Take Advantage of After Holiday Sales

If you are planning to use red, green, gold, silver or even blue as your wedding colors or maybe your planning for a holiday wedding next year or even just a winter wedding you may want to check out the after Christmas sales.  You can find great deals on gift bags, ribbon, tissue paper and many other items that can be used as welcome gift bags, favor wrapping, or possible wedding favors.  Also if you're planning an outdoor wedding and want to incorporate some Christmas lights now is the time to stock up on those too.

If you're thinking pink or red or hearts...shop after Valentines Day!  Lots of great deals to be had.

Maybe you're using orange, brown or black in your wedding or you're incorporating fall items into your wedding and the various pumpkin items or gourds would fit in perfectly with your theme, then the after Halloween sale might be of interest to you.

So think about how you can put the after holiday sales to work for you and your wedding and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

Save the Dates

I love this idea and it can work for any wedding, but is especially fitting for weddings where a lot of guests would need to travel.  Are you ready....Save the Date Luggage Tags!!!!

This save the date can be done inexpensively or it can be more costly depending on the route you decide to go.  You can create one time use tags that have your save the date information on one side and the guests information on the other side (you could get them laminated too if can afford the additional cost).  A middle cost version of this would be to purchase plastic luggage tags they usually come in clear or colored and then print (or order) your save the date information as well as the guests information or if you need to save time just include a blank paper for the guest to fill out with their information (two separate pieces of paper) and slide them into the luggage tags.  The most expensive versions would be to order customized luggage tags with your save the date information or doing the same thing as the middle cost version but purchasing leather luggage tags.

Happy wedding travels!!!

Bridesmaids or Groomsmen Gifts

A few years ago I was in a friend's wedding.  She gave us each a digital picture frame.  She took the time and went through not only her digital photos, but also collected photos from various social media websites and personalized each frame with pictures of us over the years we've known each other.  It was not your typical gift, which I loved.  I really appreciate the time and effort she put into personalizing this gift for me, it was extremely thoughtful and special!  I still use it today and have added pictures to it over the years. 

Keep in mind this gift will require time and effort on your part, but that is what will make this gift extra special to those you give it to.

Bridemaid Gifts

Another gift I gave my bridesmaids were vases. I chose vases that were engraved with their first initial, but basically you pick a vase that is the perfect size to hold their bouquets.  I actually purchased a vase for myself and the moms (basically anyone that was given a bouquet.  I then had the vases set at their tables for the reception with water in them so my bridesmaids had somewhere to put their bouquets and the flowers added color to the tables.



(photo from weddingdaywonderland.com)

Place Cards

Place cards that would work for several different kinds of weddings that are just a bit more decorative than a paper place card by itself.  You can print your own place cards on your home computer or bring it to a printing store or even have them hand done with your guests names and table designation (whether you number your tables or name your tables).  The next material you will need are wine corks you can purchase them or even ask friends and family to save them for you.  You will then cut one side so that the cork sits level and flat on a table and doesn't roll away.  Then you will cut a slit along the top to put the place card in.

(as seen on LGB Studios)

Chocolate Wedding Treats

Whether you're looking for Engagement Party Favors, Shower Favors, Wedding Welcome Bag treats or Wedding Favors...this idea is can work for any of these events.

I have to give credit to my mom for this idea.  Let me explain.

You buy several bags of Hershey Nugget candies (number of bags will vary based on number of guests and how many you want to give each guest) and bought labels.  Then she selected several pictures of me and my husband and printed  them on labels.  She then spent several hours wrapping each candy.  Once that was complete she wrapped them in mesh and tied them with ribbon and a wedding charm.

This can be very time consuming, but if you got a group of people together it wouldn't take too long and you work on them in advance so you're not stressed with time.  Another idea is you can take the images to a printing facility have them print the labels for you.

Now as far as ways to customize these candies to fit your event:

Engagement Party - You can use engagement photos or photos from while they were dating and tie a tag onto them that says something along the lines of "We look forward to seeing you (insert wedding date here)" or you can use word art on the labels and insert "Congratulations (Insert Names Here)"

Bridal Shower - Again you can use engagement photos or photos of the couple from while they were dating and customize the label itself with word art or if there is a color theme for the shower that can be incorporated with the background on the label or ribbon.  Another idea is if you are doing a lingerie  party maybe use fish net stocking type material to wrap the chocolates.

Welcome Bag/Wedding Favor - If you are going for a specific look for your wedding again colors can easily be incorporated with ribbon or background on labels.  Or if you are going for a rustic look maybe you print the labels in sepia.  Or for a vintage look print in black and white.  Or if the setting of your wedding is the focus maybe use photos just taken in that setting.  Or you can even take photos just for these candies and dress specifically for that theme.

So many ways you can make these candies work for you and your event :)

Vintage Wedding Transportation

If your budget has some flexibility you may want to look into renting a vintage car to transport the bride and groom or even just for the added element it could bring to your photos.  I picture the bride and groom leaving the reception in the vintage vehicle with the guests wishing them well lighting the way with sparklers.  Maybe my vision is a bit too fairytale like for you, but I think everyone would agree that having a vintage car at their wedding could add some really awesome photos!

Football Season Weddings

Many couples elect to do a morning after brunch or luncheon for their out of town guests.  My suggestion for the football lovers is to look into group rates for the football game and let your guests know so they can purchase tickets in your group block.  Then invite all of your guests to tailgate and make that your "brunch" or "luncheon".

Let the party continue

Continuing with the 2 for 1

Cake Pops!!!!  They are delicious and would make a yummy favor as well as a colorful centerpiece.  You can order Cake Pop centerpieces that fit your color scheme and dress up the pops with ribbon and thank you tags for your guests to take on their way out. 

Or if you are on a tight budget you can make cake pops at home...there are various recipes online or they even sell cake pop machines at the stores...they are very easy to make.  Then just wrap them individually with cellophane bags and tie with your choice of ribbon to add color.  Finally you will chose a flower pot or pail and place a foam piece inside and arrange your pops.

Also you can chose to personalize these pails with your initials or names and the date of the wedding or placing a bow or ribbon that matches the ones you used with your cake pops.

Vintage Wedding Favors and Placecards

I love this idea not because it is simple and elegant, but because it serves two purposes and allows lots of personalization options.  You pick a favorite candy (or other ideas such as tylenol, flower seeds to plant, or other small item) and wrap it with either lace or a vintage handcercheif.  Then you close the packaging with ribbon to match your color scheme or go neutral to match the lace or handcercheif.  Finally, attach a tag on the ribbon thanking your guests for sharing in your special day and use the other side of the tag as their placecard.  Multitasking and saving money....LOVE IT!!!!

Beach Bridal Party Gifts

I wanted to tie in our beach theme with my bridal party gifts so what I did was I found each girl a beach bag that I thought they would like and then used that as the gift bag and filled it with their other gifts.  I included a small soft pack cooler, which to make it more special you can order a personalized cooler or what I did was ordered a designer cooler.  I also included a beach towel.  I used each girls favorite color and selected the various items based on that.  Other beach items you can include: personalized or cute koozies, sun tan lotion, aloe, cute flip flops, beach hat, etc.  Or you can also include a few non-beach items that are maybe just for the wedding day, which is what I wound up doing (I'll include those in a later post).  It has been over two years and I still see my girls using their beach bags, towels and coolers, which makes me so happy.

More gift ideas to come.

If you have any special requests for ideas please contact me and let me know and I will try to post something to help you.

Happy wedding planning!

Beach Wedding Welcome Bags

Several ideas for the welcome bags all of which are a little more costly than a regular gift bag, but very cute and reusable...

Beach Bag
Plastic Sand Pail with Shovel
Small Soft Pack Cooler
Styrofoam Cooler

All of which can be personalized.  You can either order them from various vendors already personalized or if you have nice hand writing or know someone else that does, craft stores make various markers and pens you can use to personalize them on your own.

You can include travel size sun screen or aloe, koozies, flip flops, sun visor or hat, beach ball, Gatorade or water and beach friendly snacks.

Have fun in the sun!

Chocolate Popcorn

Here is an easy treat you can make with limited time and is fairly inexpensive.  We included this treat in our welcome bags, but it can be used as your wedding favor or shower favor.  After our wedding one of my co-workers was planning her wedding and I told her about it and even made a small batch for her to try...needless to say it was incorporated into her wedding :)

You'll want to purchase cellophane bags and used the silver twist ties that came with it, but to dress it up a bit more you could create personalized labels for the bags and use ribbon that matches your color scheme.

Now for the treat.  Purchase butter flavored microwave popcorn, melting chocolate and wax paper.  Pop the popcorn according to the instructions on the package.  Allow the popcorn time to cool before spreading the popcorn over the wax paper.  Melt the chocolate as the package instructs (be careful not to burn the chocolate).  Once the chocolate is melted all you'll do is drizzle it over the popcorn.  After the chocolate hardens it is ready.  Package it up for your guests to enjoy.

If you have never had it yourself give it a try, so easy and so yummy!!!

Fall Centerpiece

I love these if you are set on having flowers for your centerpiece for the big day or it can even be used forr a shower or holiday or for the fall season.  It is so easy to do yourself and you can get friends or family to help prepare them for the big day.  The picture below is a smaller version and a bit on the dark side, but you'll get the idea.  You use pumpkins as your pot by cutting off the top and cleaning out the inside then you fill them with soil and the flower of your choice (pictured below is purple & white pansies).    Be careful not to overfill the pumpkin with soil you don't want water spilling out when you water them.  You can make them a couple days ahead of time, but you don't want to make them too soon as eventually the pumpkins will begin to rot.  Happy pumpkin carving :)

Budget Friendly Wedding Weekend Welcome Bags

We wanted to keep the cost of our welcome bags as low as possible, but still provide our out of town guests with some snacks and essentials for their stay.  Here are some ideas:

Small gift bags (I'll post about how to save on the welcome gift bags as well as a little bit more expensive gift bag ideas...check back soon)
Tags (We used business cards that we typed Welcome to our Wedding Weekend on and then just whole punched them and tied them on with twine to go with our beach theme - you can use ribbon that matches your color scheme or gift bags)
Bottled Waters (we included two in each bag and skipped the personalization to save money - purchase in bulk from a wholesale club or if you are unable to buy from a wholesale club look for sales at your grocery store)
Snack Size Chip Packs (again we purchased in bulk, but should be able to find on sale - we did a variety pack and put one of chips in each welcome bag)
Snack Size Cracker Sandwiches (again purchased in bulk, but again look for sales if a wholesale club isn't an option - we put one pack in each bag)
Mints (individually wrapped - we put several in each bag)
Tylenol (we found these travel size packets on Amazon and put two in each bag)
Map of the area (you should be able to obtain from the local visitors center or even the hotel your guests are staying at)
Coupons for the nearby restaurants (I called the restaurants and told them I had a large group of guests staying at the X hotel and asked if they could offer anything for my guests.  They were very pleased with the opportunity some offered percentage off coupons other offered free apetizer coupons and included their menu which was great because people could check out the menu before deciding where to go)

We also included a couple of homemade items that we love (that I will share with you in the next few posts and explain how to make them)...Check back soon and happy wedding planning!

More Centerpieces

A friend of mine had a fall wedding and I absolutely loved her centerpieces.  What she did was purchased various shapes and sizes of glass jars and vases (large - one for each table).  You can find these at stores like Michaels, WalMart, Home Goods or even various places online.  Then what you do is fill them...for fall fillers (depending on your colors) you can use red apples, or green apples, or golden apple, gourds, acorns, etc, for summer (again depending on your colors) limes, or oranges, lemons, etc.  Other ideas that I love, but might be a bit more expensive are filling these glass centerpieces with candies that go with your color scheme, but to get all one color you may have to secial order...for instance if your color scheme had red in it you could use Swedish Fish, red Skittles, red M&Ms, Twizzlers, etc.  What I love about this idea for the centerpieces is they are edible so at the end of the night people can help themselves to an after party snack.  You could actually double the centerpieces as the favors and provide spoon at each centerpeice and leave treat bags at everyseat and invite your guests to create their own favor but filling their bag with their favorite treats from around the room and that could also serve as a way to get people to mingle.  Love, Love, Love it!

Next post will be about thank you gifts for guests.  Happy wedding planning to all :)

Centerpieces

Centerpieces can be very expensive, but if you're on a budget like my husband and I were you have to prioritize and for us we decided to allocate just a small portion on our budget.  We agreed we didn't want a large centerpiece as we wanted people to be able to socialize across the table without having to look around a large centerpiece to see the person you were talking to.  We decided to do a low candle centerpiece and didn't mind spending the time putting them together ourselves.  Our wedding was a beach setting which we were able to incorporate into the centerpieces.  We found a set at Michaels that was perfect for us.  We substituted the rocks that came with the set for some sand and sea shells (which was a very inexpensive addition).  I made several trips to Michaels so that I could use 40% off coupons each time I purchased one and we actually had our family make a couple trips for us as well to different Michael's locations so we could collect enough of them and just paid them back...we NEVER paid full price.  You could do this same idea for a wedding in the mountains or at the lake and use the rocks.  I've included a couple of pictures of our centerpiece for your viewing.  My next post will be another centerpiece idea for fall...

Please contact me if there you are in need of an idea for a centerpiece, bridesmaid/groomsman gift, favors, welcome bags, etc.  Obviously I won't be able to respond to everyone, but if there are several requests for something similar I will try to come up with something that you'll either love or will maybe inspire you...happy wedding planning to all!