The Wedding Souvenir You Never Knew You Needed

There are two things a party always has, it seems: people and drinks. You don’t always have decorations or gifts or even food, but there is always something to drink and always someone there to drink it. 

At weddings, it is customary to give your guests favors. If this is something you plan on doing, then you know for certain you will need people, drinks, and gifts for those people. Favors are the trickiest factor in that equation and can be a difficult choice for a bride and groom. Food is common because it is easy and it is cheap. But do you know if any of your guests have allergies? Are they vegan? What about their plus 1? And what happens to the personalized wrappers after the food is eaten? They get thrown away and the favor you put so much time and energy into is soon forgotten.

Longer-lasting favors are difficult, too, though. It’s hard to find something that everyone will like. Plants and seeds are popular favors, but not everyone likes gardening, and some of the people who do (like me) can’t keep a plant alive no matter what. Matches are a classic favor too, but just like the food, eventually they’ll be used up and the container will be thrown away. Not to mention favors like these can be expensive. Beyond these, the long-term favors get expensive. If there’s room in your budget, you can definitely figure out a very thoughtful, useful, and memorable favor.

For those who have a smaller budget or just want to be frugal and/or practical, there are other options! My family started using these personalized cups at all of our events a few years ago—birthdays, anniversary parties, graduation parties, and so on. We get compliments on them every time. With all the different styles and options to personalize text, font, and images/designs, your cups will be unique and useful – a beautiful combination. Not to mention there is a whole range of styles to choose from, so whether your wedding reception involves a bonfire in your backyard (maybe you need a classic solo cup!) or an upscale soiree at The Biltmore Estate (pilsner glass, anyone?), you’ll find a cup to match.

Source: Solo Cups, Plastic Pilsner Glasses

You can design your cups basically however you want them. If you order in smaller quantities, you can get multile designs so your guests can pick their favorite. These frosted plastic cups are especially cute for summer weddings. If you’re serving hot drinks, you can get Styrofoam cups, too.

Source: Frosted Plastic Cups

If you love the personalized cups but for whatever reason, they’re not practical for general use at your wedding, consider using these champagne flutes just for the toasts!

These small, clear cups are perfect for a signature food item - such as an hors d'oeuvre or a dessert!  They come in different sizes, so you can even pick your serving size. Plus, they double as a carrying container, so if you put a dessert in them, your guests can take a second cup home (if there’s any left over!)

Source: Mini Milkshake Cups

If you think a cup doesn’t feel like enough of a favor, you can add goodie bags of candies or chocolates inside them, or baggies of plant seeds, or another small favor you’d had on your mind. You could make a miniature gift basket in them. For the adults, a small liquor bottle and a piece of chocolate. For the kids, a bottle of bubbles and a glow stick. 

Source: The Hunt is Over Stadium Cup, Dessert Tumbler, Frosted Plastic Cups, Paper Cups, Monogram Cup, Wine Goblets

Whether you just can’t decide on a souvenir for your guests, are sticking to a strict budget, or love to be frugal, these cups are the perfect addition to your wedding. Give your guests a gift they can use to celebrate your wedding for years to come. You, too, can save any leftover cups for a toast on your anniversary.

Cheers!

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.

DIY Pastel and Burlap Beer Bar Wedding

Held on a gorgeous piece of property on the side of Panther Pond in Maine, this lakeside soiree is chock full of darling do-it-yourself details.  We are so grateful to Kim at Time Bandit Photography for sharing her stunning photos of this wonderful wedding with us.  The mother of the bride, with the help of many family members and friends, did an absolutely amazing job of curating the decorations and landscape, and the weather was just right.  Amanda and Andrew are so obviously in love you could just melt.  The wedding was fairly casual, and the atmosphere of laid back enjoyment and festivity makes us want to join the party.

An assortment of potted plants (in a super cute canoe!) is an easy but beautiful addition to the wedding decor.  A large custom wood wall featured photos of the bride and groom as well as handcrafted signs with cute sayings that held meaning for Amanda and Andrew.

Programs doubled as hand fans to keep guests cool, and featured funny details about the bridal party to keep friends and family smiling as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

And this birch and floral ceremony arbor?  Absolute perfection!

The wedding and reception decorations consisted of paper lanterns and soft touches of pastel peaches and pinks throughout bouquets and reception table centerpieces.  Round tables were covered with white tablecloths and burlap table runners, and featured custom wood planters - printed with the bride and groom's names and wedding date - filled with beautiful flowers.  Favors were presented at each place setting in burlap bags.

Beer was served from a custom built beer bar with two taps into personalized frosted plastic wedding cups with the couple's names, wedding date, and designs printed in light brown.  Guests also enjoyed lemonade, iced tea, and two different types of colorful sangria loaded with fresh fruit.

Family friends made hand-cut fries, grilled burgers, and hot dogs for dinner, making for a delicious meal that was the perfect fit for Amanda and Andrew's laid back reception. 

The outside of the tent was lined with string lights, making it look absolutely magical after dark.  There is no doubt - this is what wedding dreams are made of!

Photographer: Time Bandit Photography / Custom Printed Plastic Wedding Cups: My Wedding Reception Ideas

How to Dress Up Your Holiday Drinks

If you’re like me and you are always trying to think of new and fun way to spice up your holiday parties, think drinks. Here are some great tips for dressing up your holiday drinks at your next get together.

Accessorize: By adding a candy cane to a cup of hot chocolate or some cranberries to a glass of champagne you have added a truly festive feel to your beverages. Colored sugar is another great decoration for your glasses. Add red sugar to the rim of a green apple martini to give your drink a little pizzazz.

Personalized Cups: What better way is there to say Happy Holiday but by saying it right on the cup. Order personalized cups with a holiday message for your friends and family. This is fun way to spread the holiday cheer and your eggnog will never look better.

Ice Cubes: My favorite way to dress up your holiday drink would be with ice cubes. Try freezing some mint or cranberries inside the ice to add color to your drinks. Another fun idea is to freeze colored water in holiday candy molds. You can pick up some Christmas tree candy molds at your local craft store and fill them with green water. Once they freeze you will have Christmas tree ice to add to your holiday drinks.

These are just a few easy ways to add holiday cheer and impress your guests!

Carrie

Personalized Cups for Your DIY Wedding Favors

It seems that lately edible wedding favors and DIY gifts are taking over traditional favors like frames and soaps?  I think guests and brides are getting tired of all the small trinkets and knick-knacks.  And really, who could blame them?  After all, chocolate is loved by everyone (unless you're allergic...) and homemade recipes add that warm and fuzzy feeling you just can't find anywhere else.

To get that homemade feel in your wedding favors, I love the idea of using family drink recipes, cookie recipes, and any other recipes your family can bring home with them to use over and over again.  For an absolutely adorable edible favor presentation, check out this place setting idea put together with personalized cups, cellophane-wrapped cookies, and the family's cookie recipe.

Refreshingly unique! This idea is so great because your friends and family get to take home a delicious recipe to eat and the custom cup that holds it.  Attach a recipe tag to your homemade cookies printed with the ingredients along with cute phrases like 'A pinch of love', 'A dash of kindness', and 'A cup of passion'.  Have your names and wedding date custom printed on the front of your personalized cups so your loved ones will think of you every time they pour themselves their favorite drink.  Set at each place setting and voila!

Happy Planning!

Allie