Garden Party Themed Favors

Summer is the time of year everyone looks forward to and garden themed parties are popping up all over the place. There are endless possibilities for how you can put together a beautiful garden theme bridal shower with the help of mother nature.

Make the most out of the beautiful weather and host your event outdoors surrounded by colorful and fragrant flowers. Place folding hand fans at each plate setting for guests to enjoy a refreshing breeze. Decorate each table with potted flowers, floral design garden trowels, seed packets or any outdoor themed favor. Your guests will love celebrating in the refreshing outdoors and treasure each momento while tending their beautiful garden at home.

Renee'

Falling For a Lovebirds Theme - Inspiration to Reality

Since I am a hopeless romantic, a love bird wedding theme is one of my personal favorites.  Love doves have long been a symbol of romance, fidelity, and love.  Once a dove finds its mate, they've bonded forever and their love lasts a lifetime.  Perfectly fitting for wedding themes, don't you think?

Making a lovebird theme come to life at your wedding is easy to do.  With just a few nature inspired elements, you too can turn your inspiration into a reality.

1. Go simple with centerpieces - Stray for the normal floral arrangements and infuse these nature inspired wooden evergreen trees.  After your ceremony, encourage guests to take the centerpieces home as a keepsake from you special day.  Tip: Add visual interest by weighting cedar plants in glass votives with decorative rocks.

2. Set the tone of your love bird theme as soon as guests walk into your reception by assigning table numbers on these adorable love bird table numbers.

3.  So guests can easily see your table numbers, display them on tall table number holders.  Featuring a classic round silhouette.  The small compact design of these holders make them ideal for small spaces.

4. Frosted glass candle holders are one of the simplest ways to add warmth, ambience, and romance to your guest tables. The bonus leaf shape cutout design will cast around your reception hall also adding an element of nature.

5. Matching love bird tags, used here as place cards, will complement your love bird theme perfectly...and your adorable table numbers.  By keeping your design consistent through your stationery, your look ties together seamlessly without being overwhelming.

6. To hold those adorable place cards, lovebird card holders are a must.  So cute, your guests will love taking these home as favors, too!

7. & 8. To complement your nature infused table decor, wooden willow tree leaves and maple leaves will add dimension and a pop of color.  Tip: For the perfect finishing touch on your reception, tie natural grasses around your guest napkins for an easy and affordable napkin holder idea.

Happy Planning!

Allie

15 DIY Steps - 12 Months Before Your Wedding Day

It takes approximately a year to plan a wedding and there are 15 basic steps you should start with 12 months before your special day.

1. Announce your engagement
2. Set your wedding date    
3. Create a budget and keep a folder for receipts
4. Create your guest list
5. Start brainstorming ideas and themes
6. Reserve your Ceremony location
7. Book an Officiate
8. Make reservations for your Reception area
9. Book a Photographer and/or Videographer
10. Book a Caterer, Florist and Music (Band, DJ, etc.)
11. Look for a Wedding gown and Tux, schedule time for alterations and fittings
12. Register for gifts
13. Select and call the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
14. Agree on a date to order bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxes
15. Choose a destination for your Honeymoon (Apply for Passports)

If you do not plan to hire a Wedding Planner, you can delegate certain tasks to a friend or family member who you both agree would be the best person to handle finding a photographer, florist, or who might know a really great caterer. Planning a wedding can get hectic so don't forget to take time out and have fun too.

Renee'

Something old, something new, something vintage inspired...

Whether you call it vintage, shabby chic, rustic, french bohemian, or country, the theme draws inspiration from the same place - real life with a touch of whimsy and a strong dose of nostalgia. Styles like these remind everyone of a more innocent and playful time in our lives when we were playing dress up in grandma's attic and catching fire flies in mason jars.

The great thing about this effect is that it is so easy to create! Thrift stores, attics, garage sales, and junk yards (yes, I did say junk yards) are just begging to be picked through to find the perfect something old to be your something new!  Mason jars, various mismatched wine glasses, vases, and toasting flutes can be found in abundance at these places for next to nothing. Also, never underestimate what can be found for free in some of the above mentioned places. Of course it takes a little work to clean it up and make it fabulous, but that is part of the fun!

You can play up this theme by incorporating vintage accessories in your wedding as well. Cute vintage inspired flasks and engraved compacts with an old hollywood look would be great gifts for the wedding party. Lacey flower girl baskets and accessory sets also fit right in. Check out the pictures below for more inspiration!

Photo Credit:

Vintage Inspired Flask, Flower Girl Basket, Round Compact, and Ivory Favor Boxes - myweddingreceptionideas.com. All other images courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes Blog.

Have fun!

~ Jenna

Easy Ideas for Edible and Fun Fall Wedding Favors

Fall isn’t that far away and for brides who are planning fall weddings it’s time to start thinking favors. Here are a few easy, edible and fun fall wedding favor ideas.

Caramel or Candy Apples:

For this fun favor I would make both candy and caramel apples to give your guest a variety. This would be great project for getting a group of your girlfriends or bridesmaids together. Crack open a bottle of wine and spend the evening making beautiful apple treats for all of your guest. The apples can be displayed nicely using apple favor boxes that can be personalized with your names and wedding date.

Candy :

Another creative and money saving idea is making chocolate candy leaves. The molds can usually be found very easily at any craft store with directions on how to make the chocolate candies. Maple candies are also a nice fall treat. Look for a recipe on line and place a few candies in either a fall favor bag or a beautiful fall leaf favor box.

Fall Leaf Cookies :

Cookies are a fabulous fall wedding favor. To incorporate the fall theme make the cookies in the shape of maple leaves. If you are not much of a baker, use a store bought sugar cookie dough. You can either make or buy red, orange and green icing to match your cookies with your fall color wedding theme. The cookies, like the candies can be placed in a small favor bag and tied with ribbon. You could even give each one of your guest there own leaf shaped cookie cutter as a favor.

Any of the above ideas would be a creative and economical fall favor for your wedding. Edible wedding favors are becoming more and more popular. Set up a candy and cookie buffet and use all three ideas. Your guest will love it!

Carrie