Category wedding blog

It seems like candy, sweets and other treats have always been a part of weddings and other get togethers.
Traditionally Jordan Almonds were the first choice but one by one new favorites work their way into the picture.

Now that most people have computers and desktop graphics programs it is easy to make customized wrappers for candy bars.

How to do Candy Favors:
1. Choose the type of candy you want to use.
2. Candy bars are an first choice because the labels are easy to make.
3. Remove the outside wrapper and measure it for size.
4. Now make a new wrapper using your favorite desk top publishing program.
5. Import a photo or capture a special graphic to match the theme.
6. Print the finished design and cut it to size.
7. Now just tape it in place and you are done.
8. If you don’t feel up to the task just do a web search for “candy wrappers” and you will surely get a lot of ideas.

Want to make your own candy?
Most arts and crafts stores carry everything you need.

One of the many questions we are often asked is how many wedding favors to order. This is a perfectly good question, especially since many of our customers are first time brides.

The answer depends on what kind of favors are being considered. Traditional candy type favors are usually meant to be consumed at the party, although some of the personalized ones will be taken home. So, in the case of the candy plan on one per guest including the kids and bring extras.

More and more couples are giving guests more substantial favors in the form of keepsakes. The number and price range for these type favors is vast and confusing at best. There are some handy rules used to determine the number of wedding favors for keepsakes. For example when the item is of a personal nature that could only be used by one person at a time, such as a shot glass or goblet then think about one per guest. On the other hand if the item is something shared like a candy dish, maybe one would be enough. Some items like our aromatherapy ornaments can be given to the couple or each guest.

Other problem can arise when ordering personalized wedding favors such as lead time. Lead time is how long it takes from ordering custom favors till they can be delivered. In some cases this may be only a few days but in others many weeks. The big problem here is you may not have a good count until only weeks before the wedding. For our customers we offer the option of ordering conservatively at first and then adding to the at the last minute to cover unforeseen changes. Make sure your vendor is flexible enough to cover your changing circumstances.

Lastly, if children will be present try to think of something special for them. Small safe toys or healthy snacks are a good bet.

While reading brides questions this morning I stopped at one that asked about making a make a wedding theme card box to match a football theme wedding.

For those who do not remember a card box is a container used to receive and hold the cards that guests bring to the party, some or best wishes but many also contain money.
Not everyone uses a card box. Some use a large plate or silver platter but more and more brides are turning to the box as a secure choice.

A simple card box could be constructed from a 12 inch square cardboard carton covered with white butcher paper. This type of box could be stenciled or decoupaged with clipped pictures of flowers or other images that matched the wedding theme.

Glue on some silk maple leaves or the real thing for a fall theme wedding. Other materials could include tulle, pieces of lace, fabric that matches the brides maids dresses and so on.
For a football theme wedding take a football shaped balloon and make a paper mache box. Use strips of newspaper torn about 2 inches wide and soaked in wallpaper paste. Put on one layer at a time until the paper is about 1/4 inch thick. Then paint the “box” to match the colors of the football including the stitches.

For a beach theme box use braided rope for a border and glue sand and shells to the outside.
If the bride and groom are traveling for a honeymoon clip travel brochures and paste the names of far off cities to the outside. Better yet get an old suit case from the second hand store and cut a slot in the side. Decorate the suite case with names of exotic travel destinations.

Place the box near a register book so that the guests can sign their names when they leave a card.
Put on your thinking cap and you will be able to come up with some good ideas in no time. A hand crafted card box can add to the atmosphere of the party and provide a safe secure place for all the monetary gifts.

One of the most useful wedding party planing tools are the invitations.
When planing an event it is obvious that knowing exactly how many people plan attend will make things easier and less expensive.

They can be as simple as a hand dashed note or very elegant with numerous parts and envelopes.
Advance notice will tell you how many favors to have on hand. It also will tell you how many chairs, tables and the amount of food to have.

But in order to gather this information there needs to be a rhyme and reason to the invitations.
A simple invitation for an informal gathering where you will be serving simple snacks, or punch and pie needs only to be a single folded notice with a short greeting on the front of the card and details such as time and address on the inside.

Simple cards such as these can be found in most of the marts as well as stationary and book stores.
They usually can be purchased in packs of 10 or 25 or so and come complete with envelopes.
If you want to try your hand you may find making this type of card is not that difficult and with all the programs for computers it can be down right simple.

Just pick up some envelops and fancy paper at the stationary store and you are in business.
On the other hand invitations for a more formal affair would likely include an outer envelope with the invitation and the R.S.V.P information.

R.S.V.P. is an abbreviation for the French expressions “ripondez s’il vous plant”, which translates to “please respond” in english.
It has been reported that more and more people are not responding to invitations and it probably is due to one or all of these 3 reasons.
1. People have become rude and do not want to bother replying.
2. People do not understand that R.S.V.P means respond even if you are not coming.
3. People are just keeping the stamp.

Personally we thing people are keeping the stamps but the real reason probably is people do not understand that they should respond even if they are not planning to attend.

One useful tactic that is getting more and more attention is save the date. It seems like folks have less time to spend on more events so the idea is to let them know far in advance that you are planning a party, and that they would do well to put it on the calender so that when the invitation comes they can R.S.V.P right away.

Save the dates can be as simple as a card or include a favor of some kind.
We have had customers buy ornaments and wind chimes for save the date gifts.

At any rate you can help to avoid as much confusion as possible by including the choices, we will attend, and we will not attend.
If you do not have the time or inclination to make your own favors you will need to enlist the talent of others.

Your local quick printer, wedding planner or party store should have a source for invitation and this is a good place to start.
You can view and hold a number of invitations to judge size, weight and texture of the paper and colors not to mention fonts.

Heart, as described by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is the emotional or moral as distinguished from the intellectual nature. One’s most innermost character, feelings or inclinations. Love, as described by the same text, is a feeling of strong affection for another.

Although some physiologists will tell you that the heart is the organ that pumps blood through your body and love is all in your brain, you know, chemistry, dopamine’s, serotonin, mating processes, continuance of the species and all that stuff. Hearts and Love are something else altogether.

But wait, according to studies done at the Heart Math Institute of Boulder Creek CA the electromagnetic energy of the heart increases significantly when people consciously feel love or care while in physical contact or even if they’re in close proximity.

From the beginning of time emotions of love have been related to the heart.
The ancients thought of the heart as the origin of human emotion and where their soul resided.
The Roman’s thought that if Cupid’s arrow pierced one’s heart, he or she would fall deeply in love.
To give your heart means to give of yourself completely, your whole being.

To those in love there is no stronger or more important symbol than the heart.
The heart wedding favors are a perfect way to express your love and share it with your guests.

Most brides take great care when giving out directions to the venue but what happens when roads are closed other unseen circumstances affect the travel directions so keep guests informed of changes.    Fires, floods, storms, and equipment failure can close a banquet hall at the last minute.

A good address list will come in handy for mailing update cards but you can not assume everyone will get the update.

In some cases emails and phone calls to close friends and family can help to notify the guests.  A phone call or email to as many guests as possible will help to avoid embarrassing mix-ups.

Handouts can be printed and left at the preferred motels so that last minute guests will be aware of the changes.

Signs from the ceremony to the reception can help and make sure they are large enough and placed where they can be easily seen.

Lastly make sure that limousine and other transportation drivers are aware of any changes.  A bus load of missing guests can throw the timetable off causing delays.

In years past it seemed like everyone wanted to be a spring or May bride. Couples planned months in advance for the special day with high hopes of fair weather.

The trouble is we now can not accurately predict the weather much better than we could years ago, especially month or more in advance.

So the boy scout motto of ” be prepared” still applies.

It seems like the amount of planing is relative to the geographical location. For example in our part of the woods we can have snow in June but in more southern climes the problem may be just the opposite.
Naturally outdoor weddings will require special planning no matter where they are held but even indoor events can be a challenge in changing weather.

Check the venues for the ceremony and the party afterword for easy access in the case of rain or snow. People tracking mud and water onto a dance floor can cause all kinds of trouble. Roll up runners are a good way to catch the mess and avoid dangerous or embarrassing situations.

It might be wise to keep an alternate venue in mind for any occasion and especially when living in an area that is prone to disruptive storms. If the roof is blown off the reception hall you may need to make a quick decision on where to go and having a short list of other available rooms can save the say, literally.

Umbrellas are always handy and you could encourage your guests to be prepared. Likewise you could have some on hand for the wedding party and special guests. Unless you are wealthy it may be a waste of money to go out and buy them. If you can afford it go ahead, and you may be able to return them if they are not used. Otherwise beg and borrow them if you can, although it might be dicey asking a favor from an uninvited acquaintance.

With gardening becoming more popular, party planners are using theme plants as favors.
One very popular theme is butterflies and butterfly gardens. With all the choices it sometimes can become confusing so we have compiled a brief butterfly plant guide to help.

Perennial plants are those which come back year after year and in some cases multiply and they make nice gifts and favors. Perennial plants can be grown at home and are usually started in small pots and re-potted as the roots require more space as the plants grow.

For perennial plants to grow well and come back they need to be planted in a “zone” or temperature range that will not kill them during the winter or hot summer. To find your zone use the US National Arboretum USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberose) is good choice if you want to grow the plants from seed. This plant is available in red, orange and yellow and will grow nicely in zones 4a to 10b .
Another popular butterfly garden plant is bee balm or Monarda. This hearty perennial will attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds and comes in a wide range of colors including red, blue, and lavender. Like the butterfly weed, this plant can be started form seeds or dug from an established bed.

Other popular butterfly garden plants include Corn Flower, Rocket Larkspur, Sweet William, Cosmos, and others. Check the North Carolina State University for a list of butterfly and nectar flowers.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/butterflies/text/butfly_nectar-flowers.html

You will need to get started well in advance of the occasion if you expect the plants to be in bloom.
Supplies needed will include sterile plant medium pots and of course the seeds. The best way to buy a large amount of plant medium is in a large bale. One 3.8 cu ft bale will fill 100 1 gallon pots if you are repotting from a 4 inch pot.

The best way to start the seeds is to read the instructions and follow the directions. Usually the seeds can be started in small “6 pack” containers and moved to the larger 3 or 4 inch pots when the true leaves being to grow. If and when potting up to the gallons use the entire contents of the smaller pot, leaving the roots intact. If the plants are root bound the root ball should be pulled apart so the roots will fill the new, larger pot.

Our butterfly ornaments make great companion favors when paired with a seed favors or a growing plant.

by Diana Mojica Valadez.

The Summer season is rapidly and inevitably coming to a close and its time to think about Welcoming fall with a theme wedding. Vacations will soon be memorialized in scrapbooks that will be looked through fondly during the harsh winter months as a reminder for what is to come next year. Soon, children will begin the new school year and adults will go back to work. But despite the element of somberness that lingers after Summer, weddings never cease to be planned; weddings and engagements occur year-round. And although the mainstream media makes a loud buzz about summer weddings, June brides, and summer themed favors– a Fall wedding coupled with gorgeous Autumn themed favors has a spark of its own unparalleled to a June wedding. An Autumn wedding is a magnificent way for engaged couples to create an inviting and intimate environment that juxtaposes the cold weather.

Inviting Colors
After the Summer, the weather will progressively get colder. Therefore, it is important to distract guests from the harsh coldness of the season–through colors. Colors have a profound effect on human emotions, therefore, it is important that Fall hues be used quiet extensively during the reception in order to create a positive and calming atmosphere. Fortunately, the Autumn color spectrum is comprised of warm colors ranging from yellow to maroon, which is relatively easy to create a soothing and welcoming environment.

Fragrant Favors
Although candles have often been utilized to set the mood at weddings; potpourri is a great way to set the mood and add a pleasant and soothing and lasting aroma to any event–especially a wedding. Potpourri can be placed inside clear bowls and used as small center pieces or can be handed out as favors in sachets. Here at the Wedding Department, a “how to” for potpourri sachets has been created for anyone that is interested in creating their own potpourri favor.

Sounds of Nature
If the celebration will be taking place in an open space, it’s a great idea to decorate by hanging Fall Leaf Wind chime favors. The beautiful sounds of the wind will add a soothing element and natural soundtrack to the reception. The chiming in the background will intrigue guests and will be pleasantly surprise to learn they also serve as favors.
The weather outside may be getting colder, but that doesn’t mean a wedding has to resort to bland favors and boring colors. The fall season offers a variety of colors, fragrances and creative ideas that create a warm and soothing environment.

by Diana Mojica Valadez.

The celebration of our nation’s independence may have occurred last month, but for military couples, patriotism is a way of life so why not Say I do in Red White and Blue? With deployments, permanent change of station orders, and adjusting to a strict work schedule, leading a military life can be both overwhelming and honorable. A military-themed wedding is a beautiful way of showcasing the traditions that bear a high degree of pride and honor involved in officiating a marriage.

Look Sharp

This may sound obvious but couples that plan on having a military-themed wedding must have keen sensitivity about their attire. All military branches have strict dress codes–especially for important events. For example, when decorating a military dress uniform with awards, the service member must be consistent. Some awards come in the form of a medal and ribbon, while others ONLY come in the form of a ribbon. Don’t mix ribbons with medals. Create a clean, sharp, neatly-organized decorated uniform with ONLY medals or ONLY ribbons. It’ll impress guests and the photographs will look stunning.

The Arch of Sabers

After the ceremony, the newlywed couple usually walks under an arch of sabers, curved swords with only one edge–it is a beautiful and symbolic act that signifies the couples passage onto their new life together. This act, however, should only be performed for commissioned officers by commissioned officers (the United States Marine Corps is the only branch that authorizes noncommissioned officers to perform this act). Usually it takes six to eight groomsmen to create the arch. When the leading usher orders, “center face” he is signaling the groomsmen to form two facing lines ready to create an arch when he orders, “draw swords.” As previously noted, this is a beautiful and symbolic passage that although is not required, many military couples chose to incorporate this tradition because of the charming and appealing visual and its romantic symbolism.

Reception

Among other decorations, the reception venue should be adorned with an American flag and the flag of the unit. Military guests are usually seated in order of rank and regimental music may be played during the bride and groom’s grand entrance. Furthermore, when the time to cut the cake arrives, it should be sliced using a saber or a sword.
The true beauty of a military wedding is that it allows servicemen and women of different cultures and faiths to incorporate their American identity into their wedding.