15 Ways To Welcome Your Wedding Guest

Many of your guests attend multiple weddings a year, so it’s no surprise that sometimes weddings tend to run together in their minds. How do you make your own event memorable and special? By being thoughtful and making guests feel extra welcome!

Welcome them with a refreshing beverage. Especially on a hot summer day, a glass of cold lemonade or iced tea will be much appreciated. A hot trend is setting up a drink station. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)

A simple, yet beautiful welcome note or sign goes a long way. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)

Don't way until the end of the wedding to give your guests a treat/item to take home. Choose favors that could be useful during the event, offer them as they enter the ceremony or reception. You can even double the purpose and use them as escort cards, as well. 

Help your guest keeping cool with fans. A cool idea is to personalized paper fans with the wedding program or a thank you note. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)

If your ceremony is outdoors, offer parasols or maybe even some sunglasses to give them a bit of shade. (Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3)

For a late fall or winter wedding, offer cozy shawls for the ladies to keep them warm and comfortable. (Image source)

Many ladies wear their tallest, most glamorous high heels to a wedding… so they will be grateful for a basket of flip flops or flats to keep them on the dance floor all night long.  (Image sources: 1 | 2)

Since most of the above suggestions are target to ladies, you may want to implement something special for the gentleman.  It could be something as simple as a cigar bar, (Image source)

as thoughtful as a "trade your neck-tie for a bow-tie bar",   (Image source)

or boutonnieres for everyone. Place a bowl filled with the florets of hyacinth, narcissus, or another fragrant flower on a table, along with a tumbler of glass-headed pins.   (Image sources: 1 | 2)

Being an out-of-town wedding guest usually means making a lot of sacrifice. From making travel and lodging arrangements to potentially feeling out of place at the wedding, those out of town guests deserve assembling some nicely-presented gift bags or basket full of everything they'll need, to be waiting in each of their hotel rooms.   (Image sources: 1 | 2)

Other fun ideas for the reception include personalized tissue boxes for happy tears and personalized cookies with guests' names for place settings.  (Image sources: 1 | 2)

It may be your big day, but it is also important to keep the comfort and convenience of your guests in mind throughout the planning process. A considerate bride and groom always equals happy wedding guests! 

Here are a few more fabulous ideas to make your event memorable:

• 10 Amazing DIY Favors
• Signs of Love
• 10 Creative Ways To Add Frames To Your Wedding
• The Hottest Wedding rends for 2012
• Table Number Galore: 15 Beautiful and Unique Ideas

If you enjoy this article, please help sharing the word by tweeting it or sharing it on facebook.

10 Amazing DIY Wedding Favors

I'm leaving you this week with a super fun project for you and your bridesmaids, your wedding favors. Get together over the weekend and have fun while crafting some wedding memories.

Here are my ten favorite handmade favors over the web. Click in the link at the end of each post to get the step by step tutorial plus some free printables and tips. Enjoy your weekend!

1. DIY BUbble Tin Favors, includes tutorial and free printable labels (Hostess with the Mostess)

2. Succulent in Tea Cups Wedding Favors with step by step instruction and illustrations (Hall Weddings and Events)

3. DIY Chocolate Chip Cookies in CD Sleeves, it gives you the cookie recipe plus free printable tags (Intimate Weddings)

4. DIY Eco-Friendly Candle Favors. This soy candle tutorial doesn't include printable tags, but it gives you some tips about other uses of eco-friendly candles at your wedding. (Ruffled)

5. Handmade Raspberry Jam Favor Jars, includes instructions on how to make and pour the jam, how to make the top covers and free printable tags. (Intimate Weddings)

6. Cinnamon Rolls in Vintage French Tins. A combination of refrigerated cinnamon rolls and etsy vintage tins, this post is full of useful tips. Check it out. (Pie Wacket)

7. DIY Candy Bar Wrappers Made from Wallpaper, includes supply list and complete tutorial. (Such Pretty Things)

8. Fresh Cherries Favors. This favor gives you options and advice on how to pack fresh cherries in pretty ways. (Intimate Weddings)

9. Cookies in a Jar Wedding Favors: Cranberry Hootycreeks. It includes step by step tutorial and free printable labels. (Intimate Weddings)

10. DIY Coffee Bags Wedding Favors. The materials are very simple and the project isn't complicated at all. (Ruffle)

A Lovely Brunch - Wedding Reception, Day After, Rehearsal or Bridal Shower.

Lately, I’m having such a love affair with brunch celebrations. Brunch parties allow you to throw a super stylish bash without breaking the bank. From the venue to the food, brunch gatherings are in general less expensive than dinners, and they could be as fabulous as an evening soirées. Here is some advice for hosting a lovely brunch for any of your wedding related occasions…

• Having a brunch wedding reception is a great way to cut reception costs. A brunch reception is generally less pricey than dinner. Also, you might have a better chance finding an opening on your venue earlier in the day. Plus, chances are your guests aren’t going to drink as much as they would at an evening reception. If you choose to serve alcohol, wine and champagne is all you need, although mixed drinks aren’t such a bad idea.


• Hosting a casual brunch the day after the wedding is a very hot wedding trend. But, it’s also a great way for newlyweds to thank guests for sharing in their nuptials. Enjoy one final meal with family and friends. For more tips and ideas check out this great article on Project Wedding.


• If you are planning a bridal shower, don't overlook brunch. It's a great time for a laid-back, female-oriented affair that's sure to be enjoyed by all ages.


• While a lot of couples opt to have a rehersal dinner, here is a something new for you – a rehearsal brunch. The greatest example, these images by Matilyn Nakazato.

Photography Marilyn Nakazato via Grey Likes Weddings

There are a wide variety of venues perfect for a brunch. Those who want a trendy atmosphere should look into creative spaces, such as a museum or art gallery. Others may want to opt for a more natural feel by hosting the gathering outside.

Whatever the case, try to keep the event casual. One way to do this is to have a buffet set up, so that guests don't feel pressured to arrive at a specific time.

There are a number of possibilities when it comes to dishes, but coffee and tea are of the utmost importance. A continental breakfast that includes muffins, bread and fruits (or this awesome fruits and veggies bar) can be an affordable and welcoming option for all.

Princess Bride: A Royal Wedding Inspired Photoshoot

Happy Royal Wedding day! Any thoughts about the Royal Wedding? I’ll be honest, I was expecting more. But, it was still a fabulous event.
Keeping up with the Wedding of the Century, yesterday I shared with you wedding dresses inspired on princesses. Today, I bring you this entire photo shoot inspired on a Princess Bride. Very elegant, very classy, very timeless… just like Princess Catherine!

Styled by: Distinct Occasions / Photographed by: Dave & Charlotte / Invites/Favors: Palettera / Cake: The Caketress / Florals: Pink Twig / Linens: Susan Murray International / Dress: Valencienne / Images via: WedLuxe

Fruits, Veggies and Weddings

Next Friday is Earth-day! To celebrate this occasion, my mission this week is present you the most amazing and creative ways to have an eco friendly wedding without sacrificing style. Today will talk about food. Yummy!

Choosing seasonal ingredients for your wedding reception is a very simple way to go green.  If the ingredients are seasonal, they do not have to be flown in from out of town, which would require travel and gasoline emissions.
When I think seasonal, I think fruits and veggies. So, I brought you these great ideas to incorporate vegetables and fruits into your wedding day. They’re healthy… they’re fresh... And they come in lost of colors which would give you room to incorporate them into your color palette. Hit the local farmers market and get some yummy treats for your eco-friendly wedding!

Image Source

Let’s start with the most original idea of all, the Fruit and Veggie Bar. I love the fact that it has a little bit of both worlds, sweet and salty. And it’s a great and healthy alternative for the dessert or candy bar.

Photos via My Bride Story

When it comes to drinks fitting in fruits is very trouble-free. For an outdoor event put up a lemonade station during the cocktail hour or ceremony to keep everyone thirst free. You can also welcome your guests to your reception with refreshing drinks that are tagged with their table numbers. The chilled mint lemonade shown here is delicious for spring and summer occasions. In the cooler months, serve apple cider. Or serve a fruity signature drink… everyone loves strawberry daiquiris.

Image sources: lemonade station 1, lemonade station with heart sign, daiquiri, mason jar lemonade, lemonade escort cards

Salad is an understandable vegetable dish. Keep your salad out of the box with the greek salad bits. Or serve fruit salad as dessert. I adore these watermelon, kiwi and cheese cubes.

top, bottom

Give edible favors. Utilize your local farmers for jars of jam, fresh honey, or bags of pecans or cherries. Use glass or other material containers that guests can recycle or re-use.

left, right

Fruit place cards are pretty yummy. The most popular ones are pears, but peaches, lemons and apples look great as well. Use the one that fits your theme and color palette. The following peach pouches not only are they adorable, but they are both a placecard & a menu! 

pears, lemon, peach pouch

Have fun planning your wedding while saving the Earth!

Real Wedding: Vancouver, British Columbia

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! I thought the perfect way to celebrate today was with Liza & Greg's lovely outdoor wedding, which took place in Canada this past summer. Liza and Greg love the outdoors, so a family affair on a local farm was the perfect backdrop for their nuptials. Their wedding was filled with DIY projects and personalized right down to the dinner for their guests, which was grilled by the groomsmen! The pair handed out fishing flies that had been hand tied by Greg, the centerpieces were made with flowers from Liza's garden, and be sure not to miss the adorable lace covered rocks that were given as paperweights. Liza's dress was custom made, and I think you'll agree that it looks stunning in the amazing light streaming into the photos below.

Photographer: Chad+Anastasia Photography
Event Planner: Bottoms Up Bartending
Floral Designer: Proline Trading
Reception Venue: UBC Farms
DJ: Hot Hit Productions
Officiant: Lynn Katey Marriage Commissioner