Favor boxes are such a versatile tool when it comes to presenting your guests with their one-of-a-kind ‘thank-yous’ for sharing in your special day.  I recently received these pictures from a newlywed to show how he and his fiance took the Kate Aspen Miniature Silver Chair Favor Boxes up a notch and personalized them with their own unique touches.  He writes:

“We added our own style by creating a logo for our day and then I was able to get clear stickers and print our logo on it and then affix them to the favor boxes.  My fiance sewed the heart charms onto the ribbon.  They are unique and fantastic.”

He also shared with me that since his guests would be riding the cable cars to their wedding venues, they had delicious chocolates specially designed in the shape of cable cars to place inside each favor box.  The final wedding favor made a truly elegant statement as well as a greatly appreciated gift for their guests. 

Very creative!  Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea!

Centerpieces are the focal point of your bridal shower table.  Keep the size of the table in mind when creating your centerpiece.  You’ll want to make it proportional to the table.  It shouldn’t take up so much room that it makes the table look too crowded, and it shouldn’t be so small that it gets lost among the food items. 

Color can really make a centerpiece ‘pop’ out.  Work in the bride’s wedding colors, or if this is a theme bridal shower, such as a kitchen shower, you can work with the colors the bride has chosen for her kitchen.

Making a centerpiece out of food such as fruit can be a wonderful way to have your centerpiece serve ‘double duty’.  There are specialty stores that make wonderful fruit creations that would work well as a centerpiece, but if you’re handy, you can also find a picture and recreate it yourself.

Consider letting your bridal shower favors double as your centerpiece.  Favor boxes can be stacked in order to resemble a wedding cake.  Decorate the sides with silk rosebuds and ribbons and place a tiny ‘cake topper’ on top to complete the look. 

Purchase a small lace umbrella or parasol, turn it upside down in the center of the table and fill with flowers or all of your wrapped favors.  Decorate the parasol with streaming ribbons, and you’ve got a beautiful centerpiece that your guests will remember long after the shower is over.

Trying to think of that perfect wedding gift for your husband or wife-to-be can be difficult.  Here’s an idea that may just be what you’re looking for. 

Write a special poem, or if you’re writing your own wedding vows, you can use that.  If you know how to cross-stitch, or know someone who does, have it cross-stitched and framed.  You can even create an open space in the cross-stitch which can be used as a frame for your wedding picture.  Be sure to include names and your wedding date.

This not only makes a wonderfully sentimental gift, but it will be a lifelong reminder of those all-important vows you made on your wedding day.

If you have chosen to try to cut your wedding costs by creating some of your floral arrangements out of silk flowers yourself, congratulations!  Floral arranging is a lot of fun and you will be absolutely amazed at how much money you actually save. 

The best way to start is to look for a floral arrangement book.  These can be found in the wedding section of most craft stores.  You may need to purchase several books in order to find all the arrangements in the style you like.  First, look for a book that has a style of bridal bouquet that you like.  Remember you can substitute different types and colors of flowers to create your own unique bouquet; right now you’re just looking for a style you like.  These books will list all the materials you will need to make each arrangement and step-by-step directions.

You may want to start out small, making boutonnieres and corsages first.  These are very easy to make and take very little time.  If it all seems a little overwhelming to you, try creating a long stem floral arrangement for the bridesmaids instead of bouquets.  This is done by simply arranging 3 - 5 long stem flowers and tying them together with ribbon.

There are lots of benefits to using silk flowers for your wedding arrangements other than just the money you’ll save.  You never have to wait until a flower is in season or worry about working around holidays when florists may be out of a certain flower you want.  Silk flowers can be found in many more color shades to fit into your wedding color scheme, and best of all, they last forever.  So you can keep your wedding party table arrangment to use in the dining room of your new home. 

Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner for two or a wedding reception for over 200, you want your dining tables to look fantastic.  Try adding a little flair to each place setting with origami napkins. 

You can easily have your place settings enhance any theme you choose with this unique idea.  Books can be purchased at any bookstore that will give you easy step-by-step directions on how to create beautiful roses, butterflies, or even seashells for your beach theme wedding.  One book that is worth checking into is Brian Sawyer’s Napkin Origami, which features 25 different designs.  You may even find some free origami directions by searching on the web.

Use these stylish napkins to create a total theme-look by setting out matching wedding favors at each place setting.  Complete an Asian theme by pairing a lotus flower napkin with Double Happiness candles, or a white dove napkin with the Love Dove silver bottle opener.  The possibilities are endless and you’re sure to receive raves about your table settings.

These fluffy candles are easy to make and they can add a real sparkle to any Christmas or winter theme wedding.  Make several in different sizes and group them together for centerpieces or table accents. 

You can either start with round candles already made, or you can make your own.  If you choose to purchase the round candles instead of making them, you will not need the first three items and you can begin with step #5.

Materials:
Hollow rubber ball (any size)
2 teacups
Candle wick
Paraffin (candle wax)
Wire whisk
Cornstarch

Directions:
1.  Carefully cut the rubber call in half to create candle molds.  Place ball halves in teacups for support. 

2.  Melt paraffin according to directions on the box and fill each ball half with the melted wax.  Let cool until wax is totally set.

3.  Cut a small groove along the center of one of the candle halves.  Place a piece of candle wick in it, letting it extend beyond the end of the candle. 

4.  Dip the flat side of each half into the hot wax to coat and press the halves together.  Hold firmly until wax is set.

5.  Make sure wax is still completely melted and hot.  Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to each pound of melted wax.  This is also the time you may add any color, fragrance, or even glitter to the melted wax.

6.  Use the wire whisk to whip wax for 5 - 10 minutes until it has a meringue-like consistency.  Scoop wax fluff out with a spoon and apply to round candle.  Let set.

And there you have it!  A beautiful snowball candle that is guaranteed to bring a warm glow to any winter celebration.

I made these air freshener bears for my oldest daughter’s wedding and have used them for several bridal showers and weddings since then.  They look adorable sitting on the refreshment or gift table, and you can even customize the scent to fit into your shower or wedding theme.

Materials:
Renuzit® cone-shaped air freshener (any scent)
Small stuffed bears (You can find these at any craft store)
2 yds. 1″ lace
Spool of 1/8″ ribbon (coordinating color)
Small bouquet of ribbon roses
Small piece of white lace
1 yd. 1/2″ lace with pearl string accent
1 square black felt; 1 square white felt
Small piece 1/2″ black ribbon
Glue gun & hot glue sticks

Directions:
Glue four rows of 1″ lace to the base of the cone-shaped part of a Renuzit® air freshener, ending approximately 1″ from the top.  Cut off head and arms from the stuffed bear.  Sew openings on head and arms closed.  Glue arms to the sides on the top layer of lace.  Add one more layer of 1″ lace for the collar.  Trim collar with 1/2″ lace.  Glue head on the top.  Cut a 10″ circle out of the lace and sew 1/2″ lace trim around the edge.  This will be the bridal veil.  Glue veil to top of bear’s head.  Glue ribbon rose on top of veil.  Tie several pieces of 1/8″ ribbon to bouquet and glue to bear’s hand.

The groom bear’s suit is made from black and white felt.  Cut a small 2″ rectangle out of white felt and glue to the top edge of the air freshener.  Cut small collar-shaped pieces and glue in place.  Cut a tie-shaped piece and glue in place.  Cut one piece of black felt long enough to wrap around the air freshener.  Round top corners for the lapels and fold back.  Glue lapels in place.  Glue coat closed and trim with 2 or 3 small buttons.  Cut two smaller rectangles for sleeves and wrap around bear arms.  Glue arms to the sides of the air freshener.  Glue head on top.  For the hat roll a 1 1/2″ wide piece of index card and cover with black felt.  Cut a circle to cover the top of the hat and glue in place.  Cut a larger circle for the base of the hat.  Trim hat with 1/2″ black ribbon.  Glue hat to hat base and glue entire hat to teddy bear.  Glue rose boutonniere to bear’s lapel.

It takes only a little imagination to customize these bears to fit any shower, party, or theme.  The possibilities are endless and they’re indredibly easy to make!

Candles are the perfect way to decorate for almost any occasion, but especially a wedding.  These unique ice candles can be incorporated for any type of wedding, but can make an especially striking centerpiece for a winter-theme wedding.  Best of all, they’re extremely easy and economical to make.

You’ll need:
Candle mold, such as round or square pillar (quart-size milk cartons or coffee cans work well)
paraffin or wax
double boiler
liquid food coloring or crayon bits
small ice cubes

Directions:
Completely wash and dry the candle mold.  Lightly coat inside of mold with cooking oil.  If you’re using a milk carton, cut off the top before washing.  The easiest way to incorporate a wick in your ice candle is to purchase a similar color taper candle.  Cut from the bottom to fit the height of the candle mold and center inside the mold. 

Melt the paraffin or wax in a double boiler.  Add desired amount of food coloring or crayon pieces to wax.  HINT: The color of the wax will lighten slightly as the wax hardens.  Once all the wax is melted, fill the candle mold with ice cubes all the way to the top, keeping the taper candle centered.  Carefully pour melted wax into the mold, filling almost to the top.  Allow wax to harden completely. 

Carefully unmold candle over the sink to allow melted water to drain.  If a milk carton was used, you can unmold your candle by simply tearing away the carton carefully.  The result is a beautiful lacy candle that will cast delicate shadows when burning. 

Now use your imagination.  Make several sizes and surround your ice candles with pine logs or boughs, pine cones or holly.  Embellish with artificial snow spray, glittering snowflake ornaments or decals.   

Even if you choose to publish an engagement announcement in the newspaper, you can also send out individual announcements.  You can, of course, have engagement announcements professionally printed at the same places you would purchase wedding invitations, but they can also be made by hand.  If you have a computer and a printer, you’re in business.  Many department stores sell blank card or announcement forms that you simply run through your printer with the desired information.  It’s less expensive than having them done professionally, but if you really want to get the most for your money, try creating them from scratch.

Simple card stock is sturdy yet flexible enough to be run through a printer, and it comes in a variety of colors.  Use a label maker program to print out several copies of your announcement on one sheet.  Cut out the individual cards and edge with any scrapbooking scissors.  Add a picture of the two of you and detail your card any way you like.  If you have even the smallest knowledge of scrapbooking, you know the possibilities are endless. 

If you know your wedding date, you can also let your announcements double as a ’save-the-date’ reminder.  Glue a small magnet on the back of each announcement so your guests can place it on their refrigerator and remember to set aside your wedding day on their calendars.  Letting your guests know of your wedding date far in advance really is doing them a favor.  We live in a busy culture and many times the 4 - 6 weeks notice given with a wedding invitation simply isn’t enough time.

Many times wedding gifts and cards are sent to the bride and groom before the wedding day, however, there are always some that like to bring their presents to the reception.  You should make sure your reception hall provides a nicely decorated table for any gifts that your guests may bring.

Packages are easily kept track of due to their size, but cards can sometimes fall off and may become lost.  It’s a good idea to provide a safe container to hold the cards, especially since most of the time these cards contain gifts cards or cash.

When my oldest daughter became engaged, we searched for a pattern to make a card holder that was pretty as well as practical.  We found this ‘Church Card Holder’ that not only holds tons of cards, but also added to the decoration of the reception gift table.  It did take some time to make, however, I’ve been able to use it for several weddings as well as a few bridal showers that I’ve hosted.