Wedding Advice

So, it’s time to pop the question?  Well, gentlemen, we know what you’re going through.  You’re asking yourself a million and one questions – How do I ask her?  When do I ask her?  Where do I ask her?  Some guys worry that their ideas are a little too over the top, where others may think they’re being just a bit too boring.  Here are five great ways to propose perfectly.  Don’t forget to shop for  wedding favors while planning your wedding!

1.  Popular among celebrities, but only if you have an extra buck or two in your pocket:  Have a plane sky-write your proposal.  It’s costly, but you can really surprise her by just asking her to take a walk where she can see it.  You also have to remember that the weather forecast isn’t always set in stone.  On the bright side, you won’t have to worry about stuttering or accidentally sneezing in the middle of asking her.

2.   A classic idea for the sports fanatics is to propose on the big screen at a sports game.  Years back this may have been unique, but nowadays it seems so many people do it that it’s unoriginal.  You also have to remember that if you get rejected, it’s in front of thousands of people.

3.  It seems that beach weddings are becoming more and more popular, and here at Little Things we’ve noticed that our Personalized Tiger Clam Trinket Box has been cleverly engraved with “Will You Marry Me?” and used as ring boxes to propose on more than one occasion.  We couldn’t think it to be more adorable when men call us up excited and nervous to use this idea to propose.  Aw!

4.  Couples who eat Chinese food regularly out also seem to think of ways to incorporate a proposal on a night out at their favorite restaurant.  If you’re able to actually remove the fortune from inside a real cookie and stick another one in that says “Will You Marry Me?”, or just have a cookie custom made, then go for it!  For a great alternative idea, our Personalized Silver Plated Fortune Cookie Box can be engraved with the words as well, or you can even scribble it on the blank fortune paper that comes inside of it.

5.  Finally, for the ever traditional man, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your love to the first place you met, or where you had your first date to propose.  By doing this you’re assured that your proposal will be meaningful and memorable.  Of course there are a million different ways to propose, but only you will know what works best for you and what will be appreciated by your significant other.  Good luck and best wishes!

With Love <3 Kelsey

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"Please Be Seeded" Cherry Blossom Plantable Seed Place Cards

As a wedding expert, I cringe when I hear brides (or read about them) stating that they want open seating for their reception.

Open seating is every guest’s nightmare and it also will prevent you from having a smooth flowing reception.

But hey if you’re a fan of chaos, disorganization and unhappy guests, this may be the option for you!

Putting my sarcasm aside, I would like you to think about being in a crowded cafeteria looking for your friends or searching for an open table.  It’s nearly an  impossible feat.  Or have you ever been at a table, already seated – when someone comes over and asks everyone to shift their chairs so they can fit?  It’s annoying and disrupting – especially if you are already eating.

Now think about your reception – what if you’re groom’s obnoxious fraternity brothers storm in first and snatch up the front tables leaving your grandmother to sit in the back?  What if your friends who don’t know anyone – are left to sit at a table alone?  It doesn’t make it a fun time for your guests – and your guests’ feelings should be of uptmost importance.

While some couples think open seating is fun – it’s really not.  If you leave it to chance you will have half empty tables, overcrowded tables, some guests dining with strangers and some guests dining alone.  All of which will disrupt your wedding flow and your wedding feel.

You’re guests are like sheep – they want to be led – by you! Unless you’re having a cocktail reception where there are no seats, it is in good taste to assign tables (you don’t have to assign seats, but tables are mandatory!)

If you don’t want to go through the expense of place card holders or frames – don’t.  But do splurge on inexpensive place cards (you can buy bulk packs at most craft stores for pennies).  Or you can even puchase inexpensive place cards like the cherry blossom ones above – which also double as your wedding favors.

In a perfect world (kinda like the picture above, I would imagine) none of your friends or co-workers would put you on the spot and ask if they are invited to your wedding.  But in reality, it happens.

With the current economic situation, you may be scaling down your guest list and that’s OK!  Gone are the times of super-sized guests lists.  Now, more than ever couples are including their families and close friends only – sometimes even cutting out their extended families to save cash.

Here are 4 great ideas on what to say if you’re put into an awkward situation.

If you’re having a small wedding say: “We really wish we could invite all of our friends, but we’ve decided to keep the wedding as an intimate family affair.”

If the above isn’t entirely true, but your friend didn’t make the cut say:  “Since we have large extended families, our guest list is relatives only.”

If your paying, blame it on the economy: “Because we’re paying for the wedding ourselves, we’ve had to cut down on the size of the event so it is more afforable for us.”

If  you’re parents are paying, blame them: ” ___ and ___ are footing the bill and I need to stick to their budget and heat count, so unfortunately I can’t invite everyone I’d like to.”

We’ve all received them, wedding favors which make you scratch your head and go “huh’? Or “What was the bride thinking?”  I’m sure you’ve all received your share of matches (who smokes anymore?), cookie cutters (imagine a guy baking?), post it notes, band-aids, or maybe even the little tulle almonds.  Now, I’m not saying these things are bad as favors – some couples really like them – while I admit, some went out of style back in the 1980′s.

So I would like to know what was the worst wedding favor you received?

And to make it more fun, I’ll select the best (or maybe worst ) story and you’ll get something free in the mail from me! (Could be anything, but it will definitely be wedding favor related).

I’m actually thinking of posting a question of the day, everyday, with a freebie giveaway.  Let me know if this is something which you would be interested in.

There’s more to your wedding than just the wedding ceremony and reception. Completing your total wedding look is a must – you’ll feel even more confident and beautiful on your special day. Don’t spend a fortune – LittleThingsFavors.com has elegant bridal accessories so you can create a perfect wedding look. Here’s some accessories you need:

• Wedding Veils: Wedding veils add a classic touch to your wedding day. Our veils range in price from about $36 to $60, and include the very beautiful Two-Tier Satin Ribbon Pearls Veil and Two-Tier Embroidered Floral Veil.

• Wedding Tiaras: Wedding tiaras like the White Pearl Waves Tiara and the Pearl Loop Tiara are exceptionally elegant!

• Wedding Flip Flops: Ouch, those beautiful white heels you bought are great for the ceremony, but not a night of dancing! Ditch them for equally pretty White Sandal with Crystal Woven Strap Flip Flops.

• Bridal Purses: You need a pretty place to stash your lipstick, and maybe a tissue or two for those joyful tears. We like the Ivory Classic Evening Bag.

• Wedding Jewelry: Whether for the bride or as a cute gift for her bridesmaids, check out our beautiful wedding jewelry, such as the 3 Piece Pearl Wedding Set, Impressive Bridal Jewelry Set, and Chevron Jewelry Set.

Oops, maybe we shouldn’t call them cats and dogs, but when they fight, we just can’t help but see the comparison. If you’re lucky, your parents and your husband’s parents will never fight throughout the wedding planning or the actual wedding.

Well, we can’t all be that lucky. Chances are, parents are going to clash. Stress often causes ordinarily calm people to become a tad angry or annoyed, and as you know, wedding planning can be quite stressful.

As Dr. Dale Atkins, in “Getting Hitched? Tips to Handle the In-laws” notes, “Wedding planning can bring out the best and the worst in people, and understanding what is important, and why it is important to each member of the family is essential.”

Here’s some tips to keep the sanity in your life:

• Go in with a good attitude. Just because you’ve rented movies like “Monster In-Law” and heard horror stories about in-laws doesn’t mean that your situation will be the same. Put a smile on your face and hug the new people you’re about to share your life with.
• Talk it out. So your in-laws want a light blue theme and you’ve always dreamed of seafoam green. Rather than feeling like they simply have it in for you, explain your side. Chances are, they’re probably just didn’t know what your intentions were anyway. If they still overstep you, be sure to firmly state that this is you and your fiance’s wedding, not theirs.
• Pick your battles. Arguing over the wedding theme is one thing, bickering over whether to have pot stickers over potato pancakes is another – don’t fight over little matters, you don’t need the added stress. Be sure to assert your opinion, but don’t go into a screaming match with your mother-in-law over small details. Plus, it’ll show your maturity and calm everyone down.
• Don’t take sides. You may be tempted to side with your parents instead of your fiance. Don’t! Remember, you’re about to be married and this is the time you need to be united with your fiance. Don’t bad-mouth your parents and in-laws. Instead, listen objectively, and offer ways to help and find a solution that is agreeable for all parties.
• Daughter-in-laws, spend quality time with mother-in-laws. We’re guessing looking at bridal accessories like wedding veils, cute wedding t-shirts, wedding flip flops, and more will have you both excited and looking forward to your wedding! Spend some quality time at LittleThingsFavors.com, have a cup of tea, and check out our fun products!

Space-themed weddings may sound like child’s play, but actually, these gatherings can be extremely romantic, intimate, and fun! The heavens continue to captivate us, giving us a chance to indulge in the mystery and romance of the unknown. Getting married under the stars can be absolutely breathtaking, but if you have a larger ceremony planned, getting married at a local planetarium or a state park could be a fun and interesting way to say “I Do.”

Decorate your reception area with star décor, white lights (stars), black and silver table linens, or even hanging planets. If your reception area has a lot of windows, set up telescopes to let your guests check out the constellations. Serve up whatever food you like, but make sure your wedding cake looks stellar with starry decorations or cake toppers. Finally, treat your guests to a bit of outer space with these great Star Keychain Favors.

Your love is as unique and boundless as the universe. Share in the  magic by having a celestial wedding day!

You can’t imagine how many customers call us and ask, “What do you have for wedding favors which are also appropriate for our male guests?”  Well, it’s true, while most wedding favors can be a bit girly, we do have some suggestions for the guys attending your wedding.  Skip the fluff, buy something useful for the guys that they actually may care about:

Personalized Beer / Pint Glasses – While these are perfect in any home for soda pop, water or juice beverages, these also make the perfect pint beer glasses.  Select a plain design such as a simple monogram in a “manly” color – black, silver or blue.  Both the female and male guests will be able to use these in their homes.  On a similar note, you could also give your guests keychain bar tools.  Each stainless steel keychain contains 3 multipurpose bar tools – a corkscrew, and two retractable blades in a nifty looking wine bottle design.  The women will probably put this item close to their wine and the guys will either use them as keychains or use them in their homes.  It’s like a swiss army knife only wedding favor style!

No home which entertains is complete without a stainless steel bar shaker.  And if your mixing drinks for a larger group, everyone should have more than one on hand.  I recently had a cocktail party, and I didn’t have a shaker in my home!  Our Mini Cocktail Shaker wedding favors are perfect for the guys and the girls.  Each stainless steel shaker holds 6 ounces and is 5.75 inches tall.

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so if you want to give a practical and useful wedding favor to him, why not give him a Pizza Cutter? Each stainless steel pizza cutter is approximately 8.5″ long and is durable enough and large enough for a man’s hands, while being pretty enough as your wedding favors.  With a small heart detail at the top of the handle and packaged in an elegant silver, black and white box, these are perfect unisex wedding favors. 

And for those men who like to play poker – why not personalized playing card wedding favors?  Each card deck features BLACK “Two Of A Kind” playing cards and the outer case can be personalized with a different colored label.  So you can put a personalized pink label on the front, but the guys will still be proud to use these at their next card game because the cards are still masculine colored black. 

Viewers who watched the Desperate Housewives‘ fourth-season finale on Sunday nearly saw a marriage fall apart over an ice sculpture. Mere hours away from their ‘commitment ceremony’, Wisteria Lane residents Bob and Lee clashed over the latter’s demand for an enchanted ice castle with a vodka moat surrounding it.

If you’re married, or are planning a wedding right now, you’ve probably felt the sharp sting of a bridezilla’s (or groomzilla’s) totally unreasonable request that they’ve “dreamed of all [their] lives.” But in a struggling economy, there’s less wiggle room in wedding budgets for flights of fancy.

Don’t cross the vodka moat off just yet, though. There are plenty of painless ways to cut corners in order to save the extravagances in the master plan:

• Fewer Flowers: Really, do you need them all? And they’re not going to last.

• Bargain Hunt: If the bride is a savvy shopper, she can find a dress she’s in love with at low, low cost.

• Review the Menu: Check out the other offerings provided by your caterer and see if the Kobe beef and shiitake Wellington in a red wine reduction is really the only entree that will satisfy your guests.

• Rethink the Honeymoon: Right now, the cost of European honeymoons is astronomical thanks to the value of the Euro vs. the US Dollar. To save a few thousand bucks, consider changing the locale to somewhere just as romantic but a bit less bank-intensive.

• Do Yourself A Favor: Wedding favors are the most memorable thing about a reception, so you can’t skimp. But you can shop around and find the best deal, or even make them yourself. When I got married, we gave our guests personalized jars of honey as wedding favors. We bought bulk orders of small mason jars and honey drippers, haggled with a local beekeeper for they honey, and had my husband design the labels and favor tags in Photoshop. They were a huge hit – without hitting my checkbook.

Finally, think about your guests are really going to remember about the reception – typically, it’s the cake, the wedding favors, the good times, and anecdotes about open-bar abuse. Budget for those things accordingly, but be sure to shop around when it comes to everything else.

My RSVPs aren’t due back until 3 weeks before my wedding.  When do you think is a good time to order my wedding favors?

If you are planning on ordering personalized wedding favors you should order your wedding favors at least 4 weeks before your wedding.  This ensures that the items have enough time to personalize and ship to you.  This also gives you enough time in case items arrive broken in transit or if there are any errors which need to be fixed. 

Non-personalized wedding favors should be ordered no later than 2 weeks before your event.  This allows at least 5 business days for processing (many ship sooner) and at least 5 business days for shipping time (shipping can take anywhere from 1 to 6 business days). 

If your wedding is less than 2 weeks away, and your favors are not personalized, we would recommend upgrading shipping to ensure that they arrive in time for your wedding.

Chances are, you may not have an exact head count for your favors, but that’s OK.  You may already have some RSVPs, and if you go through your guest list you can estimate who will attend and who may not.  Once you have that total (of the already RSVP’d guests + your estimate) you may want to add 10% more to the quantity you plan on ordering to make sure you have all your guests covered.  Worst case you’ll have a few extra, but you can always save them for “memories” or give them to your nail tech, hair and makeup stylist, etc… (not in lieu of a tip but in addition to their tip).