Candles make wonderful wedding favors to give to your guests.  Many companies today sell votive candles in a variety of wonderful scents, from flowers to foods.  You can also find them in dozens of colors so they would be very easy to match to your wedding colors. 

I attended a wedding of a good friend’s daughter several years ago and their wedding favors were beautiful little white votive candles personalized with the names of the bride and groom and their wedding date.  I still have that candle ~ it’s much too pretty to actually burn ~ and it gives off the best aroma!

If you want to go that extra mile, place your votive candle of choice in a personalized glass votive holder.  That way your guests can use the candle and still have a wonderful memento of your wedding.

Wedding Favor Reflections is proud to be able to continue to carry the entire product line of Kate Aspen wedding favors.  The 2009 favors just came out bringing the total number of favors to over 400.  In other words, there is something for just about everyone’s taste.

Besides wedding favors, bridal shower favors, and baby shower favors, she has added some very unique ‘just for fun’ party favors.  Perfect for girls’ nights out, birthdays, or any other celebration you can think of.

Kate Aspen continues to produce only the highest quality favors, many of which have been featured in movies and television shows.  Her chrome bottle stoppers are made of solid chrome giving each one a very solid feel. 

 Now with more favors to choose from, Kate Aspen favors go perfectly with any celebration.  Just a personal note, one of my personal favorites is the new ‘Udderly in Love’ Measuring Tape with Cow Tail Pull.  Adorable!

Here’s a sampling of some wonderful quotations that are perfect for use in wedding vows or wedding toasts. 

“The love we give away is the only love we keep.” ~ Elbert Hubbard 1927

“Where love reigns the impossible may be attained.” ~ Indian proverb

“Unable are the loved to die, For Love is Immortality.” ~ Emily Dickinson 1864

“To me, fair friend, you never can be old, For as you were when first your eye I eyed, Such seems your beauty still.” ~ William Shakespeare 1600

“All thoughts, all passions, all delights, Whatever stirs this mortal frame, All are ministers of Love, And feed his sacred flame.” ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1799

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery 1943

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.  It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.  Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.  If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” ~ Song of Solomon 8:6-7

If you use a quotation or a Bible verse in your wedding vows, consider copying that verse onto a small die-cut piece of parchment card-stock and attaching them with ribbons to your wedding favors.  This not only gives your guests a wonderful keepsake, but they will also take home a reminder of the vows you shared.

Here’s a list of common sense things to do in order to enjoy a worry-free honeymoon.  Some of these tips may even help you to save a little money in the process.

1.)  When it comes to renting cars, instead of going ‘first class’, try reserve a compact car instead.  Many car rental companies keep a larger inventory of large or luxury-sized cars on hand, so if they’re out of compact cars, they will often times upgrade you for free.

2.)  This goes without saying, but anytime you can book reservations in advance, do it.  Check the Internet for special deals, packages, or discounted fares.  When booking your reservations, ask if they honor a lower price if you happen to find one before your trip.

3.)  Be sure to check with the airlinesregarding luggage requirements and restrictions.  These rules can change frequently and you don’t want to find yourself having to pay large fees for too many bags or over-sized luggage.  Mark your luggage with brightly colored luggage tags so they’re easy to spot at the baggage claim.

4.)  Make out an up-to-date list with all of your credit card account numbers and give a copy to someone you trust.  It’s also a good idea to keep a copy in a file at home or a safety deposit box.  Be sure to write all of the 800 numbers for the credit card companies on the list as well.  If your purse or wallet gets lost or stolen, you’ll find this list a real life saver.

January 20th is more than just inauguration day at my house.  It’s my birthday.  At Wedding Favor Reflections.com, we’re celebrating with a twist ~ we’re giving you a gift!

Normally we offer free shipping on orders of $250 or more, but today only through midnight, we’re dropping that order requirement to $100.  That means even more people will be able to take advantage of free shipping.  This offer is good today, January 20th only, so be sure to check it out. 

This free shipping offer is in addition to our monthly special, so you can save even more money as you plan that special event.  And saving money is always the bottom line!

Paying for a wedding can feel overwhelming, but here are a few tips to help save your money and your sanity.

It’s always a good idea to open a wedding account.  This way you know exactly how much money you have to spend and where it’s going as you spend it. 

Look into less obvious ways to save a few bucks such as earning cash back or frequent-flyer miles on credit cards.  Putting deposits or large purchases on credit cards can earn a nice little benefit with their give-aways as long as you remember to pay each month’s bill off in full before interest accrues.

Check out hotel give-aways, especially if you’re booking your reception there, or are paying for out-of-town attendants to stay there.  You may be able to earn some free nights that can be applied toward a honeymoon package. 

Watch out for hidden charges in any contracts you have with vendors.  Some costs to look for are taxes, overtime fees or gratuities.  Ask questions and make sure you know what the bottom line cost is before you sign.

Watch for sales that can help keep the costs down.  Internet sales are everywhere, but you need to make sure they’re as good as they look.  Lowering the cost on products, but raising shipping fees is NOT a sale.  Look for online stores that offer free shipping or that charges only actual shipping costs.  That way, when they lower their prices, it’s really a sale.

If you’re thinking of trying a whole new look for your wedding, here’s a word of advice.  Don’t just get an idea of what you want in your head and then wait until the morning if your wedding to try it out.  Tears on your wedding day will be common, but they should never be because you hate the way your hair turned out.

Be on the lookout for different hairstyles that fit your face shape and hair length.  Ask you friends for their opinions, especially the ones that seem to have good fashion sense.  Once you’ve narrowed it down, go into a salon and try them out.  You’ll want to make sure any new hairstyle you choose will be able to look nice with your veil or tiara, so be sure to bring that along.  It may take several times to the salon before you finally find that perfect look, but it will be well worth it.

If you’re planning on having a manicure or acrylic nails applied for the big day, try different shapes and designs to see which one will go best with your gown.  Remember your hands will probably be a focal point in at least a couple of your wedding pictures.

After you’ve made your final decision, make your wedding day appointments.  Specify the stylist and manicurist by name when making the appointments and be sure to call several days ahead just to confirm.

Did you know that the unity candle is one of the newest wedding traditions?  It became a popular part of today’s traditional wedding ceremony in the 1990’s.  Typically, the bride and groom each light their own smaller taper candle, signifying their individual families.  It is also traditional for the mothers of the bride and groom t0 light the family candles.  During the ceremony, the bride and groom take the individual candles and together light a larger pillar candle.  This represents their unity; the creation of one new family.  Once the larger candle is lit, the bride and groom have the choice to leave the individual candles burning, or blow them out.

If this is your second marriage and there are children from previous marriages, you may want to include them in on this part of your wedding ceremony.  If they are old enough, allow the children to help light the larger pillar candle with their own little candles.  This will help the children to feel a part of the creation of your new family unit.

The old expression ‘Bloom where you’re planted” basically means that you don’t have to go to exotic places in order to do great things.  The same is true for your wedding reception.  You don’t need to be in Italy to have an Italian theme wedding;  you don’t need to be on a cruise ship in order to create a cruise-type atmosphere, and you don’t need to get married in the summer in order to have a beach theme reception.

Decorations can do it all for you.  Be sure to check with your reception hall before planning any ‘off the wall’ renovations, but most places will let you create a theme type atmosphere within reason.  Put a little Italian cafe feel into your reception by using red and white checked tablecloths with wine bottles dripping with multi-colored candle wax for centerpieces.  Instead of a band, hiring strolling violinists to play music during the meal.

Beach theme receptions are easily duplicated during colder weather by decorating with small pools, sand, inflatable palm trees, and beach balls.  Create a picnic lunch look at the reception tables and serve fun picnic-type foods.  You can even rent an indoor fire pit and have your guests make smores.  Hire a band to play Beach Boys music.  Don’t forget to have your wedding favors match your theme.

Using your imagination, you can take your wedding guests just about anyplace in the world!

Deciding to write your own wedding vows is a big step.  Putting your feelings into words that you feel comfortable sharing with a group of strangers can be daunting to say the least.  Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

1.)  Try looking through pictures of times you and your fiance spent together.  Recall the feelings you felt during those times and jot down simple words or phrases that you can later put into sentences.

2.)  Focus on your first impressions when met and how those impressions have grown and changed.

3.)  Where and when was your first kiss?

4.)  Where did he/you ‘pop the question’?  How did you feel? 

5.)  Analyze the reasons you know this person is ‘the one’ for you.  What are some of the things your fiance does or says that you particularly love.

6.)  How does this person make you feel during your special times together?  During sad times? 

7.)  How do you think your life will change after you’re married?   

8.)  Spend an evening together discussing your feelings and what you would really like to say to each other in your vows.  You could like to include a quote or a Bible verse, and build on that idea that it represents.

Above all, be yourself; genuine and sincere.  Speak from the heart and let the love you feel be expressed in your words.