Wedding Reception Ideas

Industrial wedding theme? What’s that you ask? Why it’s the urban city’s answer to rustic, country weddings!  While the city may not have the good ‘ol home charm that country weddings do, the city has a plethora of backdrops that are both rustic and modern.  Think loft spaces, art galleries, old warehouses, rooftop bars and gardens, breweries – even old movie studios!  The walls of these places are usually made of bricks or concrete.  They have high ceilings, awesome views, wooden or metal crossbeams and a vibe that you can only get from the city.  Modern meets vintage – you can easily blend elements from your favorite wedding themes with shiny new elements to create the perfect blend that is all you.  Mixed metals with concrete create a look that is once of a kind.  From silver to gold, or even copper (think rose gold!) Industrial weddings are starting to soar in popularity as an alternative to the long used rustic theme.  Let’s take a look at 2 Industrial wedding palettes that are new and inspiring.

Sources: Skyline Couple, Warehouse Wall, 100 Layer Cake | Bar Sign, MyWarehouseHome | Laterns, forks, cage lights, galvanized buckets Little Things Favors

Sources: Loft Wedding, OldSweetSong | Place Setting, RuffledBlog | Outdoor space, 100LayerCake | Invitations, Pinterest |  Concrete Coasters, Pipe Place Cards, Love Cake Top, Copper Vases: LittleThingsFavors

Which one do you prefer, the cool, sleek tones of the silver or the warm tones of the copper?  Industrial weddings are simple in design yet massive in style.  This is one wedding theme that doesn’t require lush floral elements or expensive centerpieces.  The reception space that you use brings enough drama to make it magnificent. You can find more industrial wedding favors and ideas here If you’re having an industrial wedding, we’d love to see your photos!

They seem small and maybe even insignificant – after all they are just napkins after all.  But personalized wedding napkins really are more than an ordinary napkin.  They add pops of color to your reception – they can be used during the cocktail hour, the reception and even for dessert.  Some brides buy the longer ones and use them in the bathrooms.  It’s all about the little things, the tiny details that makes turns your wedding from ordinary to extraordinary.

Let’s talk about sizes, shapes and what you can do with your wedding napkins.  Having a cocktail wedding, or cocktail hour?  Use the beverage size to hand out drinks in lieu of coasters.  Use them when you are serving hors d’oeuvres – you don’t need larger sizes at this time.  Not only do people use them, but some old school guests will keep one or two as a memory of the wedding.

During your dinner (or if you’re hosting a bridal shower or rehearsal dinner) use the lunecheon size.  These are typically 2 inches larger thank the cocktail size.  Great if you are having a buffet style dinner or carving stations where guests need a little larger size than just for beverages.  Or you can select the dinner size which are typically rectangular, and can also be used for guest towels in the lavatories.

Finally during dessert time, or on your candy, cake and coffee tables you’ll want to go back to  your beverage size napkins.  Think smaller plates = smaller napkins.

Ok, so now you know what sizes of napkins you’ll need for your wedding – what about personalizing them?  Traditionally, personalized wedding napkins like the ones shown above are customized with a design, monogram initial, monogram and your names and date.  They are pretty classic and inexpensive too – about .40 cents per napkin (in any size!) AND they come in 35 different colors and even more ink and foil colors to imprint on them.  But if you’re looking for something non-traditional or even more modern why not try trendy wedding words and sayings on them such as:

our Eat, Drink and Be Married napkins (you can change the text color to match your wedding.)  or one of these fun sayings below:

There’s even wedding napkin designs that can list your signature cocktails

or napkins that can list fun facts about the couple that your guests may not know about you

There’s just so many fun ways you can decorate your napkins for your wedding – and for cheap too!  If you don’t see a design that tickles your fancy, you can even contact us with your own art work and we can custom make napkins just for you. Which wedding napkins will you choose for your big day?

Mason Jars are so popular  – they can be used for decor, lighting, holding utensils, drinks and even as wedding favors.  A mason jar is a blank canvas – so many uses, so many ways to decorate them.  If you’re planning on using mason jar favors (which are great for any occasion, not just weddings) we have 30 great ideas to fill your mason jars with.

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1. Fill your mason jars with trail mix.  Its healthy and festive with themed labels and matching bakers twine.

 

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2. Popcorn in mason jars – caramel, plain, kettle corn, flavored – or even kernels to pop your own at home.

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3. Cupcakes in a jar – be sure to add on a wooden chevron spoons so your guests will be able to eat their sweet treat on the way home.

 

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4. Smores in a jar are great for rustic weddings, vintage events, birthday parties – and kids parties!

 

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5. Cookie Mix in Jars – be sure to include a gift tag with instructions so your guests know how to mix and bake them!

 

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6. Salt Water taffy favors in of course – mason jars!  Use themed color taffy and ribbon and a tag for a special touch.

 

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7. Peanut butter, almond butter, pecan butter is amazing easy to make!  Make your own custom “butter” mix and label it with a personalized label.

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8. Sugar scrubs are also an easy DIY craft and smell fresh in the bath or near a sink.  Dress them up with labels for a wedding or bridal shower favor.

 

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9. Pies in mason jars – the possibilities are endless.  Shown here: Lemon meringue pie, cherry pies, apple pies, pecan pies

 

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10. Caramel apples with dipping in a jar – this is adorable for DIY fall favors!

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11. Spiced nuts, roasted nuts, candied nuts – make great little take home treats

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12. Who doesn’t like cookies? Cookes in a jar? Even better! These can be made in advance and stay fresh because of the air tight seals

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13. We couldn’t resist this one – serving ice cream in mason jars is a great idea for a summer wedding or party

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14. Succulents are popular for favors now, why not put them in little mason jars rather than little containers?

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15. Terrariums are fun little landscapes you can make in jars.  This may be a lot of DIYing for wedding favors, but may be cool as centerpieces!

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16. Hot cocoa mix is a great fall and winter wedding favor idea.  Add small bottles of liquor for the adults and add candy canes for the kids!

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17. You can’t go wrong with candy in jars and it is probably one of the easiest DIY favors to do.  Get some kisses, mints, almonds, jelly beans or M&Ms and fill away!

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18. Whether you source local jam or jelly from a farmer or make your own (there are some really easy DIY recipes out there) jam is always a yummy treat for breakfast or dessert.

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19. To ship honey favors to yourself, may be quite costly due to the weight.  Not to mention if honey breaks in transit, all of your favors will be a mess.  Skip the shipping and go to a local source or buy honey by the bulk and fill your own mason jars for an easy DIY rustic favor.

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20. If you and your honey are a perfect match – here’s a twist on traditional matchbook favors – put wooden matches in a mason jar and glue to the top of the lid sandpaper or the cover of a matchbox so there is someplace for your guests to strike to light a match.

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21. Send your fall or winter guests home with their very own mulling spices which are used to flavor hot apple cider, mulled wine, spiced beer or wassail.  Spices usually consist of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg; and less frequently star anise, peppercorn or cardamon. It also usually includes dried fruit (such as raisins, apples or orange rind).  You can also buy mulling spices prepackaged.

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22. Homemade pickles are a unique favor.  You can make these ahead of time using your own pickling recipe and fresh cucumbers – add a little burlap, bakers twine and a kraft tag stamped with your logo and voilà! favors!

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23. Make your own candles.  Using painters tape, you can create your own stencil. Simply paint (spray paint works the quickest and best!) chalkboard paint on them, let dry and remove the tape.  Instant rustic decor or favors.

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24. Homemade granola is quick, easy and a healthy snack.  Follow the source link for the recipe.

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25. Doughnut or donut holes are the perfect snack to pop at the end of the night.  You can buy them premade or follow the source link above to find the recipe for the superfood chocolate bliss balls found in the photo.

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26. Bath bombs in mason jars – could be the perfect gift for your bridal shower guests or as a little extra pampering to your bridal party girls.

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27.  A sewing kit in a jar is a unique gift – especially if you are “sew perfect together”.  Also cool to give to your out of town guests in their welcome baskets.  Or carry one in your emergency wedding day kit for day of wedding repairs.

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28. If you’re crafty you can make your very own scented soy candles and use mason jars as holders for them.

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29.  If you’re having a farm to table wedding like the couple above did, they used mason jars to hold individual servings of olives.  What a unique idea!

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30. Finally, if you’re still not sure what to fill your DIY mason jars with for favors, why not just give the mason jar itself as a favor?  Do what these couples did and have them use their jar as their glass for your wedding – and they can take them home!

Are you using mason jars for your wedding?  What will you be filling them with?

Don’t forget to follow our Mason Jar Pinterest Board which has over 80+ unique ideas (and growing) for your wedding favors and decorations.

Sources:
Printable Mustache and Lips Escort Cards | Mr and Mrs Corntoss | Mustache Beer Pilsners | Mustache & Lips Custom Stamp | Mr and Mrs Hand Signs | Mr and Mrs Guest Book Sign  Mr and Mrs Flasks | Mr and Mrs Coasters | Custom Mustache & Lips Guest Book

Mr and Mrs themes are hot for 2014 weddings, with two different distinct styles: the humorous mustache & lip combinations and traditional “Mr and Mrs” text combined with classic symbols such as hearts.  While the mustache and lip symbols my be in vogue, it may not be for every bride as it is bound to go out of style eventually – whereas the simple Mr & Mrs text is timeless and will always look fashionable and classy in your wedding photos – even 50 years from now.

Mustache and lips are great for those candid photo ops, photo booths, restroom signage and fun little added touches for your reception decor.  But don’t over do it, a little humor goes a long way.  We favor the pilsner set of 4 glasses for your groomsmen gifts, one per groomsmen or one set of 4 per guy and it is something he will use in his barware collection.

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Mr  & Mrs Photo Bunting Banner | Mr & Mrs Marquee Sign | Mr & Mrs Ampersand Bottle Opener | Mr & Mrs Toasting Mason Jars | Mr and Mrs Temporary Tattoos | Mr and Mrs Wedding Sign
Mr & Mrs DIY Chocolate Boxes for Favors | Mr and Mrs Beer Glasses | Mr and Mrs Reception Table Decor

A time honored message of husband and wife, “Mr. & Mrs.” is great to display for your new status.  We see a big increase in wedding marquee signs for reception decor – whether it be in your last name, Monogram or as a Mr and Mrs sign above.  These are great to decorate your home with after the wedding – it is one reception decoration you can and will reuse!

Temporary tattoos are becoming hot for 2014 weddings as well, with more companies producing love themed symbols.  A fun spin on the photo booth is a temporary tattoo booth – fun wedding entertainment for the young and old.  Plus no regrets, they can easily be removed!

If you’re a beer lover, skip the champagne toast and say cheers with your favorite lager, ale or IPA in our Mr & Mrs Plisner glasses – and then give your guests a pop top (ampersand sign) & sign bottle opener to open their own brews at home with a unique wedding favor.

What do you think of the Mr & Mrs trends, will you be incorporating any of these elements into your 2014 nuptials?

Pantone announced last month, that the 2014 color of the year is Radiant Orchid.  Since the announcement we’ve seen an explosion of photos of this awesome color.  Radiant is a perfect name for this shade of orchid!  Bright and lovely, it is perfect for spring and summer weddings.  Add a richer, deeper shade for fall and winter 2014 weddings.  It is said to compliment all skin tones and work well with a variety of accent colors: purples, lavenders, pinks, turquoise, red, yellows and all neutral shades.  We’ve put together for the bride searching for radiant orchid accessories a page of wedding favors and supplies which currently matches this awesome color, you can find all of our radiant orchid wedding items here which are all on sale at this moment for 20% off our regular prices.  (Sale ends, January 14, 2014).

Also, if you’re looking for radiant orchid wedding inspiration, be sure to follow our Radiant Orchid Pinterest Board which has over 100 ideas for you!

But for now, here are some of our favorite radiant orchid photos from across the web:

Source:  Chandelier | Shoes | Wedding Party | Bouquet | Favors | Cake

Source: Hall | Dress | Eyes | Cake Topper | Cuff Links

Source: Candles | Fans | Rose Petals | Mason Jars | Candy Bar

© 2014 Erica Tevis, Little Things Favors

Connect with Erica on Google+

Looking for some magical color inspiration for your winter wedding?  Tired of seeing the same old ice blue themes?  We’ve got 3 winter wedding color palettes that will inspire you and delight your guests.

 

Rustic Farm Inspired Olive Green and Winter Berry Wedding

Rustic weddings aren’t just for spring, summer and fall events.  There’s nothing prettier than the open fields of a farm covered in snow.  Pull colors from nature and earth tones and infuse them with a pop of berry color.  The lovely steel blue grey is a modern edition of the ice blue wedding theme.

 

Silver and Gold Winter Wonderland Wedding

Silver and gold reminds me of the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer song of the same name.  The song was the inspiration for this winter wonderland inspiration board – don’t these mixed metals pair lovely for a holiday themed wedding?

 

Christmas Green and Cranberry Holiday Wedding Inspiration

Emerald may be Pantone’s color of the year, and a great compliment to this lovely color is Christmas green and cranberry infuse touches of sparkly gold for a bit of glittery holiday magic.

Decor, Accessory and Favor Ideas For Your Winter Wedding

From Top to Bottom, Left to right: personalized holiday candy jars | snowflake ring pillow | winter wonderland cake topper | tree wedding bells | snowflake bottle stopper | vintage style snowflake headband | our first christmas snowflake ornament | snowflake place cards and ornaments

 

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Most weddings are glamorous, even the “simple” rustic inspired ones which have been so popular lately.  But no matter what your theme, by infusing a little bit of gold into your wedding decor you can make your wedding simply fabulous.  Just check out these classic color combinations for weddings but when you add accents of gold to them they simply will wow you.

Black, White & Gold Wedding Palette

Sophisticated and stunning, the look of black and white combined with gold gives a regal touch.

Blush, Ivory & Gold Wedding Palette

Soft and romantic, this sparkly combination is lovely for winter and early spring weddings.

Red, Ivory & Gold Wedding Palette

Wonderful for Holiday and Valentine’s weddings, gold adds richness to red.

Mint & Gold Wedding Palette

Mint has been popular in 2013 and will continue in 2014. It pairs pretty with gold hues for spring & summer.

Emerald Green & Gold Wedding Palette

Emerald was Pantone’s color of the year in 2013, and it shines with gold accents for weddings. Perfect for fall, winter, holiday and St. Patrick’s Day or Irish weddings.

Silver & Gold Wedding Palette

If you’re looking for a stunning color combination for winter weddings, silver and gold simply wows. This is a great wedding color combination for December weddings and New Year’s weddings.

What’s your favorite combination of colors with gold? What colors will you be using for your wedding?

Wedding toasts are a tradition you either love or hate.  Chances are you have been to one to many weddings where the speeches are long, boring or maybe a bit too over the top.   I got to thinking if wedding toasts were somehow out of date with the times after reading Offbeat Bride’s post that wedding speeches could die and no one would care.  Most guests probably wouldn’t notice – or even talk about it afterwards – that no one gave a speech.  It would give people more time to mingle, drink and dance.

And let’s face it, no one likes to give them.  Who wants to stand in front of a crowd and give a speech, knowing that the majority of the guests couldn’t care less about what you have to say.  Well, it isn’t about the guests.  It’s about the couple – the bride and groom who’ve asked you to say a few words, maybe a blessing for the future, or some advice.  You are important to them and hearing your words of wisdom is important too.  They’re not asking you to give a 20 minute power point presentation and research their lives (chances are you probably already know most of the juicy details anyway) but just a few short minutes (1 to 3 minutes to be exact) to let them know you care too.

Ehh… you’re still not sold on giving that speech huh?  I don’t blame you, I’m not a fan of them either.  I hate sitting through them and I get so nervous I could puke while giving them.  But my tone changed when I attended a friend’s wedding last month – her twin sister gave a speech that was so moving and funny that it changed my whole impression of wedding toasts.  So what did she do that was so different that it changed my mind?

1. She spoke from the heart about her sister and husband
2. She made a Top 5 list of things to keep Kristi happy – words of advice for her husband, Steve.  And anyone who knows Kristi, was laughing because it was hilarious.
3. She congratulated them and toasted, it was short, sweet and sentimental.

The thing is, wedding speeches don’t have to be horrible or dreadful for you or the guests.  Just a few short sentences that express your love and well wishes is good enough.  I think we put too much pressure on ourselves to preform.  The fact is, just be yourself because that’s who the bride and groom love.  Because heartfelt sentiments never go out of date.

Do you think wedding toasts are out of style? Are you doing something other than a toast for gathering good wishes?  Share your thoughts on wedding toasting speeches below!

And if you’re preparing to give a wedding toasting speech, you may want to read our tips: Wedding Toasting: 15 Do’s and Don’ts for some helpful hints.

A wedding cake is one of the oldest wedding traditions. It is also a big focal point of the wedding reception, and often one of the biggest wedding expenses! Today it is not uncommon for couples to stray from this tradition and opt for alternative desserts, whether the reason being for budget purposes or just personal taste.

What’s more popular than a wedding cake? Cupcakes! Though used for many and all occasions, today cupcakes are definitely one of the most trendy alternatives to a wedding cake. They’re much more modern, often less expensive, and especially perfect for the DIY bride (what better way to save money than to bake or decorate them yourself?). Although they’re different, cupcakes are no less pretty than a wedding cake – there are so many ways to display them, like our damask cupcake stand!

When asked if they would be having a traditional wedding cake, a hefty number of our readers said they’ll be choosing cupcakes over a standard cake. A few other brides mentioned other desserts they’ll be serving up, like miniature pies, cheesecakes, or cannolis.

Some brides couldn’t make up their mind, so they chose more than one dessert, like Jane C. who will also have a candy buffet. In addition to her wedding cake, Heather W. will also be having a s’mores bar. You can create your very own by simply setting out sternos (they look great in boxes of pebbles) and allowing your guests to roasts marshmallows. The concept of a candy or ice cream bar has grown to be just as common as cupcakes! Pirom C. is another who will have both a wedding cake and other desserts, with hers having a personal meaning. “We are having a traditional cake, as well as traditional desserts from both our cultures,” she says. What better way to signify the blending of two different backgrounds than with tasty treats?

Still want to display that perfect wedding cake topper you found? You don’t need to have a cake to do that, and Sam C. proves it! “We will have light purple macarons and maybe monogrammed petit fours on a nice three tier stand with a cute cake topper on the top tier,” she says. Not having a wedding cake also eliminates the cake cutting ceremony, which many brides find to be a downside. However, Mary S. solved this problem by putting a small, two-tier cake on top of her cupcake stand (that will be full of cheesecake cupcakes!) so she her and her beau can still cut that first slice together.

A big congratulations to our winner of this contest, Jessika Hinston! Jessika is a bride who stuck to tradition and will have a traditional cake in chocolate and strawberry flavors!

~ Kelsey

Connect with Kelsey on Google+

Gone are the days of spending a fortune on flowers for your wedding centerpieces. Today, it’s all about getting crafty and creating DIY centerpieces – and not only because they don’t break the bank, but because they’re original and creative too!

We asked our readers to share their wedding centerpiece ideas. Although many included flowers or some kind of floral accents, most of them went with a more non-traditional route and incorporated something really unique into them. Floating candles, sand, stones, feathers, and candy are just some of the decorations our brides-to-be are planning on incorporating with their wedding centerpieces.

If there was one way to describe the number one centerpiece trend, it’s this: mason jars. Brides love them, because they’re so versatile (and cheap). Available in a variety of sizes, they make perfect additions to rustic or vintage weddings and can hold candles, flowers, or candy – you name it.

Some other ideas we loved were painted wine bottles, like Danielle B. will have. (Another great idea is painting them with chalkboard paint and making them your table numbers.) And Hannah R. might fill up her mason jars with empty shot gun shells. Breana Z. was even thinking of incorporating live Beta fish into hers!

If you’re still weary about making your own centerpieces, remember that all those cut flowers are not only expensive, but bad for the environment! Plus, traditional flowers in vases can be bulky – you don’t want your guests peering around and over your centerpieces to see each other!

Congratulations to our contest winner Michelle Marie! Please contact us at info@littlethingsfavors.com to claim your prize.

For more ideas, check out Kristi’s latest article on wedding centerpieces.

Connect with Kelsey on Google+