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

 

12 Days of Weddings - 12 Drummers Drumming Inspiration Board

Happy December and welcome back to our 12 Days of Weddings blog series. So far you have seen each of the first 11 verses from the famous '12 Days' Christmas carol played out in image collages for fantasy holiday weddings. It has been fun, but now it is time for the final edition in the series. Don't worry, we still have this 12 Drummers Drumming inspiration board to lift your holiday spirits!

For the 12 Drummers Drumming we chose winter blue, holiday red, and shiny gold for our color palette. Sheet music and percussion instruments create a musical theme that is sure to get your guests' spirits singing.

If you are just joining us in the blog series, we hope you enjoy this latest post and feel free to check out the preceding eleven inspiration boards for holiday ideas for your winter wedding. If you aren't a holiday bride, we're positive you can use some of these lovely ideas at your next Christmas party as well.  Happy Holidays!

Image Credits: Sheet Music Paper Chain from Jane Lookerse on Etsy, British Royal Air Force Marching Band from Zimbio, Drum Centerpiece from KM Flowers, Love Banner from Victorian Station on Etsy, Mrs. Calligraphy Print from Special Things Shop on Etsy, Sheet Music Wrapped Gift via Mysker Moore Wedding, Platinum Bridesmaids from The Knot via , Sheet Music Ornaments from Kristy's Chic Boutique on Etsy, Glitter Confetti from Note to Sarah, Winter Blue Dress from Wedding Dress Shop, Vintage Groom from Ruffled Blog

12 Days of Weddings - Six Geese A Laying

Get ready for our sixth episode in our 12 Days of Weddings blog series based on the famous holiday carol, The 12 Days of Christmas. Whether you are planning a Christmas party or a fabulous holiday wedding, we hope you have been motivated to create a winter wonderland for your guests. With October coming to a close, the countdown to Christmas has really begun. There is only a short 60 day stretch of planning, parties and shopping left!

With that in mind, we've put together our favorite ideas to inspire you based on the sixth verse in the 12 Days of Christmas song. With six geese a laying there has to be feathers and also eggs, we prefer golden eggs - who wouldn't? We also love the look of pure white feathers. White on white makes for a modern and sophisticated winter wedding while the feathers provide the texture you need for contrast. A bit of silver and gold go a long way to add visual interest with a bit of sparkle and holiday shine. Some of our favorite details are the feathered fan in lieu of a bouquet and the egg like jordan almonds styled to form a monogram. Be sure to check them out below, along with the fabulous feathered covered dress and table setting.

Image Credits: Feathered Fan from Rock My Wedding, Lazaro Wedding Dress via Imbue You I Do, White Dessert Table via Austin Wedding Blog, Feather Ring from Laonato on Etsy, Silver Nest Charm from Mootsie on Etsy, Jordan Almond Monogram Display from Martha Stewart, Cake Display from Austin Wedding Blog via Austin Wedding Blog, Feather Table from Weddings on the French Riviera.

Take a Cue from These Wedding Hues

The shiny New Year is right around the corner and with it brings a whole new gamut of fresh and innovative weddings.  I personally can't wait to see what all our brides will come up with.  It is sure to be an exciting 2011 full of creativity and personal touches.

Before all the ribbon and decorations, of course comes an inspiration.  Whether it's pulled from your grandmother's vintage brooch or your favorite handbag, brides seem to be inspired by color early in their wedding planning stage.  To help with your wedding color hunt, we've pulled out all the stops, taking a cue from all our brides, Facebook fans, wedding industry giants, and fashion gurus, to bring you our top wedding color palettes for 2011 weddings.  Broken down by season, these colors are dramatic, romantic, and perfectly fabulous.

Spring - A freshing mix of fuschia and sunny yellow

Credits: Pink and yellow table setting, popsicles, wedding bouquet, wedding cake

Summer - Exciting palette of cobalt blue paired with tangerine

Credits: Bride and groom in grass, blue and orange table setting, bride against orange wall, wedding cake slice

Fall - Deep plum, orange, and earthtones make this palette a fall hit

Credits: Bride leaning on wall, wine bottle bags, bride with bouquet, blackberry pie

Winter - Wine, icy pink, and navy blue create a warm and inviting winter mix

Credits: Groom's pocket square, pink bridal shoe, wedding aisle, raspberry fudge

Happy Planning!

Winter Wedding Bouquet Alternatives

I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with good food and good company.  If you're an Xmas fanatic like me, than the minute the sun broke the horizon on Friday morning, you too were awake setting up your Christmas decorations.  Every year I try and outdo myself with new and inventive ways to decorate around the house.  This year I glued pinecones to ornament hooks and spray painted them gold to add to my rustic decor.  While setting up my poinsettia centerpieces, I couldn't help but think they would make adorable winter wedding bouquet alternatives.  Don't you think?  But of course why would I stop at just poinsettias...what would be the fun in that?  Just for you, I put together my top picks for winter wedding bouquet alternatives.  Enjoy!

1) Feather Fabulous

Simply chic.  What else is there to say?  Made completely of feathers with bejeweled accents, have one made in snowy white for that ice princess feel.  These lovelies are complementary of the ladies from Emplume.

2) Pinecone Rustic

For the rustic bride, pinecone bouquets are perfection.  Start in advance and this bouquet alternative can turn into a fun and easy DIY project.  Add wintry flair and sparkle by spray painting silver, gold, or glitter onto your bouquet.  To learn how to create your own, check out this tutorial from oncewed.com used to create the bouquet above.

3) The Hand Muff Bouquet

Fabulous.  Winter hand muffs keep you and your bridesmaids warm and stylish.  And they will look amazing in photos.  This idea is one of my favorites because it truly captures the winter season in a unique way.  Better yet, they double as great bridesmaids gifts too.  Pair with warm and cozy slippers for the perfect gift set.  The children's hand muffs above are courtesy of Etsy and can be found here and here.

4) Bling Bling

Why limit all your sparkle to just your wedding dress when you can have an entire bouquet made from glittering rhinestones.  Glistening just like the snowfall.  Make entirely of gems and jewels, this bouquet will sparkle all the way down the aisle.  I especially love the rhinestone bouquet idea because it will last forever.  Truly an heirloom quality piece that can be passed down.  Heirloom jeweled bouquet courtesy of Noaki of Etsy.

5) The Pomander Snowball

Mimic the snowball fights from your childhood with our number 5 bouquet idea...the pomander snowball bouquet.  This idea takes the traditional flower bouquet and mixes gives it a unique twist.  Have each of your bridesmaids and flower girl carry these snowballs down the aisle to capture the feeling of winter.  Pair with a traditional rose brides bouquet for the perfect complement.  Pomander snowball bouquets courtesy of Etsy and The Knot.

Happy Planning!

Tis the Season for Holiday Wedding Centerpieces

It's only November but I can already feel the Christmas season inching its way here.  Soon it will be time for the sound of crackling fires, Bing Crosby, and yummy scents of baked goodies to fill the air.  I for one can hardly wait! Time to snuggle up with a warm cup of cocoa and watch the snow fall.  This love I have for Christmas has of course always made me wish for a holiday themed wedding.  And since my wedding has already passed, I will just have to live vicariously through all of you.  So here it is.  For all you other holiday gurus out there, here are my top picks for holiday wedding centerpieces from the simplest setting to the most elaborate arrangement.

1) Wrap It Up

One of the simplest and most inexpensive holiday centerpieces to pull off, the empty gift box!  Simply purchase your favorite holiday wrapping paper and bows to match your wedding colors and wrap away.  Use different sized boxes to create texture and visual interest and stack them along the center of your tables.  You don't even have to put anything in them.  They're just for show, after all.

2) Edible Art

Instead of creating a candy buffet, bring the buffet to your guests with edible table centerpieces.  Mini cakes, towers of holiday candy, or single serving desserts make for a mouth-watering display.  Set your goodies on short or tall displays accented by berries, holly, and other holiday accents.  Include personalized napkins next to each centerpiece printed with a note that says 'enjoy' with your names and wedding date.  Your guests won't be able to get enough of your edible art.

3) Branch Out

Christmas wouldn't be the same without all the ornaments that decorate our Christmas trees.  For my #3 pick, use a simple tree as your centerpiece.  Either spray-paint a bare branched tree or use a pine tree as your main focal point.  Add ornaments to your tree to give your centerpiece depth and to provide guests with a favor to take home.  Clear ornaments are perfect for low light settings and will make your tables sparkle, catching the light from every angle.  Personalized ornaments are great for adding a custom touch to your guest tables and will remind guests of your special day every year.

4) Twist on the traditional

Flowers will continue to be one of the most popular and traditional wedding centerpiece choices.  For the holidays, put your own twist on this wedding staple by creating ornament accented floral arrangements, present shaped bouquets tied with ribbon, and/or peppermint wrapped flower bouquets.  To create your peppermint bouquets, simply glue candy canes to the outside of an inexpensive vase, insert your flowers, and voila!  Present shaped flower arrangements can be a little trickier and usually turn out best when left to an expert (especially when using live flowers).  To make this centerpiece on your own, purchase square flower foam from your local craft store, fake roses, ribbon, and scissors.  Simply insert the stems of your flowers into the foam until the flowers cover it entirely.  Tie your ribbon around your present, step back, and admire your work.

Happy Planning!

Allie

Credits: Row 1: Holiday wrapped gift boxes via bhg.com. Row 2: Mini wedding cakes courtesy of lieventplanning.com, individual cookies on cake stand and candy tower via countryliving.com.  Row 3: Silver tree branches with ornaments available at pier1.com, personalized ornament tiles via angelellie of etsy.com, beaded winter snowflake ornaments. Row 4: Candy cane flower arrangement and ornament display via bhg.com, rose covered present centerpiece courtesy of party town.

Indulge With Hot Chocolate Inspired Holiday Treats



During the holidays there is nothing quite like cozying up by a fire with a huge cup of hot chocolate topped with whip cream and a candy cane. It is one of those little indulgences that make cold weather worth while. For me, no holiday season is complete without it. For those who feel the same, here are a few creative ways to incorporate it this season.



 

Make your next winter party interesting by offering a hot chocolate bar. Here you can serve hot chocolate and coffee with a variety of toppings. Display whipped cream, cinnamon, chocolate chips, chocolate dipped spoons, and a variety of syrups for your guests to choose from. My personal favorite is a splash of rich coffee and hazelnut syrup in my hot chocolate! This idea is perfect for those who like the idea of a candy bar or ice cream buffet, but want to put a new twist on the trend. 

Loosen up your guests from holiday stress with hot chocolate inspired drinks like a hot chocolate martini served with an olive-esque chocolate drop skewered on a peppermint stick. You can also spike your traditional hot chocolate to give it some kick. Bailey's Irish Cream, Kahlua, and Crème de Menthe, are a few liquors that will mix well.

Of course you can have hot chocolate available for guests of in-home parties, but this won't work if you are heading out to a pot luck or taking a treat into your child's school Christmas party. Heaven in liquid form can get a little messy during travel. That's where the deliciously beautiful hot chocolate cupcakes by Chocswirl come in. What could be better than a warm, moist cupcake topped with chocolate ganache, melted marshmallows and cinnamon! Get creative with your toppings to make them more festive for the holidays. Stick in a mini candy cane or you could even bake them in small ceramic holiday mugs or espresso cups! Check out Chocswirl's blog for the recipe for these yummy treats. Lick The Spatula also offers a sophisticated version involving coffee and Kahlua buttercream icing (yum!). 
 Another fun way to incorporate hot chocolate into your holiday is by giving hot chocolate mix layered in clear jars or bags. These make a great craft for kids who want to participate in the gift giving. To keep the mess minimal use a baking funnel or fashion one out of paper. Make your hot chocolate recipe even more indulgent by adding a layer of chocolate chips, instant coffee, crushed candy canes, and mini marshmallows. The mix is best when  presented with tasty extras like chocolate covered spoons for stirring or a personalized mug. Make sure to add a cute tag with cooking instructions.

~ Jenna

Photo Credits: Mug in Snow courtesy of The Little Goat, Cocoa Cupcakes courtesy of Chocswirl, Cocoa Mix courtesy of MyRecipes.com

Ideas for Winter Wedding Centerpieces

The winter months will soon be here and Jack Frost will be nipping at our noses. It is time to start planning your winter wedding and thinking about winter wedding centerpieces. Winter weddings leave you with many color options. You can do the traditional red and green or silver and blue but really any color is expectable as long as you give it a little winter flair. Here are a few ideas for winter wedding centerpieces.

Flowers: Popular wedding flowers for winter weddings are roses, carnations, calla lilies, poinsettias and hydrangeas. With most of the flowers listed you can choose from a large color pallet and make beautiful flower center pieces. Red roses make the most beautiful centerpieces but can also be very expensive. Adding a few white and/or red poinsettias to your tables would be much more cost efficient and with a little ribbon or color stone accessories they can be the most gorgeous centerpieces.

Candles: Using candles of various shapes and sizes on a mirror or large plate is an excellent way to create a unique centerpiece. Candles add a sense of sophistication to any atmosphere and are also very romantic. Position your candles on your table and then you can add different color Christmas tree bulbs to the arrangement to give it a sense of whimsy and also add that winter feel.

Christmas bulbs: I love the variety available when using Christmas bulbs for centerpieces. For a winter themed wedding they would be a welcome part of any centerpiece. Just filling a glass bowl with different color Christmas bulbs can make lovely centerpieces. This is easy and economical.

Pine cones: Pine cones are also a great item to use for center pieces. You can add pine cones to your small trees, flowers or around your candles depending on what kind of centerpiece you decide to use. Placing pieces or pine branches, pine cones and holy pieces around a few small votive candles can make a dramatic and beautiful center piece that will keep your guest talking for weeks.

Pine Trees: I would love to walk into a reception hall that was completely decorated with Christmas trees. This is probably not in everyone’s budget. You can purchase small inexpensive pine tress for your tables and add decorations or simply spray them with a white coating and add twinkle lights. Adding a beaded snowflake ornament to your tree centerpieces can work as your decoration and favor. Simply add a card to each table asking your guest to take an ornament home with them and you have killed 2 birds with one stone.

No matter what centerpiece idea you come up with, just be sure to keep it unique to your winter wedding theme. Happy planning ladies!

Carrie

DIY Winter Wedding Favors To Impress Your Guests

Every bride and groom dreams of a wedding reception that their guests will ooh and ahh over the minute they walk through the door.  Choosing the right wedding favor for your guests will go a long way in making this dream come true.  Your wedding favors are the time to say that heartfelt thank you to loved ones and to capture the atmosphere of your big day.  For your winter wedding favors, make your vision a reality with these unique DIY favor ideas that are sure to impress your guests.

1) Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm...

Nothing says from the heart more than an edible homemade treat.  Great winter treat ideas are items like hot cocoa mixes, gift wrapped cookie trays, chocolate covered peppermint sticks, or Russian tea cakes (a.k.a snowballs).  When making edible treats for guests, be sure to do your research on the ingredients included in your recipe.  Find out how long your ingredients will hold and if they will freeze well.  This way you will know how far in advance to start your baking.  It is also best to leave out any extra ingredients associated with common food allergies like peanuts.  Be sure to clearly write out your ingredients on a label for your loved ones.  Russian tea cake image courtesy of ohhowposh.com.  Get the recipe here.

2) Tree Saplings

Great for a more rustic winter wedding, tree saplings are eco-friendly and are a unique twist on the everyday wedding favor.  For winter, give your guests a pine tree sapling so they can plant it in remembrance of your special day.  Such a wonderful story for your friends and family to tell others, your loved ones will think of you as they watch their tree grow over time. Don't forget to plant one yourself and watch as your tree blossoms right along with your marriage.  Image via Nancy Gould Photography.

3) For the holidays

Holiday themed winter weddings are becoming increasingly more popular and have opened up a whole new can of adorable favor ideas.  Think ornaments, extravagantly wrapped gifts, Christmas trees, and stockings.  Be creative and play off of common holiday songs and poems like the The Twelve Days of Christmas or Favorite Things from The Sound of Music.  One great DIY holiday favor idea uses the poem The Twelve Days of Christmas.  Assign each guest table with one of the days from the poem.  At your guest place settings for that table leave them the gift for that day (ornaments are a great way to pull this off and are reusable).  For the first day/table, you would give your guests a partridge in a pear tree.  For the second day/table, leave your guests a turtle dove, etc., etc.  (If you do not have assigned seating you could always opt to use all the days of Christmas at each table instead of splitting up the days but that choice is yours).  12 Days of Christmas Ornaments courtesy of Crate and Barrel.

To see other winter favors ideas, check out our collection of winter wedding favors and as always....

Happy Planning!

Allie

Christmas Winter Wedding Themed Favors

Christmas is a festive time of year and with so many varieties of affordable Christmas wedding favors to choose from you can have the perfect winter wedding without going over budget.

One great way to convey that festive spirit and save money is with affordable favors like Christmas cellophane favor bags. Fill each bag with edible treats such as candy coated almonds, chocolate mints, red and green candies and cookies. Tie the bags off with keepsakes like a holiday themed key chain, bookmark, or personalized ornament. These special keepsakes will last through each holiday long after the treats are gone. Family and friends won't forget to take home their goodie bags filled with edible treats and these winter themed wedding favors will set the tone for a jolly Christmas wedding reception.

Renee'

The Blue and White Winter Wedding

Don't you just adore this winter wedding inspiration board. We love the way it captures the romance of winter by fusing robin's egg blue with white on white...on white!

White has a way of making everything seem peaceful, serene, and pure. When combined with sparkling crystal and pops of blue, it creates the perfect backdrop for a wintry wonderland. Great for all you winter brides looking for a big day as unique as the snowflakes that fall.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

(First Column: A Colorado Wedding by James Christianson, The Carrie Necklace by erinkeys etsy.com. Second Column: Boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings, Centerpiece pictures from superstore.ca, Guild Letterpress invitation by Bella Figura. Third Column: Eye candy from Amy Atlas Events, Snowflake sugar cookies by Dianes Cakes and More, personalized Snowflake ornament favor from our picks of winter wedding favors. Fourth Column: Snowflake cheesecake by Gift Tree, A Colorado Wedding by James Christianson.)

Must Have Winter Wedding Favors

Winter is just a few months away and many people are planning Winter Weddings. Today, more and more couples are bypassing the busy spring and summer months in exchange for a whimsical winter wedding. You can create your very own Winter-Wedding Wonderland with winter themed wedding favors.

Wedding Favors serve a variety of purposes - you can thank your guests for attending the wedding, the favors can serve as a special reminder of your wedding day, or they can showcase your interests and/or wedding theme.

Consider a less-is-more approach to your color palette: Silver and white are classic colors and would add some serious glamour to your winter wedding. Use some adorable favors such as the snowflake place card holders or Silver Snowflake Votive Candle Holder.

From snowflake bookmarks to winter-themed place card frames, there is a long list of favors to choose from for your winter wedding! You can find favors to match a glittery snowflake design or go with a more traditional favor.

Another great favor option is a winter-themed bottle stopper. Many guests will be entertaining during the holiday season, and their parties will almost certainly include a bottle or two of wine. Send guests home with a unique bottle stopper from your wedding, and not only can you help keep their leftover wine fresh, you can also create a conversation piece at their next gathering.