DIY Winter Scene Wedding Favors

We are so excited to feature this week's DIY inspiration.  Adorable winter scene wedding favors.  So easy to put together and super cute (don't you think?).  Great for any winter wedding tablescape whether you are going for a traditional look or a more rustic look.  The best part is your guests will love displaying them in their homes afterwards.  Get the how-to below.

The Supplies

 

- Cedar Branches (or other faux branches)

- Glass Bell Jars - order here

- Antique Love Birds - order here

- Mini Pine Cones

- Fake Snow

- Scissors or Wire Cutters

- Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

- Glass Glue (not shown)

Instructions

Cut off small sections of your cedar branches (we found our craft supplies at Save-on-Crafts).  Arrange them to your liking so that some stand upright and others fan out.  Pay close attention that the cuttings fit inside your glass holder (more info on that later).  Your cuttings should begin to form the support for holding your love birds. Add a bit off hot glue between the cedar cuttings to hold the branches together.  Allow to dry.

Next, arrange your two love birds so they are nested in your cedar setting.  Once you are happy with your arrangement, glue the birds down.  Voila! Next up, fill in any holes or areas that need sprucing with your mini pine cones. Secure with hot glue.  We placed one front and center because they were too adorable to pass up.

Now...before adding your snow, make sure that your scene fits inside your holder.  Test by putting the lid on.  Trim any excess cedar branches if needed.  Once everything is to your liking, finish off your winter scene with a good sprinkling of fake snow.

For assembly, add a dab of hot glue to the bottom of your love bird setting and secure to the base of your holder.  We added extra fake snow to our holder for good measure.  Before adding the glass top, run some Loctite glass glue around the rim, so your snow scene will be forever preserved.  (This will also help guests with transporting their favors home.  Super important to consider).

The Result

 

Fresh Favor Ideas For Your Spring Wedding

Spring is a popular time for weddings because it has been long associated with new beginnings. As you celebrate life and love with your new spouse and guests, show your guests you appreciate them with these lovely spring-themed gifts.

Seeds and Flowers

Help your guests start new lives themselves by giving seeds or small potted plants for them to grow and nurture while you and your spouse grow and nurture your own budding life.  If you don’t want to give live plants, consider giving something decorative that is related to the flowers you used in your wedding.

Decorations

Another option is to give a small vase to each family. It’s up to you whether you include the flowers or not. You could even use the vases as decorations at the reception and tell the guests to simply take one from their table as they leave the reception.

You can also give the placeholders you use at the reception as favors. This way, your guests will have their name card in addition to a decorative item to keep as a memento of the wedding.

Butterflies & Birds

Butterflies themselves symbolize new life, as they evolve from a caterpillar into a new and lovely form as a butterfly. Candle holders, key chains, and bottle stoppers adorned with butterflies make a lovely favor for your guests.

Birds, too, are often associated with spring. Give your guests a pair of birds or bird-themed gifts as favors to remind them of the beauty of spring – and your wedding.

Colorful Food

If you’d rather give food as a favor, consider giving bags of colorful candy to again remind your guests of the colors that spring brings back into our lives after a long winter. You can choose the colors from your wedding, greens and pinks, or choose a variety of bright, vibrant colors. Another great food favor is cupcakes: they’re easy to package individually and make a great post-reception treat.

DIY

A large part of your decision on which favors to give will depend on your budget. If your budget is small but you have plenty of time, you might want to consider making the favors yourself. Some examples of DIY favors are birdseed ornaments, bags of hand-picked fresh fruit, or handmade favor bags.

Image Credits:  Miniature Flower Pots, Seed Packets, Gerber Daisy Boxes, White Vases, Tree Place Card Holders, Small Glass Globe Vases, Bird Place Card Holders, Butterfly Favor Wraps, Bird Wine Bottle Stopper, Floral Design Cupcake Liners, Rock Candy, Pastel Flower Cupcakes, Bag of Strawberries, Birdseed Ornament, Fabric Favor Bags

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.

A Carefree Bicycle Wedding Inspiration Board

With spring having just arrived, I can’t help but think about pulling my old bicycle out of storage and going for a long relaxing bike ride.  Listening to the birds sing and feeling the cool, crisp spring air would be a welcome change in pace!  Today, we are bringing you an inspiration board full of charming ideas for incorporating bicycles into your wedding day.  If you and your special someone love to hop on a tandem bicycle and enjoy some time together, using bicycle accents in your ceremony and reception may be a fun way to bring some personality to your wedding.  

You will surely evoke fond memories of bike riding for young and old alike by adding a bicycle design to napkins, invitations, or even custom gift bags for your guests.  There are many little touches that will bring a smile to your guests’ faces.  Bicycle bell favors with a custom sticker make for a perfect keepsake.  Try decorating with various styles of miniature bicycles with flowers woven through the handlebars or wheels.  Any of these ideas will make for a nostalgic and carefree atmosphere at your spring or summer wedding!

Image Credits:  Couples on Bicycles(Sources Unknown), Bicycle with Rings, Custom Printed Bicycle Gift Bags, Invitation, Bicycle Belt, Bell Favors, Bicycle Wheel, Programs, Cake Topper, Bags, Miniature Bicycle Decoration, Bicycle Arch, Just Married 

Wedding Candy Cookie Buffets

We love the idea of wedding cookie buffets instead of your standard candy buffet.  The candy buffet has been around now for a while and is still a popular choice among bride and grooms.  But we say skip the candy and opt for a homemade bakery treat instead.  With weddings today becoming more and more centered upon the little heartwarming details, it only makes sense to start injecting this amount of thoughtfulness into your food too!  What better way to bring a sense of love and family into your wedding day than through homemade cookies using your favorite family recipes.

Depending on the size of your cookie buffet, pick a handful of relatives to bake batches of cookies for your big day.  Find out in advance which cookies they are making and have signs printed up displaying which cookie is which.  Set out personalized goodie bags so your guests can fill up with treats to take home with them.  To add more of a personal touch, add the name of the person whose recipe it is.  Your family and friends will love picking out their favorites.

 

 

Image Credits: Elizabeth Anne Designs, Martha Stewart, Intimate Weddings, The Knot, Becoming His Mrs, Affordable Utah Weddings, Tin-Tie Goodie Bags

Delectable Dessert Displays and Sweet Treats – An Inspiration Board

A growing trend in weddings this year is to offer your guests a sweet treat in the form of a stunning dessert display at your wedding.  Cupcake displays were big last year, but dessert displays will be the big treat for guests this year, focusing more on cookies, specialty desserts, and of course a wedding cake or two!  With so many different tasty options out there, it may be hard to decide what to offer for your guests’ indulgence.  We recommend sticking with you and your soon-to-be hubby’s favorite desserts, whether they include a family recipe for fresh-baked cookies or gourmet goodies.  Plan on three to four miniature desserts per person if no cake is being offered.

 

Brides will be going all-out on decorations for their dessert displays this year, and paying attention to even the tiniest detail.  There are so many different options for decorating your dessert display, including a lot of great DIY projects for the crafty bride.  Consider using a cabinet, dresser, or bookshelf for a unique look.  Streamers, pennant bunting, and backdrops are all things that can be crafted at home, or purchased if you are not the do-it-yourself type.  Greenery or balloons are both great options to change the feel of your display.  With a little bit of creativity, you can turn your dessert display into the talk of the evening!

Image Credits: Polka Dot Backdrop, Pastel Streamers and Desk, Pinwheel Backdrop, Wine Barrels, White Balloons and Dresser, Donut Stand, Cabinet Display, Chandelier, Bunting, Branch Cupcake Stand, Greenery, Pink Streamers and Bookshelf, Macaroons, Oversize Balloon Backdrop

Pretty Little Things - Miniature Wedding Cakes

Pretty, petite and oh-so-sweet! Why not serve darling little wedding cakes to each guest at your wedding. These individual treats will make your guests feel so special. While individual wedding cupcakes have been popular in the past because of their casual and easy serving, mini wedding cakes allow for that same convenience but with a little more elegance and whimsy. The little cakes can be served just like a regular wedding cake. Your guests can come up to the cake table and collect there dainty delicacies. Another fun option is to have the sweet mini cakes set at each place setting or have a single medium sized wedding cake set as the centerpiece for each table. The beautiful desserts will help decorate the tables and be a great conversation starter for guests. Your little cakes can be mini replicas of a larger traditional wedding cake that is displayed at the reception. Feast your eyes on this fabulous collection of miniature wedding cakes, they may just be too pretty to eat!

Your miniature wedding cakes can double as special take home favors for your guests! Choose an assortment of flavors for all of the cakes and package them in clear topped mini cake boxes or cupcake boxes, depending on how big they are. These easy favors are a 'piece of cake'!

Image Credits: Main cake image, Yellow cake collection, Teal rose cake by Stephanie Joy, Rose topped blue ribbon cakes, Pink rose and heart cakes by Maisie Fantaisie, Pink striped mini cakes, Mini cake candies

Things We Love ~ Miniature Pie Favors

Inspired by the wonderful smells of holiday baking, we would like to share a creative idea for homemade favors for your wedding.  This is the time of year when family and friends gather to celebrate, while sharing delicious foods.  Cookies, fudge, brownies, and other holiday goodies are in high demand.  Holiday meals would not be complete without the enticing aroma of warm, fresh baked pies.  What could be better than giving your guests their own personal miniature homemade pies?

Give these favors to the guests at your country or rustic themed wedding, or any theme for that matter!  These adorable pies are a great gift for any event.  For your next family or holiday event, whip up some tiny pies with the recipe from Our Best Bites or improvise your own recipe! 

 

Image Credits: Have Some Pie from Fort and Field, Raspberry Pies via Project Wedding, Yarn Wrapped Pie from Style Me Pretty, Pecan Pies via Martha Stewart, Pie in a Jar Packaging from Fort and Field, Christmas Pies via Our Best Bites, Apple Pies from At Home with Kim Vallee.

Mason Jar Masterpieces

The simple elegance of a mason jar is not always recognized, but with a little time and a creative touch, you can turn a basic jar into a classy decoration for your wedding. Whether your reception is a summer soiree or a winter wonderland, you will surely be inspired by the gorgeous ideas in this blog.
With so many uses, where should we start? Pair a floating candle with lace or twine for a rustic, romantic feel. A cluster of different sized jars with only a small tea light can replace flower centerpieces and help light your reception venue. These dreamy decorations will make any girl swoon, and remind her of the enchanting wedding she has always dreamed of.

Another cute and practical idea is to use the mason jars as glasses to hold your guests’ choice of drink at the reception. Take this a step further and apply chalkboard contact paper to the jars. You can write the names of your guests and even their table number to direct them to their seats.

As you can see, mason jars can be used for aisle decorations, lighting, drinking glasses, and even place cards. So what are you waiting for? Head over to a local store in the canning section and decorate your heart out! If your wedding is too far away to wait, consider featuring these striking DIY projects at your holiday party.

Image Credits: Floating Tealight Mason Jars,  Candlelight Mason Jar Lighting, Chalkboard Contact Sheets on Mason Jars, Simple Centerpiece, Mason Jar Lemonade, Pink and White Flowers in Hanging Jar, Aisle Decorations, Red and White Centerpiece, Mason Jars with Favor Tags

Things We Love ~ Fabric Wine Bottle Wraps

Currently trending at weddings right now are miniature wine or champagne bottles as take home favors for your guests. If you think these petite carafes are cute by themselves  just imagine how extremely adorable they will be when you dress them up a little. Another great idea from Martha Stewart Weddings are these fabulously folded fabric wine bottle wraps.

Since all your guests will be dressed up for your big day, shouldn't your favors be too. If you are giving out miniature wine bottles as favors at your wedding, consider wrapping them up in fancy fabric and tying them with an intricate Japanese fold.

Choose a fabric that matches your wedding color scheme or theme. These stylish bottle wraps can be donned with lustrous cloth for a fancy affair or casual denim for a laid back gathering. An elaborately tied Japanese-style knot at the top of your bottle adds interest and flair. 

Set these bottles at each place setting with a thank you message from the bride and groom attached to the knot. These favors can also double as seating place card holders by inserting a tag with the guest's name and table number printed on it. These fabric wraps can be appropriate for all your guests. If you won't be handing out alcohol to everyone at your event, consider wrapping up bottled water or soda bottles.

Here are the step by step instructions for creating these wow-worthy wedding favors! Enjoy!

Sliders and Shooters and Snackies Oh my! ~ Late Night Wedding Treats to Keep the Party Going

Warning! This tantalizing food-filled blog post may leave you with your mouth watering and your stomach growling! We're talking wedding snacks, and lots of them! Trending right now at many weddings is the late night mini wedding snack. Receptions are running later and your guests are staying longer. Partying into the night can no doubt work up an appetite. After hours of dancing and socializing, a wedding guest can get pretty hungry. While dinner was hours ago, you and your wedding guests may need a little pick me up towards the end of the night. Consider passing out fun and casual little bites that will have your guests saying "Awww, How cute!". These mini delights will quell your guests' hunger and are sure to be a real hit!

From espresso shots topped with mini doughnuts to slider burgers with petite milkshakes, these treats are the perfect way to end the night. So who's hungry? You don't have to wait until your wedding reception to try out these delicacies, have a mini food party with friends and pick and choose which treats you would like to serve at your wedding!

Photo Credits: Pickle Sliders, Doughnut Espresso Shots by True Photography, Mini Pancakes, Hot dogs, Grilled Cheese Shooters, French Fries, Cookies and Milk by Jen Williams Photography, Milkshake Shooters, Mini Slider Burgers and Fries

Top Wedding Favors Ideas By Our Facebook Fans

Wedding favors are a little thank you gift given to guests during your wedding reception.  Often, these small tokens of appreciation are presented at each guest place setting or set on a larger table for guests to grab on their way in or out of your reception.  While there has been some debate on whether favors for weddings are necessary or not, I say they are a definite must. Not only will wedding favors help say 'Hey, I was thinking of you', but favors will also help convey to your loved ones that you were excited they could share in your special day.

To help you in your hunt for the perfect guest favor, we polled our Facebook fans to see what they chose for their wedding day.  The common theme across the board was personalized, personalized, personalized.  But we took it one step further and broke down the most popular items for you.  Without further ado we give you the top wedding favors ideas selected by our Facebook fans:

#1 - The Edible Favor

The #1 favor selected by our brides was the edible favor.  Candy came in 1st with chocolates and cookies rounding in 2nd.  Personalized M&M's were at the top of the candy list with candy buffets still ranking in high.  Don't forget the packaging. All our brides were talking favor bags, favor boxes, and other unique containers like mason jars and mini picnic baskets for holding their mouth-watering goodies.

#2 - The Fun Favor

On the wedding fun-o-meter, photo booth strips were at the top of the scale with other quirky gifts like personalized koozies also making the list.  Photo booths were a favorite among our brides mainly because of fun and laughter that follows.  Reasonably priced, professional photo booths provide priceless entertainment for all your guests and are even more fun if you provide props like fake mustaches, chalkboard bubbles, open picture frames, etc.  Afterwards, guests can take home their candid shots or put them in a wedding guest book along with a special message to the newlyweds.  If you go the guest book route, most professional booths also provide a copy of the photos for you.  This way you can include your guest's photo strips in with their thank you card.

#3 - The Useful Favor

The #3 pick by our Facebook fans was the useful wedding favor.  The idea behind this favor is that guests will be able to take home their memento to use after your wedding day has passed.  Among the top of the lists were candles with personalized matchbooks, plantable flower seeds, and decorative hand fans. Personalized glassware like cups, wine glasses, votive candles, and beer mugs, were also among the top wedding favors ideas.

For other great wedding planning tips and ideas, visit us on Facebook.

Happy Planning!

Image credits: Row 1: Personalized M&Ms courtesy of Wish Special Events, Wedding Favor Boxes Row 2: Personalized candy favor bags, Candy buffet via Amy Atlas Row 3: Photo booth guests via Ruffled Blog, Word bubble chalkboards available at Hello Lucky Row 4: Personalized can koozies, Photo strip guest book via Paper Lady Invites Row 5: Paper hand fans, Personalized cups Row 6: Personalized votive candles, Personalized wedding matches