The Significance of Wedding Favors, Little Gifts That Say A Lot

The Significance of Wedding Favors: The Little Gifts That Say a Lot!
by: laurawsn10

Wedding favors say that you appreciate that your guests took time away from their busy schedule to be with you on your wedding day. Most brides and grooms provide drinks and food for their guests, but if you want to do something more, consider upping the ante with little gifts that say a lot.

Favors also add to the festivities as part of the decorations. Coordinate your favors with the theme of your wedding and wedding invitations, place cards, program, and menu sheets. One elegant way to do this is to stay with the seasons.

Spring

Nothing says spring like pastel colors, fresh greenery and flowers - lots of flowers. Lay colored table cloths or heavy duty paper table cloths underneath lace cloths. Or buy inexpensive wall paper in floral prints and use that as the table topper with a gathered skirt around the table itself.

Of course you'll have floral center pieces for each table at the reception but don't stop there. Scatter blossom, buds, and petals across the table.

Favors that continue the springtime theme include a Butterfly Wine Stopper for each guest or Miniature Wooden Birdhouses with "Love Nest" inscribed on the front.

Love Blossoms is a card with a modern botanical image featuring two detachable blossoms embedded with real wild flower seeds. Set a rose ball candle in an attractive see through gift box besides each setting. Or a calla lily vase shaped candle.

For do- it-yourselfers, have stickers or cards personalized with your names and wedding date. Attach with a festive ribbon to color coordinated boxes filled pastel mints, potpourri, or a single flower shaped candle.

Summer

Warm breezes, the beach, and bright colors all say summer. Hand Fans in SSA paper provide cooling breezes and will be appreciated by your guests at an outside reception.

Summer wedding receptions can be dramatic or fun. Tropical flowers, such as orchids, proteas, and ginger aren't cheap but they are so unusual you only need one or two in a vase. Fill the vase with lemons, kumquats or limes before inserting the flowers for even more color. Lay a runner of palm branches or banana leaves down the tables to continue the tropical theme.

Favor your guests with Flip-Flop Photo Frames with Flower Accent, the colors are bright greens, pinks, yellows, and blues. Fill a Palm Tree Favor Box with candies. Or set a Marguerita Glass Gel Candle in a Tiki Hut gift box by each place setting. Place "Love-sicle" Popsicle Soaps in children's sand pails for guests, but be careful, the soaps look good enough to eat. SALE
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Evoke the beach even if you're miles away by using vases filled with pale blue water and masses of baby's breath. Spread seashells around the vases and a few starfish. Add Seashell Candles as the favors. Mark each guest's place with a Seaside Sand and Shell place holder which can later be used as a photo frame.

Fall

Crisp days, gold and burgundy chrysanthemums, and falling leaves put anyone in an autumn mood. Instead of flowers, use piles of apples as the centerpiece for the tables surrounded by Apple of My Eye apple shaped candles. Pumpkins, squash, and gourds make a fall floral arrangement when interspersed with yellow and red mums. If you're ambitious hollow out the pumpkins and use them as containers for potted mums.

Mark each guest's place setting with a Turning Leaves Bookmark with Burgundy Silk Tassel or a Leaf Tea Light and Place Card Holder with Autumn-themed Gift Box.

Fill Autumn Elegance Laser-Cut Fall Leaf Favor Boxes with gold, yellow, red, and burgundy jelly beans for guests to take home.

Winter

Winter means snow, icicles and, of course, Christmas. If your wedding has a winter wonderland theme, create a snowscape. Sprinkle white, silver, and iridescent glitter on a white table cloth. Use silver chargers at each place setting. Place a mirror in the center of the table surrounded by artificial snow so the snow covers the edges of the mirror. Hot glue silver and white iridescent snowflakes to the mirror with a dab of hot glue so they stand upright. Place votive candles in glass holders around the snowflakes. When the candles are lit the sparkle begins.

Continue the winter theme with Snowflake Place Card Holders, Snowflake Gel Candles, and Winter Wonderland Glass Coasters. Your guests won't soon forget your wedding. Any extras make wonderful keepsakes for your first holidays together as a married couple.

Fill white Tin Favor Pails with Hershey kisses (which can be ordered with your names). Wrap in a cellophane bag tied at the top with blue personalized ribbons.

Thanking your guests for joining you in your wedding celebration lets them know how special they are. Favors don't have to be expensive as long as they're thoughtful

Choosing A Wedding Venue That Offers An All Inclusive Package

Select A Wedding Venue That Includes Everything, or at least most of what you need.

Many people are convinced that having a backyard wedding, or renting empty hall space is a great money saver.

When all is said and done however, the costs of rentals such as tables, chairs, wedding linens, dinnerware, etc. can really ad up.

The Real Money Savers??

Select a wedding venue that offers a location for both your ceremony, and your reception. Many locations do offer both ceremony locations, and reception locations, but sometimes you may have to ask if they do.

Also, many such venues will include all linens, tables, chairs, and dinnerware in their packaged rental fees.
It's worth asking a few questions, and you may get a much nicer location as a result. Remember if the venue is pretty to start with, you'll also save on decorations as well.

Want More Tips On Saving Money On Your Wedding And Reception - Without Skimping On Quality?

Read More CLICK HERE

Help your flower girl be her best on your big day

Children can add so much to a wedding day - from the ring bearer toddling down the aisle carrying a pillow with precious cargo, to the flower girl who sweetly perfumes your path to the altar by dropping tender petals in her wake. As special as you feel on your wedding day, you'll want even your littlest helpers to share in the feeling and know that you appreciate them.

To ensure that your young attendants are happy campers on the big day, you'll want to help them look their best and make them feel that they have an important role. Here are some helpful hints that you can put in practice, whether the child is your own or the child of a loved one. Follow these tips, and you'll help ensure the youngest members of your wedding party have a positive experience that they - and you - will remember for a lifetime.

Make her feel special

( SEE Flower Girl Accessories ~ Flower Girl Dresses ~ Flower Girl Jewelry )

Chances are you're not the only female in your wedding party who's doing something special, exciting - and intimidating - for the first time. Your flower girl or young bridesmaid is also experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime, princess-like moment, and may feel understandably nervous at the prospect of having all eyes on her as she precedes you down the aisle. Making her feel special, as if she is a little princess, will help boost her self-confidence.
Brides spend lots of time and energy picking out dresses for their flower girls and junior bridesmaids, taking into account not only how the dress will fit in with the look of the wedding, but how it will complement the wearer. Accessories are just as important, and the youngest members of the wedding party should have some small items to highlight their attire, just as every bride should.

Not only will jewelry enhance the look, it will be a keepsake of the day - look for pieces that are high quality (so that they will last a lifetime), but reflective of the wearer's age. Disney Precious Collections offers fine children's jewelry for girls that will be perfect for any wedding. The pieces are understated and elegant, but also feature the youthful spirit of beloved Disney characters - they make ideal flower girl gifts.

Keep her involved

Children love being involved in life's big moments and decisions as much as possible. Keep your flower girl or young bridesmaid part of the decision-making process as much as possible leading up to your wedding day.
In addition to involving them in fun things like wedding showers, putting stamps on invitations and hair and make-up trials, give your young attendants some options that they can choose from. Will she wear her hair up or down? With flowers, ribbons or feathers?

You can also give her options about what kind of flower girl jewelry she might wear. For a special surprise, you could show her examples of earrings, necklaces and bracelets from Disney Precious Collections well ahead of time, and then surprise her on the day of the wedding with the one she liked best. To look through the jewelry options that can become treasured wedding memories for your junior bridesmaids and flower girls, visit preciousjewelrycollections.com.

Make your day child-friendly

Though you'll feel like your wedding day is flying by, it can be a long day for the littlest members of your wedding party. Even the best-mannered kids get tired and out of sorts after hours of activity, so it's good to take that into consideration. You'll be in a whirlwind of excitement, so make sure that you have a trusted attendant who can help accommodate children's needs.

Think about scheduling your photos so that pictures with children will be taken first and quickly. They'll be energetic and happy, and if you can have the photos taken soon after hair and make-up are done, everyone will look picture-perfect.

Plan to have something special for youngsters - both wedding party members and young guests - at the reception. Consider offering kid-friendly menu items, or have separate entertainment like balloon animals, a toy box or a coloring station with crayons and a paper easel to keep kids happy and occupied while adults enjoy the grown-up activities at the reception.
Keeping the youngest members of your wedding party happy on your wedding day will help ensure the day is special, memorable and enjoyable for everyone. (courtesy of ARA)

(SEE Flower Girl Accessories ~ Flower Girl Dresses) Wedding Store Online

Choosing your Beach Style Wedding Dress

Not every bride wants the same type of wedding dresses, of course, because every bride is different. Some brides want designer and couture wedding dresses for their weddings. And, unfortunately, not every bride can afford a designer wedding dress. Fortunately, there are ways to get your dream couture wedding dress for less than retail.

Instructions as follow:
Step 1 First, don’t fear simple couture wedding dresses. A plain designer wedding dress will most likely be more affordable than an ornate couture wedding dress. So, choose a plain designer wedding dress that fits you well, then dress it up in your own personal style. Add jewelry, beading or gemstones to make the dress your own. You’ll have your designer dress, and you’ll have it with your own personal style.

Step 2 Call upscale consignment stores in your area and ask if they have a bridal section. People may be eager to get their expensive and modest wedding dresses out of their homes. You could get an amazing deal to begin with, but if the deal isn’t good enough, you have the ability to bargain at a consignment store for a better price.

Step 3 Shop the sale racks at local bridal boutiques. Just because a wedding dress is on sale does not mean that it can not be your couture dream dress. Wedding dress sales are great - comb through the racks until you find your perfect wedding dress.

Step 4 Rent a wedding dress from a bridal salon. You’ll only have your dream designer wedding dress for one day, but that’s all you need it for, after all. Buying a designer dress can cost thousands of dollars, whereas renting it can cost a few hundred. Just be aware that you may not be able to make alterations on a rented dress, so you’ll need to find a dress that fits you just right.

Step 5 Visit websites which offer used and sample discount wedding dresses, cheap wedding dresses, casual wedding dresses, elegant wedding dresses . helenebridal.com is a great website for these. However, when you buy a dress online, be sure that you love it, and it will be able to be altered.

Step 6 Buy designer dresses - but not wedding dresses. A white designer gown can cost you less than a designer wedding gown. Find the perfect white evening gown, and dress it up with wedding jewelry, a tiara or a wedding veil.

Catering Your Own Wedding?

Catering Your Own Wedding?
by: Charish Hoover - California Weddings

(recommended only for smaller events)

I know what it's like to want the perfect wedding, but feel it's financially out of reach. I'll also be the first to strongly encourage all brides to NEVER skimp on quality just because of price.

An event such as a wedding comes only once in most people's lives, therefore, I think we can all agree splurging a bit is not only acceptable, , , , but called for if it means having no regrets when you look back.

With that said, , , There's always something that can be sacrificed for the more important things regarding your wedding. I'll leave that up to you.

When it comes to catering, and hiring a caterer, you truly do

want to choose the most experienced, tried, and tested professional.

Price does matter:

You may find a caterer who charges only $5.00 per person, as apposed to a caterer who charges $40.00 per person. That's ok, but I'll never forget what one Fresno caterering service owner said to me. Those words were, "$5.00 per plate may sound great, but that price is pretty expensive when the food tastes like #%@*" Ehem! nuff said. OK, back to my point. This may or may not be true in every case. I suggest that if you're interested in any of the many great California caterers, ask for a sample tasting of the food items that interest you prior to hiring them. Then, you will better know whether or not the food is worth the price, whether it's $5.00, or more.

Another bit of advice is this. If you're on a tight budget, but still want a fairy tale wedding, , , , DON'T invite the world to your wedding! Try to keep your guest count below 100 people (60 is a good number). One of the biggest expenses for a wedding usually turns out to be feeding your guests. Pick a number and stick to it. When it comes to your wedding invitations, remember that it is ok to mention on the invite that seating is limited to names listed on the invitation. This will hopefully deter your guests from extending their invitation to their own guest(s).

If you are planning to hold your wedding reception at a home, or memorial building, public hall, etc., catering your own wedding will be much easier. If however you want to have your reception at one of the more popular banquet halls or facilities, you may very well be told "No" when it comes to bringing in your own food. This may happen because banquet halls often offer their own catering and that service is usually part of a package deal. When your date is a prime, popular date, a caterer and hall simply would not prefer to have you booked for that day as apposed to a bride who wants to hire the facility for all of its services. There's nothing wrong with this, it's simply business. Any business will look out for it's best interest. After all, they have expenses and employees, and it simply would not be worth it to them to turn away more money. This does not mean however that you should not discuss the possibility of bringing in your own food at their banquet facility. The worst thing they can say is no. This does not make them a bad business, they're simply sticking to what works best for them.

Suggestions for pleasing your guests' appetites:

Remember that you and your new spouse may have some picture taking to do after your ceremony: Try to provide some great, yet inexpensive appetizers for your guests while they await for your arrival to the reception area.

* Veggie platters with various dips.

* Chips with salsa and/or other dips. Crackers Are also a good addition.

* Sliced fruits such as cantelope, grapes, water melon, with cream cheese/yogurt dip.

* Various sliced Deli meats with rye bread, and or crackers for mini sandwich creations.

Create a buffet of choices for your guests:

By the time you arrive at the reception, your guests should already have their hunger under control as a result of the delicious appetizers you've provided for them. The only thing left now is to provide them with a more hearty menu. Go buffet style, and your guests will enjoy the various choices offered to their tastebuds. They can also decide how much or little they wish to eat.

Buffet ideas that family & friends can help you with:

* BBQ'd beef - have a large crockpot of this tasty meat choice cooked up and ready for self serve. Be sure to have buns or tortillas available (enough per for at least 2 per guest)

Other inexpensive meat ideas:

Baked and sliced ham, boneless turkey sliced and ready for self serve.

Quick, Easy, & Inexpensive Side Dish Ideas:

Potato salad ~ Green Salad ~ Rice Pilaf ~ Green beans w/bacon ~ Dinner Rolls

About The Author:
Charish has worked in the wedding industry since 1991, and owns and operates many online wedding planning guides to help brides and grooms, , such as for: California Weddings, Wedding Locations, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Ideas, and much more.

What color bridesmaid gown?

What color bridesmaid gown is most appropriate for your wedding? Here are some thoughts and tips to help you decide.

One of the biggest questions to ask when choosing a bridesmaid dress is about color. Aside from choosing a shade you like, you’ll want to pick one that fits the tone of the ceremony: elegant, refined, causal, religious, etc. You’ll also want to choose a color that flatters the bridesmaids.
Here are some thoughts on choosing a color for your bridesmaid dresses.

Yellow. Yellow Bridesmaid Dresses are most appropriate for an elegant evening ceremony. However, Yellow can be made a bit more casual if you go with a shorter dress or by combining it with white or another light color. This color looks good on most women and is slimming, and Yellow bridesmaid gowns usually are easy to recycle for a later formal occasion. In some people’s minds, though, black just isn’t “wedding” enough because it is associated with mourning and sexuality.

Red. Red is a bold color choice. Like black, it tends to work best for the elegant evening wedding, but can be toned down if the dress is shorter or contains other colors. To avoid the ‘fire engine” effect, choose a shade that’s a little muted, and to tone down the sexual connotations of this color, choose a modest dress. Red often looks best on women with olive or brown skin, and sometimes makes blondes and redheads look pale. Red is good with Satin Bridesmaid Dresses or Taffeta Bridesmaid Dresses, so just try it.

Pink. Pink signifies innocence and youthful femininity. It’s a good choice for a springtime, outdoor wedding, but might not be appropriate for older bridesmaids. A more sophisticated choice is rum pink, which is feminine and pretty without looking too prom-like. You can also tone down the prom look by keeping the dress simple, without frilly bows and poofy stuff. Pink is good in Lace Bridesmaid Dresses or Organza Bridesmaid Dresses, so just try it.

David Tutera Wedding Tips

David Tutera - Talking About Expected Wedding Trends


Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera discusses not only Disney Weddings in this video, but also talks about what trends, and colors he expects for the next year.

David expects to see a lot of purples, and lavenders for the Spring, but is hoping to see more warm, and rich colors soon. I'd have to say, I agree with David, and have already seen a lot of his expectations coming into play.

When does David think a bride should pick her wedding dress? After you've already decided on your wedding ceremony site, your reception venue, what time of day your wedding will be, and your date. Then choose the best designer wedding dress to match all of the above.

David also talks about his new couture bridal collection that will help any busy bride create that perfect, modern look she hopes for.