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.

How to Throw a Fun and Unique Bachelorette Party

Are you tired of the same old bachelorette party, with the same food and games? If you are getting married or you are a maid of honor that needs to plan a bachelorette party, I have some tips on how to make your bridal shower one of the best.

Invitations: Magnets are a great choice when it comes to invitations. There are so many varieties and themes to choose from. Also, they won’t get lost in a pile of mail on someone’s desk; they will be hung on the refrigerator.

Location: This can be tricky depending on the budget but whether you have the party at a beach house, hall or at your home; you can make it the best with good food, friends and fun!

Cocktails: Plan on having a signature drink that you name after the bride to be. Don’t make it complicated, just add a splash of fruit juice or liquor to her favorite drink and make it something special. Of course you are going to need some fun drink glasses to go along with the signature drinks. Personalized cups or koozies are a creative accent to your party but they are also a fun gift for everyone to take home.

Food: I definitely recommend doing an over the top dessert table. This is a great chance for the bride to splurge right before the big day. If you are doing a theme, such as pink, make all of the cupcakes, cookies, candies and cake in different shades of pink. The dessert table will add to the décor of the party. Of course you should also have some real food to eat. Hors D'oeuvres or finger foods are much more fun and allow your guest to munch all night long. Try cutting chicken salad sandwiches out with heart shaped cookie cutters or fruit and cheese kabobs are another fun idea. If you can’t think of fun finger foods you can always serve the food on some fun platters. Add dazzle to appetizers by serving them on mirror or marble tiles.

For the décor: Choose bright and bold colors to make the party that much more fun! Hot pink and lime green or orange. The more color the better. Try to use lots of beads and feathers to give texture to your centerpieces. Go all out. This is the last bash before the wedding day. The more feather boas and rhinestones the better. This will be a party that all your friends and family will talk about for years to come!

Carrie