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Tag Archives: wedding favors
Welcome bags for your destination wedding
After they’ve had a long day of traveling to your destination wedding, your guests will deserve some special treats. Wedding welcome bags filled with items to treat, pamper and inform your gests will help them feel included in your celebration and set the tone for the weekend!
Get creative with your choice of welcome bag. Use canvas totes in colors that match your destination wedding theme, or choose bags made in the area in which your wedding will be held. You could even choose handcrafted baskets if that’s your destination wedding locale’s specialty.
If personalized wedding welcome bags are your style, check out the styles I offer! The colors are fresh, the designs are sweet and your guests are sure to love using them long after your destination wedding is over.
My Rustic Love Personalized Tote Bag is great for destination weddings in the woods or rustic weddings anywhere.
My Pastel Chevron Personalized Tote Bag is colorful and stylish to match any destination wedding theme.
My Tandem Bicycle Personalized Tote Bag will match your adventurous spirits perfectly!
Stop back tomorrow for fun ideas about what to put IN those destination wedding welcome bags.
Enjoy treating your guests!
Posted in Unique Wedding Ideas
Tagged destination wedding, tote bags, wedding favors
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More creative ideas for embellishing party favor boxes!
I’m back with more embellished favor box ideas – this time for party favors! I set members of my team to work on my colorful lidded favor boxes and craft items from Michaels Stores to create favors for birthday parties, holiday parties and special events. Take a look at their great ideas!
(Top row, left to right)
• White shimmer favor boxes look sweet with polka dot ribbon and a tag announcing “It’s a Girl” for baby shower favors.
• Add velvety fall leaves to mocha favor boxes to accent your Thanksgiving dinner or fall party.
(Middle row, left to right)
• Use glue dots and glitter on navy favor boxes to create dice party favors for your next game night.
• Mix and match the lids and bottoms of favor boxes in your team’s colors, fill with sports-theme candies and add a pennant tag at the top for favors at the next game.
(Bottom row, left to right)
• Tie sheer, patterned ribbon into an extravagant bow around each colorful favor box – perfect for a birthday party favor!
• Silver shimmer favor boxes accented with glittering ribbon and puffs of feathers on the top make elegant holiday party favors.
Now – think about the color scheme and theme of YOUR party, stop at your local Michaels Store for accents and start embellishing those party favors!
Enjoy the inspiration!
Get creative with embellished wedding favor boxes!
Want your wedding favors to stand out? Show your unique style? Hint at your personalities?
Then be sure to add your personal touches inside and out! My staff and I got creative with my colorful lidded favor boxes and accents from Michaels Stores. Just look at the fun wedding favor ideas we came up with!
(Top row, left to right)
• Black favor boxes with sparkling filigree scrapbooking elements and sheer ribbon look elegant
• Add a peacock feather and satin ribbon to a teal favor box for a touch of the exotic
• Create a jewel-tone look with beaded embellishments on a grass green favor box
(Middle row, left to right)
• Velvet flowers look sweet on a silver shimmer favor box
• Wrap traditional pink Jordan almonds in netting, tie with ribbon, add faux wedding rings and tuck them inside fuchsia favor boxes
• Place tiny cupcakes inside red favor boxes and tie with baker’s twine for a homemade look
(Bottom row, left to right)
• Golf enthusiasts will love golf ball chocolates on a nest of faux grass and accented with a matching golf tee and a clever “FORE-ever” tag. Use a bright orange favor box for style
• Brighten up place settings with yellow favor boxes, pink flower accents and matching candies in a colorful liner
• Choose two favor box colors to mix and match, like our royal blue favor boxes and mocha favor boxes, and accent with rustic hearts that coordinate
Get creative with your wedding theme, colors and style – and create the perfect embellished wedding favor boxes!
(Want ribbon that coordinates perfectly with our favor box colors? See my entire ribbon selection here!)
Enjoy the inspiration!
Posted in DIY Wedding, Wedding Favors
Tagged DIY favors, favor boxes, wedding favors
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Fun May Day basket ideas from Jean M!
Happy May Day! Spring is finally here, and what better way to celebrate it AND brighten someone’s day than with a fun May basket surprise?
The custom of secretly leaving a small basket filled with sweets and flowers on a friend’s doorstep goes back centuries. Today, I’m giving you creative ideas for sharing springtime fun with a May basket!
Find some sturdy, colorful paper and roll it into cones. Gather springtime blossoms together and insert them into water tubes to keep them fresh. Place the flowers in the basket, add a custom tag, make a ribbon handle and start delivering your baskets!
Use rustic, galvanized cones or small metal baskets for holding fresh flowers for unique, rustic May Day baskets your friends will always remember.
Have a springtime wedding? Give May Day basket favors! Add a fresh flower or two in a water tube or find fun tissue, vintage silk or handmade flowers made from the pages of an old book or sheet music. Tuck in some sweet treats like chocolates and candy sticks, add a thank you message and hang the baskets from the back of each chair for guests to enjoy.
Enjoy the May Day fun!
Make a Donation In Lieu of a Wedding Favor
Are you stumped when it comes to wedding favors for your reception? Do you want to give something more meaningful or long-lasting as a favor? Consider giving a donation to your favorite charity by using the money that you would have spent on favors. Whether you decide to give to a special cause or specific group, it will be a win-win for everyone!
It’s up to you if you tell guests that you’re making the donation. Many couples like to take the opportunity to share this information, especially if the cause is important to them. Not all your guests may support your decision, but remember – it’s your day and your decision.
A simple way to communicate your generosity is to simply place a card at each place setting or one large card at each table to let your guests know that the contribution has been made in lieu of a favor. Another possible spot to place your message would be the back of the menu card.
If the donation is made for a special reason, go ahead and say that the contribution has been made “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone special. That makes the donation more meaningful and personal. However, there is no need to state the amount of the contribution.
Make your all-important wedding day something great to remember with a rewarding, thoughtful charitable donation.
Enjoy your special day and being able to give back!
3 DIY Wedding Favors
Are you looking to cut wedding costs without cutting corners? Try making your own wedding favors! Not only will you be saving money, but you’ll also be creating a personalized touch that shows your guests just how thankful you are that they could share in the joy of your big day.
Not sure where to start? We’ve made it easy with these three adorable, yet easy-to-make, DIY favors!
1. S’mores in a Jar
These delicious favors will make a great late-night snack for your wedding guests! Just try not to eat too many as you’re making them!
Materials: Golden Grahams cereal, miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips, brown sugar, quart-size Mason jars, ribbon to match your color scheme
Instructions: Fill up your Mason jar a third of the way with Golden Grahams cereal, another third of the way with miniature marshmallows, then top it off with chocolate chips. (A third of the jar is equal to 1½ cups.) Add ½ cup of brown sugar to the very top. Once you’ve layered all ingredients in the Mason jar, attach an instruction label that reads:
“Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare a 9” square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Pour contents of the jar along with ½ cup melted butter into the prepared baking dish and press firmly. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Cut into bars.”
Close the jar and tie a nice big bow around it using the ribbon. Your guests will definitely be wanting s’more of these s’mores!
2. Miniature Succulent Favors
Eco-friendly and easy to make, these miniature succulent favors can double as place cards saving you time AND money (love that)!
Materials: miniature succulents, potting soil, small Mason jars, ribbon, place cards
Instructions: Place a miniature succulent into a Mason jar and add potting soil until the jar is full. Thread ribbon through a place card (punch a hole in each top corner of the card) and tie it around the jar. Now you’ve got yourself some fabulous green wedding favors and reception décor!
3. “The Perfect Blend” Coffee Bags
Are you a total java addict? Then you’re going to absolutely love these coffee bean favor bags (which, by the way, are super cheap)!
Materials: mini burlap bags (You can make your own with this free pattern), coffee (try a wholesale store like Costco), free printable labels, double-sided tape
Instructions: Place coffee beans in a burlap bag until full. Draw the burlap bag closed and wrap your label (try printing on caramel cardstock for a nice look) around the bag and secure with the double-sided tape. Your guests will definitely appreciate this adorable and practical favor!
So do yourself a favor with these creative DIY ideas!
Posted in DIY Wedding, Wedding Favors
Tagged diy wedding favors, DIY wedding ideas, wedding favors
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What You REALLY Need to Know Before You Buy Your Wedding Favors Part 2
Yesterday we discussed several tips for finding a wedding favor that will be a favorite of your guests. Here’s a few more thoughts to consider before you make this all-important purchase.
DON’T…forget out-of-town travelers. Not everything is TSA-friendly, so try to ensure your favors meet FAA security regulations (no pocket knives or liquids over 3 ounces please!). If they don’t pass the test, offer to ship them at your own expense so your guests can enjoy them once the return home. (After all, it’s a small price to pay considering someone spent a considerable amount of money just to see you walk down the aisle!)
DO…make it a point to have someone put your favors out right after you cut the cake. If your wedding is in the evening, assume that older guests and those with small children will be leaving early to make their bedtimes or avoid heavy traffic.
DON’T…place food into containers without a liner. Edible favors require clean (and possibly grease-absorbing) packaging to keep that pretty container or package you’ve chosen looking good. If you choose an edible treat, be sure to line your favor bag or box with parchment or wax paper.
DO…try before you buy. Purchase a few samples to see how they hold up if shipped from your vendor. Sample any candies or cakes to be sure they taste as good as they look. Colors look different in person versus a computer screen; samples will show their true colors once you see them in-person. And, if your chosen favor has printing on it, be sure to proof a sample prior to printing. You want to be sure your names and wedding date are correct. Some vendors offer free samples, so it’s worth asking to see if they will comp you on a couple of items.
Keep these tips in mind as you explore all your wedding favor options and measure them against your budget AND your own personal bridal inspirations. Not only will your guests be smiling, but you’ll be happy too!
What You REALLY Need to Know Before You Buy Your Wedding Favors Part 1
Yes it’s your day in every way – but taking the extra steps to ensure your guests leave your wedding with a smile will be totally worth it.
Your wedding is an expression of you and your groom. From the colors to the theme, it’s all about showing the world why you rock as a couple…or is it? Sure, you want every aspect to feel cohesive, but when it comes to wedding favors it should be all about your guests and less about what YOU like.
Not sure how to separate the two? Here’s a “keepin’ it real” primer to get you off on the right track:
DON’T…overthink it. Even if you’re having a Zen-inspired wedding, that doesn’t mean tea should be your first choice (unless of course all your guests drink it). Go with something simple or straightforward like cupcakes, a cool bottle opener, or even a chic candle that clearly shows you understand that one size does NOT fit all when it comes to guests likes or dislikes.
DO…stay within budget. Over and over again, we hear from brides about favors being left behind, lost or straight up trashed by the time the reception is over. If you want to gift everyone, that’s great — just set your MAX budget at $10-$15 per person and don’t waiver from that figure.
DON’T…assume everyone wants something with your name or photo plastered all over it. Monogram stickers, ribbon, favor bags, and the like are all fine or good, but leave it at that. A favor should be able to stand on its own and be used daily or for special occasions. You wouldn’t put your face on a birthday or anniversary present you bought for someone else, so why should this gift be any different?
DO…take into consideration any small children who may be attending. If you’re going the mature route (like a mini bottle of wine or liquor-infused dessert) consider having special bags made for your little guests so they feel included in the festivities.
Stop back tomorrow for the rest of our wedding favor tips that will keep your guests smiling!
Until then,
Double-Duty Favors: Reception Décor and More! Part II
Here are more fun ideas for creating double-duty favors for your wedding reception:
Cool Postcards
Having a destination wedding? Why not jump on Ebay or Esty and scoop up a bunch of vintage travel postcards? Frame the postcards in inexpensive wooden frames to decorate your tables. Give the framed postcards to guests at the end of the wedding as favors.
Candy Tabletops
Here’s a new take on the candy buffet: create one on each reception table for decorative impact and to make it easy for guests to help themselves to the sweets! Gather a variety of vases and containers and fill them with candies (try a different color scheme on each table for a unique look) and create centerpieces out of them for each table. Use a metallic scooper as the base for your table number and finish off your look with favor boxes for guests to fill and take home.
Dessert as Decoration
Serving beautiful cupcakes or other gourmet desserts at your wedding dinner? Put them on display at each table! Find tiered serving dishes and arrange your dessert treats creatively on them, along with personalized favor boxes for taking dessert home if guests would like to enjoy some after the wedding.
Want more ideas? Check out yesterday’s post!
Enjoy the favor fun
Double-Duty Favors: Reception Décor and More! Part I
Your budget is tight, your vision is big, but making your wedding truly one-of-a-kind is starting to feel overwhelming. Rather than overspending on BOTH wedding favors and decorations, here are some ideas on how you can combine the two and still have an amazing event everyone will be talking about.
Cookie Trees
Edible favors can make a reception space pop if displayed correctly. Cut out sugar cookies in shapes that match your wedding theme (snowflakes, flowers, your monogram initials, etc.) and include a hole at the top before baking. Then decorate with glittery sugar, metallic beads or colored sprinkles to match your wedding colors. Attach a ribbon to each cookie and hang from a branch you’ve anchored in a decorative pot on each table. A cookie wonderland!
Potted Perennials
Can’t afford to go overboard on flowers? Go to your local nursery and pick up several sheets of your favorite perennials and potting soil. Pot the plants in tiny terra cotta pots and wrap each one with ribbon or twine. Include a personalized note with each plant (we think something like “Love is in bloom” stamped out in vintage block lettering is cute). Group the plants in the center of your tables and encourage guests to take a plant when they leave.
Framed Place Cards
Create fun and unique place cards and favors in one by adding cards printed with guests’ names to inexpensive frames. Encourage guests to take the frames home. Then when you send your wedding thank you notes, include a small photo of the two of you for including in the frame.
Come back tomorrow for even more great ideas on double-duty favors!
Enjoy the creative and affordable ideas!