Help for narrowing down your wedding favor choices

Picking out wedding favors can be daunting – there are so many options out there! How can you possibly decide? DIY, something personalized, something that matches your theme? All of the above?

The easiest way to begin making choices is by figuring out what you don’t want. Perhaps you know people on your guest list have a lot of dietary restrictions, so then choosing a food favor might not be the best idea. Or maybe you know you want your favors to reflect your theme. Start there!

Your favors can also double as escort cards, if you like. That’s one way to ensure everyone takes their favors!

Lovely limoncello favors double as escort cards for this wedding!

If you’re having a destination wedding, a fun favor could be a memento from the area. Gift shops often have multiple copies of the same keychain or frame decorated with the location – and you can always ask for a bulk discount! What a fun way to remember a fun destination!

As with everything else wedding-related, you can do as much yourself as you like. Many couples will put together personalized boxes of Hershey kisses, M&Ms or other candies. Others will simply order something personalized with the couple’s names and wedding date. There’s no wrong answer!

For the ultimate in guest DIY, a candy bar at the wedding also makes for a great favor. A display of several candies with self-serve bags will allow guests to make their favors themselves!

What are your favorite favors? Tell us in the comments!

Fall in New England? Prepare for all weather for your wedding!

With the temperatures this week in Connecticut ranging from 40-80 degrees, it’s time for us to revisit our best “how to plan for the weather” tips!

The rule in New England is always to prepare for any possibility when it comes to weather, particularly this time of year. Cool, crisp mornings give way to sunny, warm afternoons, but then the temperature can drop quickly again as the sun goes down. How does a couple plan for all of that?

 

Fall weddings are gorgeous, but the weather can be unpredictable!

The first step is to make sure you have a weather backup if any part of your wedding day is outside. After that, you should offer options to your guests (and have them for yourself!) so you stay comfortable no matter the temperature!

One great option for your guests if your ceremony is going to be outdoors is blankets or shawls to wrap around themselves if the temperature gets too chilly. They can be left prominently in a basket at the entrance, or it can be something your ushers offer to people as they are brought to their seats.

If it’s late fall or early winter, a really warm option is to hand out instant hand warmers. Be careful of handing them to small children, as many of the hand warmers can get really hot! But they do a great job of keeping fingers and toes warm in the colder months.

But what if the opposite happens? What if your crisp fall day turns into a second summer and afternoon temperatures start rising? Your summer cooling tips will help there, too! Perhaps your ceremony programs can double as fans, or you can leave cold bottles of water at the entrance.

This time of year, it’s best to be prepared for anything!

How big is too big for your guest list?

While you’d love to be able to share your happy day with everyone you know, it’s a fact that there’s a limit to the number of people you can put on your guest list. But how much is too much?

Deciding on who to invite can be tricky!

The first thing that usually limits your guest list is your budget. Before you do anything else (well, besides unlock your secret Pinterest board), you need to figure out your budget. Remember, the larger your guest list, the more every part will cost. You’ll need more save-the-dates, more invitations and more favors and centerpieces!

The next step is to decide on a venue. The maximum occupancy of your venue will be a second deciding factor on your guest list. If you choose a small, intimate location, you simply can’t invite 400 people!

But how do you trim your guest list? It’s not always easy. Start with making a big list. The two of you should think of family, friends and other important people for your list. Then, you can start making edits. Your second-year college roommate you haven’t seen in 10 years may not make the final list if you really want your cousin there. Assume about 80% of your list will say yes, and make your decisions that way.

If people ask if they are invited to the wedding, you should have an answer prepared. “I’m sorry, we wish we could invite everyone, but our venue has a strict occupancy level. But I’d love to meet you for coffee sometime soon so we can catch up!” is a great option.

Let fall’s splendor help you create a stunning wedding

Fall is a gorgeous time of year here in the northeast. Trees are changing colors, the days are bright and the nights are crisp. No wonder couples love to choose fall wedding dates! Why not use nature’s beautiful colors to help you decorate and theme your wedding?

If you love pumpkins, Halloween and traditional fall colors as much as we do, fall decorating couldn’t be easier. You can use pumpkins of all sizes and even carve them into Jack-o’-lanterns!

What's cuter than Mr. and Mrs. pumpkins? Maybe ones with YOUR names!

Fall colors are gorgeous, but you don’t have to stick with an orange-red-brown palette if you don’t want to. Any rich, warm color will work with autumn’s tones. Jewel-tone purples, greens and blues look beautiful!

You also don’t have to stick with a pumpkin theme for your décor. Apples, multicolored corn, wheat, acorns and more look lovely in a cornucopia or other displays.  We also love multicolored mums – place them everywhere and they can be lovely gifts for special people in your wedding.

We love fall mums in our Stone Garden!

What are your decoration plans for your fall wedding?