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I was so impressed with this elegant black and white reception table setting that I saw in the Weddingstar catalog…I immediately thought that I needed to share it with our Here Comes The Blog readers. No color scheme is more elegant than classic black and white and you can see that upscale, elegant look in the photo below. 

How is the look achieved?
A simple round table is draped in white satin fabric that is overlaid with an elegant black/silver table runner.  Silver charger plates, silverware, and champagne flutes featuring a silver stem and engagement ring design, and black napkins with silver-plated diamond napkin rings provide the essentials for each of the dinner guests.  A beautiful white floral bouquet constructed from white dahlias, white lilies and greenery provides a central focal point that sits directly below the black bead covered chandelier.   The floral centerpiece is further accented with black love votive candles, white tall pillar candles in glass vases and a trio of glass diamond-shaped tealight candle holders.  Guests can easily find their tables because a tall silver wire number holder along with the number card is also placed on each reception table.  White tea/coffee cups and white heart-shaped salt/pepper shakers are also place on each table.  Finally, the wedding favors are placed at each place setting. Favors include mini tux and wedding dress favor bags filled with candy and personalized black and white favor tags.  The effect of all these components is simply stunning!

Create a truly exotic and stunning setting at your wedding by combining both Eastern and Western elements in a lush, rich color scheme.   When it comes to the color scheme, Indian weddings traditionally incorporate bright pinks, reds and purples (white is considered the color of mourning so it is not part of the Indian wedding tradition).   Indian wedding dresses normally feature elaborate beadwork and intricate embroidery and the bride wears an extensive collection of accessories such as necklaces, rings and hair ornaments.  This same color scheme and ornamentation can be carried through to the reception tables where bold colors, many flowers, and sparkling accessories can be incorporated. 

In the photograph (from the 2009 Weddingstar Catalog), you can see one of my favorite decorated Indian wedding reception table displays.   Purple silk table cloths with sparkling gold table runners are covered with beautiful place settings that incorporate gold charger plates, gold silverware, and red napkins with beaded napkin rings.  A large colorful flower centerpiece anchors the table and a bit of sparkle is added with gold and white love votive candles, an exotic golden beaded lac box place card holder, and beautiful red place cards.  Finally, a lucky wooden elephant favor is presented to guests as a little thank you gift that they can take home. Simply stunning!

For even more great Indian wedding favor ideas and accessories, visit Wedding Favors Unlimited!

When it comes to winter wedding cakes, there are many unique and unusual cake toppers that incorporate the winter wedding theme. Consider the skiing couple shown in the photo below for example. This clever cake baker used round coconut-covered cake layers to act as the “snow” for the skiing wedding couple. By tilting the final layer, it looks as though the couple is skiing down the slopes. What a cute idea!

Other options for winter wedding cake toppers include things such as snow globes, wooden or metal sleds, and even crystal winter scenes. Hand-blown crystal cake toppers and decorative snow globes are keepsakes that can be cherished by the couple for years to come.

If you are a bit more whimsical, find a cute penguin or snowman couple that could sit atop your cake….or have your baker sculpt whimsical winter characters to top your wedding cake.  Finally if the groom is a sports fan, you could consider using mix and match bride and groom cake toppers where the groom is dressed as a hockey player (like this hockey player cake topper from Wedding Favors Unlimited).  When it comes to winter wedding cakes, the possibilities are endless!

Another great alternative to the traditional guest book is a photo mat where your guests leave their well wishes (be sure to check out my post about wishing trees for more ideas).  Engravable metal signature mat kits like the one shown in the photo from the Weddingstar catalog are available with the couples’ names and the wedding date inscribed.   The great thing about metal mats is that the signatures won’t fade over time like they sometimes can with the cardboard mats (if the mat and ink used weren’t archive safe).  This particular mat is available in 3 sizes and arrives with an easy-to-use engraving scribe.  Guests simply sign the mat and then the happy couple can proudly display it in their home along with your wedding photograph.  This is one keepsake that you’ll cherish forever….the well wishes of friends and family surrounding a beautiful photo of you on your wedding day!

See how great a metal photo mat can be when it is used as a wedding “guest book” on this Youtube video.   The mat can then be framed along with a photo of the bride and groom.  Display it in the home by either hanging it on the wall or on a lovely easel.

Here is a cute and “clean” favor idea for the guests at the bachelorette/stagette party.  Simply buy some large organza gift bags and fill them with things that any girl would love.  In the photo, the white bags have been filled with a tube of pink lip gloss, a heart-shaped compact mirror, and white conversation hearts with love sayings.  The package is finished off with a supersized pink (for the girls) or clear (for the bride) light-up engagement ring and a personalized hang tag that has the name of the  bride-to-be along with the party date.  The bling rings even light up so they are great when the girls are going out to a nightclub to dance the evening away.  Super cute and fun!

Just remember that bachelorette party favors don’t have to be expensive.  Things like inexpensive glow necklaces or bracelets, personalized chocolate candy bars and mint tins are great ideas for the girls too.  Of course you should consider the group when choosing your favors, penis-shaped lollipops or straws are a fun idea for wild bachelorette parties, but if the party includes mom or grandma, a more conservative favor (like the one shown in the photo from Weddingstar’s catalog) would be more appropriate.

Going green on your wedding can be easier than you think.  When it comes to keeping things eco-friendly at your wedding, just think about longevity and the idea of reusing and recycling when choosing accessories for your big day.  Things like the cake topper, champagne flutes, and serving sets should be selected with the future in mind….choose something that you can not only use on your wedding day, but also in your home for years to come. 

For the wedding flowers, consider growing your own or ask your friends and family members that have a green thumb to contribute some blooms from their own personal backyard gardens.  For spring time weddings, lilacs are a fragrant and lovely choice.  In the summer, many gardeners have extra large hydrangea blooms that make perfect centerpieces for the reception area. At a minimum, consider using a local garden center or florist that grows their own flowers locally.

When it comes to eco-friendly green wedding favors, choose items constructed from bamboo or give growable items such as wildflower seed favor kits, herbs (like the rosemary shown in the photo) or small trees that the guest can take home and plant in their own yard.

Create invitations, wedding programs, table number and place cards from recycled paper.  And finally if you are going green, then by all means go organic too.  Finding locally grown organic beef or chicken and vegetable selections has gotten much easier.  Just consult with your caterer and request an organic meal for your reception.

Even if you only incorporate a few of these ideas, you are taking a step in the right direction!

Photo courtesy of the 2009 Weddingstar Catalog.

In this economy, everyone is trying to save a buck anywhere that they can so in this post, I thought I’d share some of my favorite resources for bridal shower games.  If you are looking for fun, printable games that are totally free, check out these bridal shower games that you can just print and play.  They have 8 free games including Who Knows The Bride Best, the Purse Games, Bridal Shower Grid Game (like Scattergories), Bridal Shower Bingo and more.  You don’t have to purchase anything in their store and you can print the games and share them with friends as often as you’d like.

This cheap bridal shower games lens at Squidoo gives instructions for several bridal shower games including Don’t Say Wedding, Wear The Teddy and several more.  These games aren’t printable, but the instructions appear to be clear and easy to follow.  There are also detailed instructions for one of my favorite games – the Candy Bar Memory Game (kind of like wedding themed concentration).   Another site that gives instructions to tons of different games is Abbee.  The have four free game lists along with detailed instructions to each of the games on the lists.  They include sample trivia questions when necessary.

Finally if you are running short on time or want something quick and easy.  Consider buying some cheap printable games from Bridal Shower Games A to Z.   They have over 75 different bridal shower games that you can just print and play.  Games cost about $7 each or you can buy an unlimited number of game downloads (prints) for around $20.  Obviously if you are hosting several showers or you are planning to try 3 or 4 games, the unlimited games purchase is a much better value.

Taking a simple 2″ x 2″ x 2″ white or ivory favor box and adding your own special touch enables you to create unique one-of-a-kind favors for your guests.  In the photo below (from the Wedding Star catalog), you can see four ways to transform a simple ivory favor box into something truly special.  These ideas are great for butterfly, Spring, green and destination weddings.

The top left favor was created by taking a white floral embossed gift box and embellishing it with a white hydrangea bloom and hand-painted butterfly.  This delicate and beautiful favor will look amazing on your garden party or spring/summer wedding reception tables.

Simple green bear grass is tied in a unique pattern around a cubed gift box to create the favor on the top right corner of the photo.  It takes a bit of practice to get a grass pattern that you like, but it is well worth the effort.  What a great favor idea for the guests at green or garden weddings.

Bring some urban sophistication to a modern wedding with the sculptural ribbon design like the one shown in the lower left hand corner.  A simple white favor box is first wrapped with double-sided brown/green ribbon and then the ribbon is cut and starched to create the center portion (which is pinned to the box).   Modern. Fresh. Unique.

Travel stamps are used to create the “return to sender” favor in the lower right corner of the photo.  You can find small travel stamps at your local craft store.  Stamp your honeymoon, wedding ceremony or destination wedding location all over the gift box.  Tie with simple package ribbon or yarn for a whimsical touch.  We recommend using plain favor boxes (non-embossed) so that you can get good contact with the ink stamp.

Buying standard 2″ x 2″ x 2″ cube favor boxes and adding embellishments is a great way to incorporate your style, theme, and color scheme into your guest party favors.  Below you can see three examples of how to take a blank canvas and turn it into a one-of-a-kind favor for your guests to enjoy (photo courtesy of the 2009 Wedding Star catalog).

The example in the upper right corner shows how you can mix and match favor boxes to create an elegant and unique look that ties in perfectly with your color scheme.  Best of all, this favor is affordable. The black and white favor boxes are embellished further with wedding words ribbon (faith, hope, joy, love and cherish) along with clear heart-shaped dazzler confetti pieces.  Simply use a hot glue gun to secure the embellishments in place after you’ve filled the boxes with your favorite edible candy or other small gift for your guests. 

The second DIY favor example in the lower left corner of the photograph shows a classic floral patterned favor box that is topped with the initials of the bride and groom.  You can create the initials by purchasing textured paper at your local craft store and using letter templates and an knife tool to cut out the letters.  Simply glue them to the favor box lid.  Be sure to take the favor boxes to the store with you when looking for matching textured paper.  Add a small piece of ribbon and heart dazzler for a bit of sparkle.

Add a Moroccan flair to your favors by dressing them up with some beading and gold roping that you purchase at a local craft store.  The rich jewel tones add an elegant touch to the simple floral pattern favor box as shown in the bottom right corner of the photo.  Jewels like the ones shown can be somewhat expensive so look for craft store sales and coupons to save some money.

Many modern couples are choosing to do a sand ceremony at their wedding rather than lighting a traditional unity candle.  The sand ceremony creates a lasting keepsake that the couple can display in their home for years to come.   Like the traditional unity candle ceremony, the sand ceremony symbolizes the union of two becoming one.  During the actual pouring of the sand, the wedding officiant or pastor will have a customized reading that explains the symbolism and directs the bride/groom and others participating in the ceremony when and where to pour their sand.

Wedding Favors Unlimited sells the popular heart-shaped sand ceremony kit (shown in the photo) that can be engraved with the couples monogram and wedding date to make it extra special.

How It Works:

Below you can see a diagram representing the steps in a sand ceremony.  In this example, the vases are pre-filled (before the wedding ceremony) with 3 colors of sand.  Blue for the Bride, Green for the Groom, and regular white sand for the “symbol” vase.  Depending on the wedding participants and circumstances, some couples choose to fill the third vase with sand for the officiant or their children to pour during the sand ceremony. 

1) Before the wedding ceremony or at the beginning of the actual sand ceremony have the officiant, children or other designated person pour the sand from the third vase into the central vase.

2) Have the groom pour a portion (or all) of his green sand in the central vase.  We suggest having him pour 1/3 of his blue sand in the central vase.

3) Have the bride pour a portion (or all) of her blue sand into the central vase.

4) Repeat the process if you are layering the sand, having the groom pour some of his and then the bride pour some of hers.  For the last 1/3 of sand in each container, we suggest that you pour both colors of sand simultaneously as the co-mingling of sand represents the union of the bride and groom.

5) Place the bottle stopper in the central vase to secure the sand.  The 3 smaller heart-shaped vases can be used to display flowers or as keepsakes for the bride and groom.