Cheers To A Great Combination

Shopping is always a fun activity. However, if you are going to shop for your wedding, there is some additional pressure because you want to see to it that every item you buy would contribute to the success of the wedding. Even the wedding favors, you want to get the perfect ones. These 50 fabulous ideas will help you with this matter.

1.  Choose favors that serve multiple purpose

Mini flower pots that double as table centerpiece are always a hit!

2.  Why not do it yourself?

DIY favor projects give you the opportunity to express your talent and creativity. You get to save a lot of money too!

3.  Yummy sweet treats for the sweet tooth

Who does not love chocolates and candy bars? For once, forget about your diet and celebrate with these delectable wedding favors!

4.  Go wild with the favor boxes

Even the simplest kinds of wedding favors can be spiced up with the use of decorative favor boxes that are truly wonderful and adorable.

5.  Save the earth!

Go for eco-friendly items such as the eco-friendly bamboo ballpoint pen with inscription, “Be green, just write,” eco folding multi-use tote made of natural cotton, and eco mini drawstring bag made of 100% organic cotton.

6.  Soaps and bath salts, anyone?

Soaps and bath salts are great wedding favors because everyone takes a bath, right? Not to mention, these favors smell great too.

7.  Intricate designs for visual appeal

The laser carved glass snowflake tea light holders creates a beautiful glow with its laser carved details

8.  Practical and functional favors

Bottle openers, wine openers, tool kits—these are just few of the many items that can be used in people’s everyday lives.

9.  Classic and timeless items

Photo frames and candles—these wedding favors never get old!

10.  Theme, theme, and theme!

Nautical favors for a beach wedding, a fancy Cinderella wedding carriage candle for a fairy tale wedding. The important thing here is to match the theme of the event.

11.  Personalize it

Give more meaning to the gift by scribbling some personal message.

12.  Shop the cyber way

Shop online and get your hands on some of the most beautiful wedding favors ever created!

13.  Miniature versions of everyday items

Miniature travel suitcase containers and miniature tote bags are great and cute wedding giveaways.

14.  The bargain hunt

Shop at bargain or discount wedding stores to save money.

15.  Who does not love love birds?

Give away mini love bird house as a way of saying thank you to guests.

16.  Fancy playful items

Receiving mini slot machines would make you feel like you hit the jackpot!

17.  Adorn the favor with special ribbons and bows

Use these items to make even the simplest wedding favors beautiful and elegant.

18.  Musical CD collection

Buy blank CDs and then ask your techie brother to burn some music CDs for the favors

19.  Go regional

Asian themed wedding favors would complement an Asian themed wedding event.

20.  Some word of advice

Get ideas, tips and advice from family and friends

21.  Something for luck

Horseshoes and miniature “good luck” wooden elephants would be appreciated by anyone who can use some extra luck.

22.  Feed your fantasy

Fantasy favors perfect for a fairy tale themed wedding are great ideas too.

23.  Beachy, beachy

Tropical flip flop candles and nautical sailboats are wonderful options even if you are not going to have a beach wedding.

24.  Artsy and craftsy

Poster colors or mini craft punches—whatever your choice is, any artsy farsty would surely love these items.

25.  Go creative with the favor cards

Match with the theme or make your own!

26.  Personalized ribbons with an attitude

Use personalized ribbons to make the wedding favors more stunning.

27.  Silver items for elegance

Silver-plated bottle or wine openers truly spell class and elegance.

28.  Wines and spirits

Give away mini wine bottles.

29.  Color code it!

Instead of giving away the same item for everyone, why not give away different kinds of wedding favors that carry the same color?

30.  Customized candy bar wrappers

If you are going to give away chocolate bars, cover them up with fantastic custom covers.

31.  Suitability

Choose appropriate wedding favors that are suitable for the theme of the wedding and the majority of the guests attending your event.

32.  Soft and fluffy

Cotton items and mini pillows are soft, fluffy, and wonderful wedding favors

33.  Child’s play

Give away mini children toys that any kid at heart would love and enjoy.

34.  Garden items

Flower seed packets and garden tools are also excellent choices.

35.  Romance is in the air

Give wedding favors that echo your love and devotion for each other.

36.  Aromatherapy

Any guest would love a gift of aromatherapy candles, essential oils or incense.

37.  A hole in one!

Golf related wedding favors are perfect for golf weddings and for golf fanatic couples.

38.  Big and grand

Wedding favors are usually small items but if you want to make a statement, you can try going for medium or large sized wedding favors if you have enough budget for it.

39.  Love quotes

Include some love quotes on the wedding favor.

40.  Sticker happy

Instead of using favor tags, you can use stickers for the wedding favors.

41.  Monogram glam

It has become a trend to include the couple’s initials in invites and wedding favors instead of their complete names.

42.  Handmade paper

Go rustic by using handmade paper to wrap the favor, add pressed flowers and dried leaves for an added spectacular touch.

43.  Rainbow colors

Choose wedding flavors that come in a myriad of bright colors so that they can also be used as decoration for the venue.

44.  Clear glasses filled with trinkets

Fill up clear glasses or small vases with trinkets like candies, shells, crystals, or any other small items. Then wrap the clear glass with ribbon.

45.  Ready, set, go!

Items for people who are always on the go are ideal in this modern fast paced society of today.

46.  Go out of the box

Lollipops, mints, and salt and pepper jars are not typical wedding favors but guests would delight at the fun and novelty of these items.

47.  Sew it

Buy wedding favors online and make it extra special by sewing a cloth packet as its container.

48.  The font

Use stylized or handwritten fonts for the wedding favor cards.

49.  Discount alert

Watch out for discount sales and get excellent deals from wedding favor suppliers.

50.  Know who to trust

If buying online, make sure you go for a reliable and trustworthy store that can provide a secure system for online transactions, good quality products and excellent service.

Keep these tips and ideas in mind for a wonderful wedding favor shopping activity!

RSS wedding buzz, source: mybeachfavors.com/blog

Exotic Cocktails

One great thing about beach wedding receptions is its fun and laid back nature. You can let your hair down, walk barefooted on the sand, dance whimsically under the moonlight, and have fun with the wonderful ocean scenery as your backdrop. Another thing that many people love about this is of course, the flavorful cocktails that can truly make you have the time of your life.

For those getting married in a beach setting soon and those who want extra-special and out-of-the-ordinary cocktail drinks for the reception, here are some ideas to keep in mind:

Strawberry Basil Martini – Sweet Tangy Herbal Infusion

This cocktail drink, inspired by Jamie Walker, Global Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire Gin, is the perfect drink for those looking for something that is sweet and tangy with a hint of flavorful herb. To make this, mix 1 oz. gin, 1/4 oz. strawberry liqueur, 1 oz. white cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker. Add 3 halved strawberries, 3 squeeze of limejuice and 3 basil leaves. Mix it up. Add lots of ice, shake and then double strain and put into a chilled martini glass.

Jamaica Margarita – Reggae-ing to the Max

For this unique drink, you need to have 1 cup of dried hibiscus blossoms placed into a strainer and rinsed. Combine these blossoms with 3 cups of water, and 2 cups of sugar into a saucepan and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain and discard the flowers. Chill the hibiscus mixture and then add to 1 ¼ cups of tequila, ½ cup fresh lime juice and 1/3 cup of any orange flavored liqueur. Garnish the drink with lime slices.

Cranberry Margarita – Tequila with a Twist

Tequila drinks are always great to have in parties. But if you are looking for something different, you would probably love this exciting Cranberry Margarita. To make this, combine 1 and ½ shots Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila, 1 shot cranberry juice cocktail, ¼ cup whole cranberry sauce, ½ shot Cointreau, and ice in a blender. Blend until you get a smooth and frothy mixture. Pour the drink into a margarita glass and garnish with cranberry and lime slices.

Sangria – Drink with a Touch of Delight

For Sangria, you will need to have one bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz) and then pour this into a pitcher. Squeeze in one lemon and one orange, both cut into wedges. Add the wedges but remove the seeds first. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 shot brandy. Chill overnight. Add 2 cups of ginger ale or club soda before serving. You can serve this pre-chilled or with ice. For a touch of delight, you can add in fruits like strawberries, peaches, blueberries or kiwi.

Here are some more tips on how to have fun with the cocktail drinks for your beach wedding reception:

1. Have a tasting bar that would showcase you and your partner’s favorite cocktail flavors. Offer the drinks in shooters so guests can have a try of the different types.
2. Ask the guests to try their own flavor and experiment with the drinks with the help of an expert bartender.
3. Match the signature drinks to the theme of the wedding. For example, the Jamaican cocktail would be perfect for a reggae-inspired theme wedding.

The beach wedding can surely be the perfect way to celebrate your love and union. Make this event complete with servings of exciting exotic cocktails for you and the guests to enjoy.

Also don’t forget to check out our fabulous cocktail favors!

RSS wedding buzz, source: http://www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com/celebrity_weddings/2009/09/drink-like-a-celebrity-at-your-wedding-bottoms-up.html

It’s no surprise that celebrities always have the best wine at their weddings. What is surprising? That you can too — and for way less than you think (we swear!).

Cameron Hughes Wine is a company dedicated to bringing customers high-end wine at affordable prices. Co-owners Cameron Hughes and Jessica Kogan built their business model around a “spot” market, meaning they buy premium wines in bulk, perform their own blending and bottling, and then sell the wine at a major discount. Just genius! Now you and your guests can imbibe like stars without maxing out your credit cards.

The company sells wines under five labels — Lot Series, Flying Winemaker, Hughes-Wellman, RockRidge, and Evergreen — which can be purchased online at the company’s website. They even offer special discounts for weddings, as well as direct shipments to your venue and a buy-back policy for unopened bottles. Send an email to weddings@chwine.com for more information.

– Justine Lorelle Blanchard

Wrap up your day the right way with personalized wedding ribbons. You can make any statement on your favours, flowers and decorations by using special wedding ribbons.

Favours are recognized at the reception usually by the pretty wedding ribbons. Usually personalized wedding ribbons are affixed to the favours so guests always remember the moment. Jordan almonds or a bottle of wine is tied around the top with ribbon from the new Mr. and Mrs. A mini die cut ribbon looks adorable wrapped around a small treasure chest bearing candies.

Many couples release helium balloons at their wedding to celebrate the moment they tie the knot. Whether an adult or child, everyone loves to play with balloons at a party and take them home when it ends. Cut long strips of colourful, standard curling ribbon so everyone can grab a balloon and have a great time.

You can make special magic wands to give out at your wedding, made from joy, cherish, love, hope, faith ribbon and hollow craft wands. Use pinking shears to cut long trips of the ribbon and a glue gun to secure them to the wands. Your guests can wave the wands after your wedding and take them home as a keepsake.

Floral arrangements are personalized with pretty wedding ribbons. A bow made from a mini flower chain die cut ribbon looks darling tucked under a floral arrangement. Streamers hanging from your floral arrangements made from today I married by best friend ribbons make a happy statement about your love. A sheer organza ribbon looks breathtaking around a bouquet of wildflowers.

Unique wedding ribbons on the gifts to your wedding party make them extra special. A “we’ve tied the knot” ribbon around each gift will remind the guests of how much they helped you get to that special moment.

Ribbons can be used to decorate your reception area. Tie them around any place that looks boring or plain. Poles are brought to life in halls. Shrubs are more noticeable at garden weddings. Add colour with wedding ribbons wherever it is needed.

Your tables are more elegant with personalized wedding ribbon at each place setting. Wrap ribbon around napkins or the base of candleholders. Have a large, framed photo of the bride and groom at each table with a gros grain ribbon tied around the base.

Wedding ribbons are a fun way to express yourselves on your once in a lifetime day.

RSS wedding buzz, source: http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/2009/08/eco-friendly-wedding-details.html

A few months ago I helped photographer Sabine Scherer promote her Eco-Contest. Free wedding photograhy for a creative wedding that is also eco-conscious. And, not only is this wedding both of those, but it is also budget friendly! Hopefully these photos and descriptions will help provide some ideas to incorporate into your day. A lot of these ideas are easy to do. Thanks so much for sharing the results Sabine!

From Sabine, I loved that they had a basket on the bench with them during the ceremony with all the pictures of the loved ones that could not join them. The wedding took place at the beautiful Leonard Lake in northern California.

Frankly, I think all ceremonies should end with a canoe ride. How cool is that! I agree!

When you drove up to the Lake houses you were welcomed with a little packet (printed on recycled paper of course) that had all the information of where the guests were staying. These were tied to the tree with twine and clothespins. Very cute. All the jars you see were collected from thrift stores, craigslist and friends. To fill all these jars Regina & Tim made their own soy candles (much friendlier than your average paraffin candle) and got flowers that were local and in season.

This was a brilliant idea – Regina & Tim did not want to go through a ton of glassware, so everyone wrote their name (with twig pencils) on a label attached to mason jars. This way guests only used one glass for water & lemonade throughout the evening. I wanted to do the same thing at my own wedding – hence its so brilliant! The table runners were from burlap sacks Regina and Tim collected from a local coffee roaster and can be composted after the wedding. Apparently the leftovers were used for sack races. Too bad I missed that part of the weekend.

All the food was local organic seasonal food. And the bread was to die for! To top it all off the beef came from the fields right next to Leonard Lake Road. It doesn’t get much more local than that. All of the wine and beer served were also local and organic. The beer came in kegs so not to have too many bottles to recycle. To wrap it all up, at the end of the night they used compostable corn plates for the pie.

And to top it all off Regina & Tim went on an eco-friendly honeymoon at Suenos Tulum, Tulum Mexico!

Thanks so much Sabine! And the contest was such a success that she wil be offering it again in a few months, so if you want some free wedding photography and are planning a green wedding – or maybe this has provided some ideas! – make sure you keep checking her blog. I will also let you know when the contest starts. I really love how it turned it. And, Sabine is getting married this week – at the same location!! Congrats to you and your new husband!! Can’t wait to see your photos.

Question from Nannette:

Hi, my fiancee and I are paying for our wedding ourselves. We were thinking of having a twoonie bar at the reception to cut some of the cost. Is this tacky?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Nannette, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Having a cash bar at a wedding is considered poor etiquette.  There are others ways in which to reduce your bar costs.  This video talks about the etiquette of hosting a wedding and covers cash bars, and wedding budgets.

One way to reduce costs is to use ‘bar brand’ alcohol instead of ‘premium brand’.  Another way is to shake things up a bit, and do something completely different.  How about creating one or two ’signature cocktails’ named after the bride and groom, and having them as the only alcohol at the bar, and supplying some flavoured coffees and teas instead.  This can reduce your liquor bill by 1/2.  You would still have wine for your meal, and a couple of cocktails for your guests to choose from.  With imaginative names for the cocktails, you can add your personality into the reception, and reduce your liquor bill at the same time.

If you are an eco-friendly couple, or into healthy living, you might consider no alcohol (other than the wine at the meal), and have a smoothie bar or drinks similar to the selection at Booster Juice.

From an etiquette point of view, only wine (2 bottles per table of is considered required for good etiquette.  After that, whatever you choose for your guests is up to you.

Good luck and feel free to email again if you have questions.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

There are huge selections of candle favours nowadays. Candles can come in all shapes. Most candles are shaped like pears with a matching lemon scent that smells refreshing, and they come with an attractive votive. Some are heart shaped with the smell of roses or lavender. These candles often come prettily packaged in elegant transparent plastic boxes. There are some candles decorated with stones; they appear stylish and chic.

You can also present your guests with a box of wine candles with a bottle of wine as compliments to them. Or, you have the option of giving them coffee scented candles in mini ceramic coffee cups. These coffee candles are perfect to be placed in a coffee table.

Scented candle wedding favours also come in small candle jars. They look convenient and their scent lasts longer than the ones exposed. Some candles are given away to guests in a colorful organza bag. These bags are also used to preserve the scents of these candles.

Question from Apple:

Hi Angela!  I’m planning to get married on 2010 spring or summer time.  Would you please suggest theme and motif? Thank you so much!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  When choosing a theme, you have so many choices.  The first thing to decide is do you want to have a theme that represents you as a couple?  or do you want a theme that is contemporary, or traditional? 

Once you decide that, your wedding reception venue should, as much as possible, reflect that choice.  I suggest you check out the wedding favours that are available to you.  It is a great place to get ideas for a theme, because they all represent one theme or another.  For example, if you and your fiance love fine wine, you can create a wine theme with bottle stopper wedding favours, a nice selection of wine for each table, wine colour decor, maybe a central flower display with bubbles in the water to represent a nice champagne, etc.  The possibilities are endless. 

Maybe you want to go elegant or traditional.  If so, you need to decide how traditional you want to go.  Are you going to medieval traditions, or contemporary traditions?  Will you serve mead, and talk about how the wedding traditions are there to fool the "evil spirits", or are you going to just have a classic, neutral decor and have family traditions instead?

If you view the Wedding Categories on the right (scroll down), you will find many posts under theme weddings, with examples of the most common themes. 

Good Luck.  Remember, you don’t NEED a theme, and sometimes a colour "theme" is sufficient.  The best theme you can have is something that reflects the style and personality of you and your fiance, that tells you guests more about who you are.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Question from Lisa:

I am looking for favors, invitations, gifts and reception decorations for a gothic wedding or halloween wedding.  Can you suggest somewhere I can find this stuff?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Lisa, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  I have yet to see a wedding store with a gothic section, but I do get many requests for this.  All hope is not lost.  Most wedding shops have items that can work to create a gothic theme. 

A search through the fall wedding favours will give you some halloween choices, and you might also consider the black and white themed wedding favours.  I suggest you browse through the pages of wedding favours, as each category has something that you might consider.  For example, under Elegant Wedding Favours, you can find mini black satin photo albums, black and silver bottle stoppers that look much like a "stake", and a set of black and white mint boxes.  Under Unique Wedding Favours, you can find the "Cheers to a Great Combination" Wine Set that has black packaging with a silver corkscrew and bottle stopper.  Each page has something that you might adapt to fit your personality and style.

For wedding invitations, there are many to choose from including season parties and non-wedding invitations. 

Wedding reception decorations are easily found, but depending upon your vision for your wedding, you may want to find a party store that caters to season parties for halloween items. As for wedding gifts, I suggest you try this link.

Depending upon the colours you are having for your wedding (say black and red), there are lots of red and black wedding favours.  There are hundreds of candle wedding favours, and candles are synonymous with gothic.  I suggest choosing the colours that you want with your theme first, as it will help you with the rest of your choices.

Enjoy shopping!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Question from Maeve:

My colours are black and cream, I am going mad as I do not have a clue what to give male guests for favours.  I have the female guests sorted to match colour scheme, but I really don’t want to do the miniature alcohol thing, I want something unusual.  Please help.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Maeve, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  This link will take you to a site that has many wedding favours that you can choose from.  There are different ways to give out wedding favours.  Sometimes, wedding favours are purchased in sets for each couple, and single people get a set also.  Sometimes, everyone attending the wedding gets the same wedding favour.  Sometimes, as in your case, you have separate wedding favours for the women and the men. 

You might consider wine wedding favours for the men.  The link will give you an assortment of wine bottle stoppers, but there are also bottle openers, wine-themed coasters, and a variety of other wine themed items.  If you search the practical wedding favours, you will find items like the chrome luggage tag, the leather key chain, a variety of letter openers, and many more items.  There are golf wedding favours, eco-friendly wedding favours, and cocktail wedding favours to name just a few.  There are many wedding favours to choose from, so enjoy looking through them all. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Question from Bailey:

I have fallen in love with the bouquet that was on the front of real weddings a couple of months back.  I know its probably not the best idea to base the wedding around that bouquet, but I love it!!  It was purples, blues, oranges and maybe some blue.  I really love the pomegranate colour for my bridesmaids and I want to have a plain strapless dress with a cathedral veil and a pomegranate sash.  Do these colours work together?  What could I use as an accent colour for the bridesmaids?  What are some centre piece ideas?  and with this colour, what time of year should I have the wedding??  Thanks a bunch!!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Bailey, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Let’s start with your colour choices.  Red-orange (pomegranate) and blue-green are complimentary colours (opposite each other on the colour wheel).  Hence, they go well together.  Blues and Purple are harmonious colours (next to each other on the colour wheel) and look wonderful together.  I would suggest punches of  pomegranate coloured flowers with your blues and purples in your bouquet.  This combination of blue, purple and pomegranate could then move into your total colour scheme for the wedding.  Your bridesmaids could have accent colours of blue and purple with the pomogranate.  I would suggest using both those colours (blue and purple) as opposed to only one of the colours, as it will have a more put together look, based on your bouquet.  Wedding table centrepieces would benefit from all three colours also. 

I saw that bouquet you mentioned, and it is very beautiful, so I am not surprised at your desire to have it for your wedding.  I would suggest you visit your florist with the picture of the bouquet, and find out what flowers they can use that match those colour tones.  You might find alternative flowers that are just as beautiful as those flowers, at a less costly price.  Then you need to ask the florist when those flowers you choose are in-season.  In-season flowers are cheaper than bringing in out-of-season flowers, so depending upon your flower choices and your budget, that should decide the seaons for you.  The colours you are interested in are perfect for any season.

A plain strapless wedding dress with a cathedral veil and pomegranate sash sounds beautiful.  When you are going for simple elegance in your wedding dress, I would suggest dressing it up with a pearl necklace, and possibly a tiara to contribute to an overall look of elegance.  If a wedding dress is more elaborate, then the jewellery needs to be more simple. 

There are many ways to go when coming up with centrepiece ideas—-almost all of them depend upon your budget.  Flowers are an obvious choice, and can be in a single vase, floating in water with candles or clustered in a multitude of vases destined for each guest.  If you want to move away from the obvious, I saw a gorgeous centrepiece made with dead branches, painted white, and strung with faux crystals and ribbons in the wedding colours.  There are so many choices, and they are limited only by your imagination.  Have you looked at all the choices you have for wedding decorations?   

Depending upon the wedding favours that you choose, that too can make a statement in your decor without the need to purchase other decorations.  For example, the bride and groom wine bottle stoppers are a whimsical touch, and having your wine grouped in the centre of the table with these bottle stoppers would make a great centrepiece.  The bottle stoppers can then be given away to the guests through a simple "game" like which couple at the table have been married the longest.  Looking through the wedding favours will give you more ideas of what you can do to decorate your tables.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

When the gifts are being opened, watch the bride and groom’s face as they open their fourth toaster oven, sixth set of steak knives, and twentieth set of wine glasses (none of which match the other nineteen pairs). The frozen smile on their faces will say it all – thank you but what the heck were you thinking when you bought this wedding gift… don’t you know us at all? Unusual wedding gifts are more welcome than you might think and if you dare to give the unexpected, you will be rewarded with genuine smiles from the newlywed couple that will make your heart warm.

What about T-shirts that say “GROOM under new management” for him and “It’s All About ME” for her. Wrap the t-shirts up inside two huge heart shaped helium balloons that they must pop to get their gifts – what fun and how unusual!

“Mr. + Mrs.” Bathrobes with a gift certificate for a couples massage in the comfort of their own home would definitely be high on the list of unusual wedding gifts. However, any couple would enjoy this romantic extravagance, especially after all the stress and exhaustion planning the wedding.

If you make wine or know the couple is a lover of wine, how about a two section wine carry bag in shocking pink and a wine gift set. Top the gift off with two bottles of unusual or rare wine and a bunch of funny bride and groom wedding party bottle holders. The rare and unusual wine, perhaps from Australia, South Africa or Chile will be appreciated, the wine carry case can be kept as a keepsake and used over and over again, and the fun bits are just for laughs!

If the couple is saving to purchase their first home together, how about bride and groom piggy banks, filled with lucky pennies to get them started. This is an inexpensive way to do up a fun and unusual wedding gift that the couple will enjoy and you will be proud to give. If you don’t want to appear like a cheapskate, include a “dream home” donation check. Who knows – maybe if the piggybanks are out at the wedding and reception, other guests will follow suit and the lucky couple will be well on their way to that new house down payment!

Don’t let anyone tell you that unusual wedding gifts are a bad thing – especially at large weddings and most especially if the couple does not have a bridal registry and you are left to your own devices to find the perfect wedding gift – choose something unique, unexpected and wonderful!

No matter what brand or fancy knobs it has, you can only use so many wedding gifts that come in the form of toasters, crock pots, blenders or other small appliances.  Wedding gifts are some of the trickiest things to purchase in the realm of gift giving as the givers want to be practical, but they want their offering to be appreciated.  Even with registries, redundancy is unavoidable and every wedding has at least one bachelor Uncle who had his secretary or girlfriend pick out a gift the afternoon before, or worse, the morning of, making repetition almost a sure bet.

How about giving wedding gifts that the bride and groom might actually use?  Sure, they will use the toaster or blender, but chances are, if they receive three, two of them will end up being: Re-gifted, stored in the attic or end up in a yard sale at some point.  By thinking “outside the box” and focusing on practical gifts that every young couple will eventually use, you can make sure that what you give will be appreciated and remembered.

When you think in terms of practical gifts, as opposed to one or two major items, you also are helping them (whether they know it or not) to prepare for their life together.  Practical wedding gifts not only will be used over and over, they also will show the newlyweds what they need to purchase on their own at some point to ensure they can handle any household task that comes their way.  There is nothing wrong with buying that toaster, but no couple can live on toast alone and virtually no one needs more than one toaster at a time.

An urban 1 section wine carry bag in faux black or pink leather filled with 2 bottles of chardonnay would be an excellent gift that is surely to be used and enjoyed. How about premium java vacuum traveler mugs in his and her colors. Other possible ideas include a silver plate and leather travel clock for the couple on the go, or a crystal cube photo frame for the sentimental duo, filled with photos of their time together.

One wedding gift idea is to give the couple tools or other household project items that will inevitably come in handy.  Every household, even for those who rent, needs from time to time a hammer, set of screwdrivers, flashlight or a wrench.  A box of indispensable items, like light bulbs, tape (duct, electrical, scotch and painter’s will do), screws, nails, crazy glue (or some other stronger than usual glue,) and emergency candles will come in handy repeatedly.  Put them in a small utility toolbox and your friends will be prepared for whatever household project, from hanging pictures to painting rooms to dealing with loss of power during storms comes their way.  One tip, this gift is always appreciated, but make sure that you are not giving them something they already have (a carpenter, for instance, is likely to have tools and likely to have preferences regarding what are the best brands.)

The kitchen is another place to focus your wedding gift choices.  Everyone will think about the big items (toasters, microwaves, etc.,) but what about the small everyday items that most households lack until they have a few years under their collective belts?  Giving the lucky couple everyday kitchen gadgets, like mixing bowls, storage containers, a hand held can opener, cork screw or Starfish Wine Stopper will help them delay the “I cannot believe we do not have that” moment that everyone experiences. 

Other practical gift ideas include a consortium of cleaning supplies, such as an all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, sponges, dish washing liquid, a bucket, mop, broom and dustpan are all items that will be used and appreciated.  Bathroom items are also useful.  Create a gift basket of pain killers, cold and flu medicine, cotton balls, swabs, band aids, soaps, hand cream, shampoo and conditioner and you have given the happy couple a collection of gifts that will be useful over and over.

You can always adhere to their requests per their registry and with some couples, if one or the other is picky, that can be the smartest option.  Gift cards to popular department, home improvement and electronics stores are also popular.  If you are truly stumped, cash is a last resort, but will come in handy over the honeymoon and in the first couple weeks of married life.

Wedding gifts do not have to be tricky or extravagant.  In fact, practical gifts will be appreciated repeatedly.  By using your life experience, you can give them gifts that will be used and appreciated as well as teach them what they need to have on hand to be prepared for virtually any situation. 

A vineyard wedding theme, if the bride and groom are wine connoisseurs, or even if they just appreciate a good bottle now and then, is a great way to mix the wedding and subsequent events with entertainment for everyone.  If you have the wedding and reception on the site of a vineyard, even your non-drinking friends will find more than enough to take in and experience as vineyards usually offer stunning landscape and bucolic settings.  The theme of a vineyard is to produce something that lets people enjoy the finer side of life while they are enjoying your day.

The first thing to consider is the location of the wedding and reception.  The obvious first choice is a vineyard or winery with its acres of lush landscape and picturesque rows of grapes.  Such a bucolic environment is a treat for everyone and the intertwining vines make a wonderful setting for two people to make a vow to intertwine their lives together.  Many vineyards and wineries have facilities that can be rented out for weddings or receptions and a few even have spaces set aside to provide the best views possible for the exchanging of vows. 

Even if you are not getting married in the summer or fall, you still can use a vineyard or winery for your vineyard wedding theme.  Many vineyards cater to events such as this and also possess a large tasting hall for events in the off season or during inclement weather.  Even if you have to move indoors, the setting as well as the environment will more than make the day.

If you do not have access to wine country, you have to be a bit more creative.  The ceremony might have to be in a more traditional setting, but there are plenty of restaurants in most cities and larger towns that cater to fine wine and many often have wine tasting events, so using them for a reception should not pose too much of a problem.  Any event location that caters to weddings also should be able to accommodate a wedding that is vineyard related. 

If you live in a rural setting, there still might be some restaurants that would suffice, but if not, consider holding the wedding in a picturesque outdoors setting and having an outside reception.  This way, you can decorate the place to your liking and can adapt the environment to resemble a vineyard.  Remember that while the scenery is important the thing that makes the vineyard wedding theme is access to fine wine and food, so if you have to improvise, make sure those two facets are well covered.

Regarding decorations, any accessories and décor items such as vine decorations, or a burgundy luxury cover with gold foil print guestbook will appoint your environment elegantly.  You also can use burgundy “Perfect Pair” ribbons to tie favor boxes or other articles.  For outdoor settings a arbor is always popular for photos.

The next thing to consider is the food and drink.  You should make sure that there is ample amounts of red, white and blush wines as well as any personal favorites so that you will have something to offer everyone.  Consider having a wine tasting instead of a cocktail hour between the ceremony and reception, which will be both elegant and informative.  If you are planning a sit-down dinner, you should also have wine on hand that matches each dish and perhaps start the meal with a toast. Don’t forget to purchase keepsake toasting flutes, available in unique themes such as diamond, interlocking hearts, and classic metal wine goblets.

One suggestion for party favors is to offer all your guests a starfish wine stopper as a memento of the occasion.  This type of gift is not only innovative; it is practical and will be a conversation starter that is initiated by discussing your wedding by your guests for years to come.  Imagine, your special day being recited every time one of your guests has wine at dinner, parties or other events. If you are having a small affair, you may want to send each guest home with a bottle of vineyard wine in a custom 2 section wine carry bag, or with an engraved wine gift set.

A vineyard wedding theme is truly an imaginative theme that will leave your guests talking about the setting, ceremony, beauty and wine for a long time.  By using the various settings, restaurants and facilities on hand, you can create the “vineyard” feel for everyone.  Best of all, your wedding will be remembered as a beautiful and tranquil affair, made even more amazing by its surroundings and your theme.

The beach is a common theme for weddings throughout the year.  It is versatile, fun and allows the couple to celebrate in a setting that almost everyone has fond memories of both as children and adults.  Worldwide, the beach is a setting that people enjoy year round.

Almost everyone has spent at least one day of their lives visiting a beach.  Whether the day was spent playing, enjoying the sun or just relaxing… beaches are magical places that allow us to forget the worries of the day and enjoy some of the finest environments that nature has to offer.  The beach is also a magical and mystical place, offering up unique treasures such as polished rocks, shells and even occasionally relics of days gone by, such as bottles, pottery and parts of ships.  There is nothing more calming than sitting on the beach and staring at the water and horizon of the ocean or at the unique patterns in the water, lake or river side.

Beaches are also place where romance blossoms or matures.  Walks in the moonlight alongside a lake or ocean set a mood for even the most unromantic.  Lying side by side or sitting on a beach allow a unique closeness that is hard to replicate in virtually any setting, even if the beach is mobbed by people.  Who would not be impacted by the image of a wind swept, sandy beach as lake or ocean waves gently and methodically lap the shoreline?

For all these reasons and many more, beaches provide the perfect theme for most weddings.  Whether ocean side or landlocked, everyone can relate and almost every one can enjoy the theme, using their own memories as fuel to get in the mood of the wedding theme.  Even the most unromantic can find something to like about the beach, ocean or environment even if it is only misty nights, distant clanging of boat mooring lines or the unique sound of foghorns.

With that in mind, beach wedding decorations can set a mood that can be “all things to everyone.”  If you enjoy the ocean or bodies of water, a beach theme evokes images of children playing and warm sunny days.  If you enjoy the mystery of the ocean or a lake, the beach theme replicates that imagery as a metaphor for the mysteries a happy couple will unfold in their new lives together.  If you enjoy those misty seaside nights, a beach theme can use that imagery of warm, humid nights with interesting sounds to build a mood of mystery, adventure and security.

  To set the mood from the beginning, try using beach towel stickers affixed to your wedding invitations or as an add-in with them.  Have guests sign a seaside allure traditional guest book as they arrive at the wedding.  Colors such as sea-green or aqua blue can be used to decorate your reception hall and if you have a separate cocktail hour before the reception but after the wedding. 

Decorate your tables with metal boats filled with mints.  You also can give guests a Starfish Wine Stopper that is a great way to preserve wine and will remind guests of you for years to come.  Using boat wheel favor / place cards on your tables give guests a memento that is easily stored and can be placed in scrapbooks when guests get home. 

Other decorations can include vases filled with miniature shells.  Food also can be a decoration, particularly if you use foods that are synonymous with the beach such as lobster, clams and salads that focus on crisp greens.  Napkins in seaside colors can also play a role in setting your theme.  If you want more traditional colored napkins, use beach colors and pastels for cocktail napkins.

The beach is versatile and offers something positive and friendly for almost anyone.  By using it as a theme in your wedding, you give guests the ability to enjoy your interests and create their own images according to the big day as well as their own memories.  Beach themes set the mood for fun and can enhance your decorations whether you are celebrating your commitment by the sea, a lake or river.