with a beach theme. Specialty stores have beautiful little seashells with candles in them, which is a very elegant beachy favor. Crafty brides can also make their own beach theme candle favors. Small tin pails can be filled with candle wax and a wick to make an easy gift. Use a piece of raffia to tie a starfish to the handle of the pail. Another idea is to make your candles in medium sized clear glass containers and embed shells in the wax along the outside.

The right wedding favors will make the perfect send off for your guests. They are a great way to thank your guests for coming as well as to give them a parting gift that they can enjoy. When you are having a beach wedding, your favors can be just as much fun as the wedding itself, so have a good time selecting your personal favorites.

Yes, You Can Make Your Wedding Favors!

Even brides who are not normally that crafty like the idea of making something for their wedding. If you are not normally that artistic, you might find the idea of handcrafting something for your wedding to be a bit intimidating, but don’t worry. The one thing that almost every bride can make is her wedding favors.

So what can the average bride make? There are many fun ideas and even if you have no experience in crafting, there are tons of great books and classes available to guide you through the process. The best ones have very detailed step by step instructions, so with the right materials, you can be confident that your project will turn out looking great.

Food is one of the most popular wedding favors, and there are many things that a bride (or groom, for that matter!) could make for favors. Everyone loves chocolate, so why not try your hand at creating delicious chocolate truffles? If they are large enough, just two truffles in a special little box will make a great favor. If making your own candy seems a bit daunting, there are other things that you can try. Anyone could make hand-dipped chocolate strawberries or dried apricots. They are a sweet treat that your guest will love to receive, and you will save a fortune by dipping the fruit into the chocolate yourself.

One of the best ideas for wedding favors is candles, and they are much easier to make than you might think. There are candlemaking kits available that have the wax and wicks, and then all you need to do is choose a color and scent. The fun part about making candles is picking interesting vessels for them. If you are having a garden wedding, then pour the wax into tiny little clay flowerpots. Tie a grosgrain ribbon on the outside and glue on a tiny silk flower, and you will have beautiful favors in an instant. For a beach wedding, make your candles in seashells or even coconut halves lined with a fireproof lining. The possibilities are endless.

Of course making all of your favors can be a time consuming endeavor, so it is a good idea to enlist help. Your bridesmaids are usually a good place to turn. Arrange for an afternoon where they all come over, and set up a favor making assembly line to get the job done in no time. Just be sure to make it a fun time for your helpers – play some fun music, put out some great snacks, and take the crew out for cocktails afterwards. And don’t forget to give special bridesmaid gifts to your friends to thank them for all of their help with the wedding. If you want, you could even present the bridesmaid gifts at the end of the favor making party.

Creating your own wedding favors is a fun way to put your personal stamp on your wedding. It also allows you to have favors that tie in with your theme. Best of all, your wedding favors will be one of a kind, because they were handcrafted by you!

Presentation of Your Wedding Favors

Certainly the presentation of the favors will depend on what type of gift you are giving. In general, you will want the favors to tie in with your wedding theme and style. The two things to consider are the packaging and how the favors will be displayed or presented.

It always looks great to have things personalized at your wedding. If you will be giving a favor that comes in a box, such as chocolates, there are several ways to put your distinctive mark on the package. One is to order little boxes that are embossed or stamped with the names of the newlyweds and the wedding date.

Stickers are another way to personalize your favor boxes, and they will be slightly less expensive than custom boxes. It is possible to order very elegant stickers with your names and date to put on the favor boxes. A clear sticker would be great on a colored box, or choose a silver or gold sticker for classic elegance. The great thing about stickers is that they can be used on all different sorts of packaging.

It is amazing how much you can say with a piece of ribbon! For instance, if you are having a formal evening wedding with everyone dressed to the nines in satin and elaborate wedding jewelry, you will want to choose an equally formal ribbon, such as satin or velvet (in the winter only). A bride having a casual seaside wedding will select a ribbon to match, such as a breezy organza. If you really want to go all out, order custom ribbon with your wedding date printed on it.

You should also give some thought to the best way to display the favors. Small items like boxes of candy or silver frames are usually put out at each place setting. Sometimes, however, there is not room on the table for the favors. In that case, you will need to find a place for a table to display the favors. It is a good idea to place it near the exit so that the guests will remember to pick up their gift on the way out the door.