Dinner Boxes: The Cute and Easy Rehearsal Dinner Alternative

Weddings are stressful. There’s no denying it takes a lot of effort to pull one off, no matter how many people you have helping out. All you want to do is sit down and relax with your family and friends and chill. Especially the night before. You want to have a calm evening before your wedding day. The last thing you need is a big, fancy dinner party after the rehearsal adding to your stress levels.

You’d rather relax in the grass at a park with a picnic basket and a bottle of wine, right? Well, you can easily do just that with these awesome dinner boxes. Fill them with your favorite picnic foods a day or two before and they will still be delicious by the rehearsal dinner.

Source: Gourmet Picnic Dinner Box, 'Let's Picnic!' Rehearsal Dinner Boxes

The Food

Of course, typical picnic foods are best, because they tend to last longer out of a refrigerator. You can throw these items together up to a couple of days before the dinner and store in the fridge in small containers or you can fill the boxes themselves and store those in the fridge for an even easier dinner.

For sides, think light and refreshing foods:

• Crackers
• Cherries
• Berries
• Grapes
• Applesauce cups
• Sliced veggies
• Potato chips 
• Watermelon cucumber salad
• Salad on a skewer 

Souce: Fruit Salad, Watermelon Cucumber Salad

For the main course, you’ll want something easy to eat, prepare, and store:

• Smoked meats and cheese
• Finger sandwiches
• Wraps
• Grilled chicken salad

Source: Caprese Sandwiches, Chicken Salad

Don’t forget dessert! Again, something easy to store and eat is ideal:

• Cookies
• Brownies
• Cake
• Cheesecake
• Gummy candies

Source: Chocolate Cherry Cookies, Cheesecake

The best thing about all of these dishes? They are so easy. Not to mention they are sure to impress your guests and, depending on your packaging, there is net to no clean up required!

The Drinks

Drinks can be served from a glass pitcher or in personalized cups with lids or even mason jars with cute, custom labels. If it’s a warm day, you’ll just need to make sure you have ice available.

• Lemonade
• Cocktails
• Punch
• Wine
• Beer

Source: Stadium Cup, Mason Jar, Lemonade

Get Fancy, the Easy Way

A simple way to wow your guests (other than with these fun personalized boxes and delicious, effortless dinners) is to pick the perfect drinks to complement your food.

Dish: Smoked meat (such as summer sausage) and hard cheeses

Wine: A medium-sweet Rosé with hints of berries and a marked acidity

Beer: Kolsch

Dish: Grilled chicken salad or wrap

Wine: A Chardonnay with strong nectarine and white peach flavors or a rich Pinot Gris

Beer: Hefeweizen (or a wheat beer)

Dish: Caprese sandwiches

Wine: a crisp Verdicchio or a dry Rosé

Beer: A light lager

Dish: Berries/fruit salads

Wine: Moscato d’Asti

Beer: Kolsch or a Belgian Wheat Ale

Dish: Fresh vegetables

Wine: A California Cabernet or a Malbec

Beer: A Pale Ale

Dessert: Chocolate-based

Wine: Port or Pinot Noir or Shiraz

Beer: A Stout, particularly an Imperial Stout

Source: Wine Pairing

You can set out display cards next to each food dish recommending a specific drink if you’re serving multiples of both. You could even have a “his and hers” drink choice for each dish to give your guests multiple options for pairings.

Don’t forget the utensils and personalized napkins!

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

Tasty Thanksgiving Food Inspiration

Fall is a season full of inspiration, and we love to see some of the fabulous ideas that people have dreamed up to impress holiday guests! Traditional foods arranged into shapes that are often associated with the fall season will be sure to please at any Thanksgiving get-together. We have collected all types of ideas for you just in time for Thanksgiving. Fashion your food into turkey, cornucopia, acorn and pumpkin shapes to put a fun twist on classic holiday foods. From fresh vegetables and warm baked breads to yummy cheese balls and delectable deserts, we hope you enjoy our collection of Tasty Thanksgiving Food Inspiration.

Image Credits:  Pine Cone Cheese Ball, Turkey Shaped Baked Bread, Mini Caramel 'Apple' Grapes, Acorn Donut Holes, Turkey Cupcakes, Pumpkin Pie Slice Cookies, 'Pumpkin' Rolls, Turkey Veggie Tray, Pumpkin Pops, Hershey Kiss and Nutter Butter Acorns, Turkey Shaped Apple Tart, Breadstick Cornucopia, Turkey Rice Crispie Treat Pops, Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Turkey, Turkey Cheese Ball

Winter Wedding Menu Ideas

Between the warmth of indoor heating, a roaring fireplace, and winter apparel, sometimes your typical catered wedding menu can leave guests feeling tired and sluggish.  Making kicking off their shoes and dancing the night away the last thing on their mind.  To keep the party going at your winter wedding, you’ll want food that warms your guests without being so heavy that eating wears them out.

Main Dishes

This means you’ll need to skip the greasy and fried foods which are prone to making you feel sluggish.  Keep your menu items high in protein and low in fat.  Think steak, chicken, fish, and veggies or try appetizer-sized dishes instead of large courses.  If comfort food is a must at your winter wedding, make it miniature! Serving bite sized portions is adorable and will allow guest to fill up on other less heavy alternatives.

Also, remember you still want most of your items served hot to keep guests warm and cozy in the winter chill.  A broth based soup and salad bar is a sometimes a better option than a heavy meat or side dish because it will fill your guests up without producing after-dinner sleepiness.

Drinks

A must-have at your winter drink table is hot chocolate. Put candy canes, marshmallows, and other toppings in small dishes next to the cups so people can make their own cocoa creations.  Serve glasses of baileys or milk with coffee ice cubes in them.  Warm apple cider and eggnog are also seasonal favorites.  Consider setting out tea with honey, coffee, or a hot toddy station for a lightweight option that will give guests a pick me up.

If you have one, a Keurig machine would work well for this sort of a set-up. You’ll need hot chocolate, coffee, and tea K-cups with extra pitchers of water to refill the machine. You can put all of your toppings and add-ins on the table next to it.

Dessert Bar

Don’t go easy on the chocolate or the food dye, here. Chocolate-covered anything screams winter party and red and green will make your dessert table look festive for a holiday wedding. If you’re trying to avoid a Christmas theme like the plague, stick with browns, blues, or deep/icy purples with silver or gold accents.

A soft pretzel station or roasted chestnut station is a cute twist on traditional dessert bar ideas.  Candied almonds, or any kind of nut, are great for guests to snack on because they’ll get energy from the sugar and protein from the nuts, so they’ll be on the dance floor in no time!

Favors and Guest Gifts

A great favor for a winter wedding menu is a cup of hot chocolate or coffee with a donut hole to-go. Especially if the reception ends late or if your guests have a long drive, they’ll need a pick-me-up to get home and are sure to appreciate the gesture.  Be sure and include personalized to-go cups or cup cozies to let guests know to take one with them.  (more cup ideas here)

Along the same lines, a pre-mixed hot chocolate kit packaged in a mug or mason jar would make an adorable take home gift idea.  Pine tree saplings, tree ornaments, and personalized throw blankets or mittens are cute favors as well and will ensure your guests have something to help them remember your wedding in the upcoming months, rather than just that night.

Image Credits:  Hot chocolate bar, Wedding menu sign, Mini pot-pies, Kale soup, Grilled cheese and tomato soup, Hot chocolate bar, Milk and coffee cubes, Hot toddy station, Chocolate candy buffet

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

10 Easy Halloween Treats

Can you believe Halloween is right around the corner? Time to dust off the fake spiders, cotton batting, and pumpkin carving tools.

Just for fun we thought we would share some of our favorite Halloween treat recipes and ideas for your spooktacular party this year.  Have fun picking out your favorite poison (cue cackle).  Or mix and match to create a true monster bash.

For other great ideas, be sure and check out all our Halloween party decorations and favors.

 

See numbered links below for more details and to get the recipe

Image Credits: Pumpkin Carving Stencils, 1. Zombie Eyeballs, 2. Fizzy Pumpkin Party Drinks, 3. Tombstone Cookies, 4. Personalized Hershey Miniatures, 5. Spider Deviled Eggs, 6. Halloween Bundt Cake (with eyes!), 7. Design Your Own Halloween Cocktail Napkins, 8. Vegan Witches Fingers, 9. Yummy Mummy Cheese Spread, 10. Design Your Own Halloween Stadium Cups

Movie-themed Party Ideas to Match Your Star-Studded Wedding

As promised, here is your key to planning the star-studded pre-wedding parties you have always dreamed of, with you as the star! From your engagement party and wedding shower to the bachelor and bachelorette parties, these fun, movie-themed party ideas are sure to be a hit.

Lead your guests from the parking lot to the entrance with a red carpet. Ask guests to dress up as their favorite movie character and give trophies to the best dressed. Give favors in popcorn boxes. Watch your favorite wedding-themed movies. There are tons of ways to make your party a box office hit!

To get started, use an "admit one" ticket format for your invitations. On the top and bottom, write the date of your party. Instead of a movie title, write "[Name] & [Name]’s Engagement Party" or "[bride’s name]'s engagement party." Have some fun and come up with a creative title for your party!

Movies to watch

Engagement Party/Wedding Shower

• The Engagement Party
• The Proposal
• Father of the Bride
• The Princess Bride
• The Philadelphia Story
• Four Weddings and a Funeral

Bachelorette Party

• Bridesmaids
• Bachelorette
• Magic Mike
• Crazy Stupid Love
• The Wedding Planner
• Dirty Dancing

Bachelor Party

• Bachelor Party
• The Hangover
• How to Murder Your Wife
• The Best Man
• Very Bad Things
• A Guy Thing

Games to Play

• Kiss the Actor/Actress (similar to Pin the Tail on the Donkey)
• Charades
• “Who Am I?” Write down the names of movie stars on note cards and have guests tape the card to       their forehead – without looking! They have to guess who they are.
• Match the quote to the movie (to make it easier, use quotes from movies you watched at your party)
• “Movie Plot Slam” Split your guests into teams of 3 or 4. Write movie titles on note cards and give a card to each group. There are a couple ways you could have them tell the plot:
    - In poem format
    - In song format
    - In a way that relates the story back to the bride and groom
• Use conversation starter drink coasters to break the ice!

Food

One of the best parts of the movie theater experience is the popcorn and candy! Satisfy every taste bud in
the room with these delicious treat ideas:

• Popcorn (of course!)
• Offer extra butter, salt, and any other topping you might want – on the side so guests can choose what they want
• Chocolate covered raisins
• Sour candy
• Don’t forget the cake! Go for a black and white movie reel cake or try the popcorn cupcakes!

Decorations

A party would not be complete without decorations of some sort, and movie theaters are usually lavishly decorated, if not overwhelmingly so.

• Put flowers in a plastic popcorn holder
• Write guests’ names on Hollywood stars for place cards at the table
• Since red, white, black, and silver are the colors that are traditionally associated with movies and the theater, use those colors for tablecloths and napkins
• Hang up movie posters or a red curtain for backdrops for pictures

Image Credits:

Invitation: Cards Direct
Party food: Dreaming In Scraps

Popcorn cupcakes: Fifties Wedding

Movie-style cakes: Fifties Wedding

Place cards: janet21.hubpages.com

Roses: janet21.hubpages.com

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Things We Love - Creative Food Stations

Gone are the days of traditionally catered food selections like baked chicken and lasagna.  Today's couples are serving up more stylish food options in the form of fun and creative food stations.  Whether you are treating guests with pre-dinner appetizers, the entire main course, or dessert, food stations are a great way to inject a bit of interest into your wedding reception.  To pull off a successful food station, keep a few simple rules in mind.  For build to order menu options, have more than one cook so lines do not back up.  The same goes for multiple food stations.  Create two lines at popular stops to prevent line congestion.  Lastly, keep your theme in mind, let loose and get creative with your displays.  

Appetizers - Appetizer stations are a great choice during cocktail hour.  Guests can enjoy your tasty and creative treats while they wait for the newlyweds to arrive.  Popular appetizer food stations are vegetable displays, soup stations, sushi bars, cheese buffets, and breakfast and crepe stations.  One trend we love are miniature sized foods that typically would be seen as a main course.  Think mini sliders, mini fries, and itty bitty grilled cheese with shots of tomato soup.

Sources: Thirsty sign, Vegetable buffet, Bruschetta, Shrimp cocktail, Mini grilled cheese and soup shots, Man holding slider and fries, Mini sliders and beers 

 

Main Course - Serving your full reception menu in the form of food stations requires a bit more planning than smaller appetizer, drink, or dessert stations.  Keep in mind the quantity of food you will be needing to satisfy guest appetites.  Build your own buffets are a popular choice among couples and include anything from build your own taco buffets to upscale grilled cheese stations.  Other popular main course selections include potato bars, authentic inspired food stations, fair food inspired stations, and street vendor food carts.  Street vendor food carts can be found on nearly every busy city street these days.  Don't be afraid to consider renting one or more of these carts in lieu of traditional catering options.  Your guests will love your unexpected food choice.  Tip: We recommend staying away from miniature foods for your main course unless you plan on including other side dishes to create a balance of dishes for guests to fill up on.

Sources:  Food truck, Taco station sign, Taco buffet, Striped food tents, Grilled cheese station, Baked potato, Cheddar cheese

 

Dessert - Candy buffets can be attributed as one of the original wedding food stations.  More recently, this wedding staple is taking a more creative turn in to form of themed dessert stations.  Popular options include a S'mores bar, build your own yogurt station, cookie buffet, and ice cream station.  Put a unique twist on typical dessert options by including a miniature dessert bar full of delectable itty bitty treats.  Mini stations full of bite sized cheesecakes, pies, cookies, and cake will have guests coming back from more.  Set out personalized candy bags next to your buffet so guests can also take their goodies home to enjoy later.

Sources: S'mores bar, Snow cone station, Yogurt buffet, Cotton candy machine, S'mores station, Mini cheesecakes, Mini pie buffet

Mouthwatering Signature Wedding Cocktails

Add a personal touch to your wedding reception by offering up a signature cocktail to your guests.  Deciding on the perfect signature drink for your reception may be as simple as matching colors or as involved as telling a story about how you met.  With the huge variety of drink options available, it's no secret that you are going to need to do a bit of research to really find the right cocktail for your wedding.  (But hey the taste testing makes it totally worth the research!).

To decide on the right cocktail, consider picking a drink that includes your favorite liquor, one that matches your color scheme, or one that simply just sounds delicious.  To add a personal touch, choose a drink that fits with your personality or tells a story about how you met.  Seasonal drinks are an easy way to impress too.  Spring or Summer wedding?  Think clean, crisp, and fresh drinks that have lime, lemon, or mango flavors.  Fall wedding?  Consider spiced apple cider.  Winter wedding?  Peppermint drinks, eggnog, and cinnamon spiced cocktails will appeal to the season.

For those looking to save a little money, skip the cocktails all together and offer an assortment of your favorite wine or beer as your signature drink.  You will save time and money by simply limiting the amount of ingredients.  For the less frugal bride and groom, consider offering two drinks instead of just one.  His and Her drinks are a great way to get the conversation flowing and make both genders equally happy.  Offer one drink that has a rougher edge like an Old-Fashioned or Manhattan for the men and another with a feminine appeal like a Cosmo or Sex on the Beach for the ladies.

NA Wedding?  Just because your wedding reception is alcohol free, doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the fun.  Simply turn your signature cocktail into a wine-free sangria or a pumped up punch full of fruit slices and berries.  Vintage coke bottles, personalized cups, striped straws, and other whimsical accessories are all great ways to jazz up NA drinks.

To help you with inspiration for your own signature concoction, we scoured Pinterest and came up with these mouthwatering cocktails and drink stations that we just love.  Cheers!

Don't forget to name your signature cocktail.  After all, it's called signature for a reason.  Try out name generators like this one to take your wedding drink to the next level.  Still unsure what drink to serve, here is another great drink generator for never ending recipe ideas.

Image Credits: Mason jars with striped straws, Drink station, Lemonade bottles, John Daly sweet tea, Mason jars on green tray, Drinks with blue umbrellas, Makers Mark mason jars, Fruit filled punch, His and Hers drink station, Apple bourbon, Winter cocoa, Bridesmaids with vintage bottles, Mason jars with striped straws, Chalkboard sign, Maple leaf mason jars

'Fa la la la' Finger Foods for Holiday Gatherings and Parties

Tis the season to wow holiday guests with fabulous finger foods and tantalizing treats! Whether sweet or savory, miniature finger foods are even more appetizing when themed with the season. Fashion your finger food into Christmas tree shapes, Santa hats and jolly snowmen. 

A cheese cube Christmas tree will help hold holiday guests off until the Christmas meal is served. Get the kiddies to eat their vegetables by disguising them in a crescent roll veggie tree or avocado slice Christmas tree! Mozzarella, basil and tomato Caprese kabobs bring in the colors of the season for a festive holiday hors d'oeuvre. Some of these adorable delicacies may look too cute to eat, but I'm sure you'll manage! Olive and cream cheese penguins and smiling powdered doughnut snowmen will have party guests oohing and aahing. 

What would the holiday season be without some sweet treats? Serve Christmas tree topped cupcakes, fashioned from upside down ice cream cones covered in frosting. Strawberry Santa hat mini brownies will look precious on your cookie tray next to twisted sugar cookie candy canes! Don't forget to try candy cane cupcake shooters and serve hot cocoa cups garnished with dainty doughnut holes to end the night. Take a look at our collection of Fa la la la Fabulous Finger foods for your Christmas or Holiday party!

Have a happy holiday season full of life's little enjoyments!

Photo Credits: Santa hat cake pops, Crescent roll veggie Christmas tree, Candy cane cupcake shooters from Cupcakes Takes the Cake blog by Hoosier Homemade, Cheese cube Christmas Tree, Avocado slice tree, Olive Penguins, Christmas tree cupcakes, Caprese kabobs, Candy cane sugar cookies, Strawberry Santa hat brownies, Powdered sugar doughnuts, Hot cocoa shooter with doughnut hole garnish

Fun Packed Lunch Ideas for Back-To-School

 Here are some tips for our favorite moms and dads, or for anyone who wants to pack a more fun lunch!



Personalized Paper Lunch Bags from
MyWeddingReceptionIdeas.com



If your children aren't already back in school, they will be filling up their book bags and heading back within the next few weeks. Whether you are the parent of a brand new kindergartner or a seasoned back-to-school veteran, it is a little bit difficult to see the summer end and your little ones sent off into the world each day. No matter what age your children are, you know it is important to make them feel loved. The easiest way to keep your bond strong while your children are away during the day is to take advantage of lunch time Here are our favorite tips!

Write Them Love Notes - Write your child a little note each day and put it in their pocket or lunch bag. You can also get creative and write the note on a sticker label on their sandwich bags or tied around their favorite fruit with decorative ribbon. If your child can't read, draw them a picture! A doodle or a joke written on a paper napkin can turn lunch time into a special moment you and your child can share even though you aren't together for the meal. Old school paper lunch bags can also be personalized with your child's name and a cute design or message. They may not have the insulating ability of today's reusable cooler bags, but they do offer the simplicity of a take and toss approach. Other fun things to include in their bags are folded origami animals, comic strips saved from the Sunday Funnies or printed puzzles like tic tac toe, pencil mazes, and eye spy pictures.



Free Printable Fruit Tags from AlphaMom, Funky Lunch Sandwich Ideas, Sticky Stacky Sandwich Kabobs from SuperHealthyKids



Make Food Fun - Cookie cutters are the lunch packing parent's best friend. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is so much better in the shape of a heart or a dinosaur. The folks at Funky Lunch go one step further and create adorable animal faces, pirate ships, and more! You can also cut fruit into cute shapes with smaller cookie cutters. (A little lemon juice will keep your cut fruit fresh.) Meats and cheeses can also be cut into shapes and made into mini kabobs using cookie pop sticks found in the baking section of your local craft store. These sticks are made of paper and come without any pointy ends to prevent injuries. And don't forget dessert! It doesn't have to be unhealthy. You can find a healthy cookie recipe your child loves or offer them frozen yogurt made by simply placing prepackaged on-the-go yogurt tubes in your freezer the night before. Package their dessert with a ribbon or some other small decoration to add that personal touch your kids love.

Making lunches exciting for your kids not only shows them a little more love, but it also makes the packing process more interesting for Moms and Dads. So have fun and get packin'!

~ Jenna