Wedding Favors

Your wedding doesn’t have to be in the summer for you and your guests to enjoy a nice cool glass of lemonade.  If you’re a lover of the warm-weather refresher, serve it up!  Lemonade is a classic American favorite.  You’ve heard of the coffee bar, so why not have a lemonade bar at your wedding if you love the stuff?  And you can “spike” things up by literally spiking the lemonade with alcohol!

Here are some great ways to serve up lemonade at your wedding – with a twist, of course!

Vodka with Lemonade – You don’t have to just add vodka to the lemonade.  For a stronger drink, prepare the lemonade with vodka instead of water.

Gin Bowl – One can of frozen lemonade, 12 ounces of gin and one 2 liter bottle of club soda mixed together in a bowl with ice is a tangy treat.  This drink should be made right before served!  Slice up a few lemons and limes to float on the top.

Beer & Lemonade – Known as a radler in Germany and a shandy in England, this drink is half beer, half lemonade.  Easy to make and great for the usual non-beer drinkers.

Electric Lemonade – Though there are many recipes for this one, but this is how I personally make the drink.  You can use a blender if you’d like:  combine 1 1/4 oz. vodka (Absolut Citron is the best!) with 1/2 oz. Blue Curacao, 2 oz. Sweet & Sour and a splash of Seven Up.  Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon slice, cherry and mint.

These alcoholic lemonade drinks will definitely be great conversation starters!  After all, when life hands you lemons…add alcohol!  Don’t forget to give your guests these lemonade mix favors to take home – they can make their very own instant lemonade, and add alcohol too (optional).

Happy drinking! <3 Kelsey

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Many of our honey themed wedding favors boast that your love is “as sweet as can bee” – just like honey!  A honey themed wedding is a great idea, even for those who don’t love honey.  I personally love honey, so for me, a honey themed wedding would not only be cute but a reflection of my personality as well.  Here are some great ideas:

A honey themed wedding would be best to host in the spring or early fall when the weather is not too warm yet not too chilly either.  Since honey is often used in the morning in tea, on toast, etc., this is a great idea for those who are not having a wedding in the evening and even better if the wedding is outside.  After all, honey is derived from bees, and bees live outside…you get the picture, right?

You can incorporate the color of amber in many ways:  the bridesmaid dresses, your eye makeup, even the flowers (mums, tiger lilies, carnations).  Amber is a warm color, and if you have your wedding in the early fall, will coordinate beautifully with the natural colors of the changing leaves.

Your food, of course, should also have honey!  There are so many ways to incorporate honey into your food:  honey glazed ham, toast with honey, honey in tea, honey buns – whatever you can think of, or whatever you enjoy eating honey with.

And of course, your wedding favors can also reflect honey.  You could fill your own mason jars with honey, top them with a vintage-inspired cloth and seal the jar with a ribbon, rubber band and/or personalized tag.  Check out our honey wedding favors for personalized honey jars, honey scented candles, and much more!

<3 Kelsey

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Cappuccino is a delicious drink, and with fall rolling in, the perfect way to warm up in the chilly weather!  Of course, you can always take a trip to your local Starbucks to get a little pick-me-up, but if you’re a true coffee lover with an espresso machine, why not make your very own cappuccino right at home?  Here are some great cappuccino recipes for you to enjoy this season – at home or at your wedding!

Making a cappuccino is really very simple, but some say it takes practice to get it just right.  Simply brew an espresso, add an equivalent amount of hot milk, then milk foam to the top and voila – a delicious cappuccino!  Of course, not all of us have an espresso machine right in our kitchen, so instant cappuccino is always a great alternative – you can purchase a mix at a grocery store and simply add hot water.

You can always make an iced cappuccino, a wet cappuccino (with more milk) or a dry cappuccino (with less milk) to change it up.  Or, you can add a tablespoon of hot cocoa mix for a more delectable drink.  And you can always add some flavored syrups to the drink, such as caramel, mocha or even pumpkin for something really original!

Create a cappuccino bar at your wedding with different syrup flavors, chocolate shavings, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and much more for your guests to create their own special cappuccino.  You can even hire an experienced barista (that’s Italian for “bartender”) to create beautiful latte art into the foam at the top – such as a heart, leaves for your autumn affair, or even your monogram initials!

Check out our cappuccino favors for personalized packets of the drink mix to give your guests.  You may even want to pair them up with our personalized Biscotti cookies, which can be found with our cookie wedding favors – after all, cappuccino originated in Italy too!

Happy autumn! – Kelsey

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With fall starting tomorrow, the perfect drink to celebrate this glorious season, is of course hot cocoa.  For fall and winter weddings, hot cocoa favors or a hot chocolate bar (“spiked” with alcohol, of course!) is the perfect solution to warm your guests on those chilly evenings.   For those do-it-yourself brides who want to give their guests a custom and homemade favor, here is a great idea: personalized DIY hot chocolate favors!

Simply follow our favorite hot chocolate recipe by mixing the dry ingredients together and diving them into batches.  Our hot chocolate recipe on our site (link above) is designed for 4 servings, so just mix the ingredients together and divide by 4 to get a serving size.  And include a card or tag instructing your guests to add the remaining wet ingredients at home (milk, a touch of half and half and vanilla extract).  You could also include in your pre-made hot chocolate recipe, marshmallows, small chocolate chips or chocolate shavings for toppings.

To package your hot cocoa favors, you could use clear plastic cones with ribbons and tags found in craft stores, or you can present them in one of the following adorable jars which would be perfect to hold a serving of the pre-made mix.  These jars come with free personalized stickers, which you could use for your names and date or an adorable message.These jars are quite substantial in size and aren’t your average “candy” jars which are sold – they are approximately 3″ tall x 2″ wide and make a lovely solution to holding your mix.  The glass jars are $1.25 each and the ceramic jars with spoons are $2.75 each.  Of course your guests can reuse them over and over again in their kitchens to hold spices, salt or sugar or other loose items.  If making these isn’t on your to-do list, we also offer fall and winter pre-made packets for personalized hot cocoa favors – check one more item off your wedding list today!

Edit: 10/22 – I just found the most delicious sounding Pumpkin Spice Recipe and I had to share.  Go to http://tidymom.net/2011/pumpkin-spice-white-hot-chocolate/ to read more!

Edit 10/22 – I also found a yummy Caramel Corn Hot Chocolate Recipe here: http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/10/19/caramel-corn-hot-chocolate-and-the-everyday-chef-recipe-challenge/ click the link to read it!

Here at Little Things, we love coffee probably more than weddings.  Well, no, we love weddings, coffee though, probably runs a close second.  If you are anything like us, our Keurig machine is ever brewing an assortment of regular and flavored coffee, and even brewing tea.  Occasionally, in the winter, we’ll toss in some hot cocoa for good measure.  Out of all of the employees here, I don’t think there is anyone who doesn’t drink coffee.

Even if you aren’t a coffee addict like we are here, I’m sure there are occasions you do drink coffee – which makes coffee and tea a perfect entertainment item for your fall or winter wedding.  We’ve heard of the candy bar, the cigar bar, the ice cream bar – I have even heard of an old fashioned soda bar for a wedding reception idea! How about a coffee / tea / hot beverage bar for your upcoming nuptials?

A hot beverage bar is perfect for warming up your guests on chilly fall evenings or freezing winter afternoons.  Nothing will warm up your guests like a delicious, hot drink!  A coffee / hot beverage bar is easier than you think to incorporate into your wedding. Start by having your reception location provide a large enough table with urns filled with coffee and hot water.  You can even hire someone to man an espresso / cappuccino machine.

At the table be sure to provide

• Different Types of Coffee (Full, Decaf, Espresso, Cappuccino)
• Different Hot Beverages (Tea, Hot Cocoa, Apple Cider)
• Different Types of Syrups
• Different Types of Toppings (Powdered Chocolate, Cinnamon, Nutmeg)
• Different Types of Sweeteners (Don’t forget heart shaped sugar cubes!)
• Different Types of Milk (Fat Free, Whole, Half n Half)

When Can You Use A Hot Beverage Bar?

• At the cocktail hour for those who choose not to drink
• At a brunch reception
• During the reception, some people prefer coffee right after dinner and don’t like waiting until the dessert course. (Or if you are like me, I like coffee before AND after my dinner).  This is also good for those who want to warm up if they are cold (or just came in from outside) or if they don’t drink alcoholic drinks.
• While the bridal party is getting ready, or at an post-wedding all night party, or the day after brunch

Of course, there are plenty of ideas to keep your wedding pumped full of caffeine – from coffee brown bridesmaids dresses, to personalized coffee favors, coffee cups, coffee scoops, espresso cups or even coffee scented candles – you’re wedding will be good to the last drop!

– Love, Erica & The Coffee Lover’s at Team Little Things

Call me an old lady (I’m the ripe old age of 33) but my e-reader will never replace my personal book collection, unless of course they stop printing books.  Even then, I think I would browse antique stores looking for a good book to add to my collection.  I love flipping pages of a book, I love getting lost in the story, anxiously scanning the pages.  I love the smell of books, especially old books.  I love letting my friends borrow books (even though I occasionally, never get them back).  I love picking up the copy of my copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales from 1973 which was written to me from my now deceased grandmother whom I adored.  It brings tears to my eyes and good memories every time I pick it up.   I hunted online once for my favorite childhood book, Lamont the Lonely Monster, published by Hallmark in 1970, which is now a rare collectable, and purchased it just for sentimental value.  I handed down my Strawberry Shortcake Cooking Cookbook to my son, and I loved looking though the pages and seeing my handwriting in it from when I was 6 (his age now). Books hold valuable memories, something that an e-reader will never be able to replace.

I have been known to go to my nearest Barnes and Noble, grab a cup of Starbucks and spend hours browsing the shelves looking for a good book.  Recently, I was in BN and staring at the “Spiritual Romance” section.  What was a “Spiritual Romance” exactly? I had no idea, but as I browsed the shelves a woman approached me also looking in the same section.  “Did you ever read any of Karen Kingsbury?” she asked me.  “No I haven’t,” I responded.  But we had a 20 minute conversation about her books.   It was a very serendipitous moment, and I wound up purchasing her book, Redemption. This type of interaction is also something that an e-reader will never be able to replace.

I always wanted a home library like the one in Beauty in the Beast, or the ones from Victorian Times, but since I do lean toward the modern and the contemporary, a library like the one above, in color or alphabetical order, filled with a comfy couch, blanket, my dogs, a cup of tea (and hopefully a fireplace) would be heaven to me.  There is just something so cozy and inviting about curling up to a good book.  I am sure I am not the first one to say this, and probably not the last.  Imagine a library room with no books, just a lonely e-reader on the side table.  Where is the character?

However, I do have an e-reader.  They are great to carry a few books at a time with you on vacation – especially now days when airlines have such strict weight regulations.  And of course they do cut down on the clutter of having books all over your home.  But you can’t take an e-reader with you while you are enjoying a candle-lit bubble bath, or at the beach (if you are concerned about the heat and sand), a hot tub, or pool.  While e-readers have their advantages, they still don’t stack up to a real book!

If you are a book lover like me, I’m sure you devour several books at once.  The one thing I can never get enough of are bookmarks.  If I was to get married again, I would definitely consider giving out a favorite book with a bookmark attached to a favorite passage.  Or I would use one of our bookmark favors to attach a favorite recipe or use them to hold my seating assignments.  Bookmarks are just as collectible as books, especially for bibliophiles.  Even those on your list who aren’t voracious readers will be sure to get use out of this practical and memorable favor.  I will continue to read my books and one day I hope to have my own little library in my house complete with my favorite reads, multiple bookmarks and my e-reader.

Happy reading!

- Erica

I absolutely love the idea of a fall wedding.  The warm weather has finally cooled, the air is crisp and fresh, and the colors of the season are absolutely beautiful.  We may still be stuck in summer, but now is the time for brides who are having a fall wedding to really buckle down and start tying up all the loose ends – September is right around the corner!  Here I’ve listed a few of our newest fall themed wedding favors that are sure to be a hit among anyone looking for the perfect fall favor.

“Falling for You” Scented Pine Cone Candle (Set of 4) – I don’t particularly like candle favors very much, but this one is an exception because it’s beautifully packaged and is a nice change from the typical leaf themed stuff that is used too often for fall favors.

Autumn Leaf Design Place Card Holder – I have a feeling these place card holders will do exceptionally well this season.  Some of our once popular fall themed place card holders are no longer available, and I noticed the options on our website were slowly dwindling down.  But these place card holders are small and simple in an antique copper metal finish.

Scenic View Tree-Branch Place Card Frame – I prefer place card frames over holders, and this one is absolutely adorable.  I love its rustic look, and apparently brides do too, because it’s currently out of stock until the beginning of September.  So if you love it, order it, so you can rest assured your order will be one of the first fulfilled once it comes back in stock.

Autumn Allure Fall Leaf Box – Trinket boxes have been a trending favor since the first one was made, and now they’re available for every style and wedding theme out there.  I love the rhinestone detailing on the stem of the leaf!

Choice Crystal Leaf Design Wine Bottle Stopper – We have a couple of really popular leaf design bottle stoppers, and I think brides will love this one too.  It’s a little more costly than some of our others because it’s choice crystal, but definitely worth the buck.  It says “fall” without being too over the top – the base is a lovely shade of copper and the crystal leaf adds just the right amount of elegance to the favor.

Keep your eye on our website for the next month or so – we’ll be offering a fall favor promotion very soon!

<3 Kelsey

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This week we’re offering 20% off all of our personalized drink mixes – this includes coffee packs, cocktail mixes, hot chocolate, cappuccino, lemonade, tea bags, tea tins, tea disks, and apple cider mixes.  So whether you’re looking to warm up your winter wedding with hot cocoa or whip up some margaritas at your backyard BBQ, beverage wedding favors are perfect for all occasions.  And we’ve got some great ideas to make them even more unique then their original design options and free personalization.

Coffee Wedding Favors – All of our coffee packs are filled with a fine blend of coffee grinds, but you can make them even more appealing by pairing them with a coffee scoop, or even displaying them in personalized coffee mugs.  It’ll be the perfect blend of favors at your wedding.

Cocktail Mixes – A fine choice for bridal showers and bachelorette parties, these will go great with a handy martini shaker, or even a cocktail themed favor, such as a girly manicure kit or clever luggage tag.  Available in both cosmopolitan and margarita!

Personalized Tea Favors – I personally think a tea party is an adorable theme for a bridal shower, and we have a bunch of tea themed favors that would go great with a personalized tea bag, tin, or disk.  Your personalized tea may brew a fine cup, but a teapot kitchen timer will always be there to remind your guests of your special day.  If you’re giving out loose tea, a tea infuser will make it the perfect pair.  You may even want to throw a jar of personalized honey in a matching design.  Yum!

Using the coupon code Drink20 at checkout will save you 20% off personalized beverage favors.  Or you can use Drink10 for 10% off anything on our site.  Hurry and save while you can – sale ends Saturday, June 25th.

<3 Kelsey

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So I know a ton of you watched the Royal Wedding live on TV this morning. Although I didn’t wake up at 4 AM to watch it, I did catch a few bits and pieces of it throughout the day. What did you guys think of Kate’s dress? Did anyone see the wedding cake? Or better yet, the menu? What a feast! Being a Little Things employee, I can’t help but wonder what wedding favors they featured! After a little bit of research, the rumor is that they had originally planned on giving their guests limited-edition scarves made of fine wool that were custom designed by a extremely posh apparel company in India. Little Things doesn’t offer these chic and expensive scarves, so here’s what I think William & Kate (now the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge) would use if they bought their wedding favors from us.

1. Crown Bottle Stoppers with Crystals (in styles King or Queen) – I love these bottle stoppers, mostly because they’re great quality and really stylish. These stoppers would add sparkle to any “castle!”

2. Crown Design Trinket Box – These trinket boxes may be low in cost, but they’re fit for royalty! Trinket boxes have been some of our most popular wedding favors in the past season, and this intricate crown style is definitely one of the finest.

3. Crown Design Picture Frame – Kate & William’s guests would have no problem finding their seat with these elegant place card frames. And they’re perfect for holding pictures afterwards.

4. Antique Silver Crown Toasting Flutes & Server Set – They can make a toast and slice their cake in a regal style.

5. Finally, (although I’m sure Kate’s is MUCH nicer), we offer a ton of bridal tiaras – but these are great alternatives for brides who can’t afford one as lavish as the Duchess’.

We welcome Marko, the leader of our Search Engine Marketing department, back to the states today! Marko resides in Helsinki, Finland but has once again decided to come visit his fellow employees here in America.

PS – Don’t forget to take 10% off your order using the coupon code Cake10 upon checkout – expires tomorrow! And if your order totals $249 before the discount, you can select a free cake topper! See site for details.

Enjoy your weekend, and the nice weather! <3 Kelsey

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When shopping on our website, you’re able to not only keyword search, but browse our wedding favors using an easy-to-navigate “Shop Favor By…” menu.  Looking for pre-wedding party favors, like stuff for your engagement party?  We’ve got a section for that.  Want something to incorporate into your purple or Damask design theme?  We’ve got a section for that too.  We even make it easy to shop for traditional Indian favors by heritage, or favors for your sandy seaside beach bash.  But if you’re just looking to check out all of the great favors we have in store for you, you can simply click on the first option available in our entire menu:  wedding favors.  You’ll then have the option to shop by category – perhaps you’re looking for a bookmark, something eco-friendly, something new, or something popular.  Our best selling wedding favors section includes 6 full pages of popular wedding favors – that’s 96 products that are hot sellers and popular among brides that shop with us.  Aren’t you interested to see what’s in store?

The great thing about shopping our best sellers section is that nothing is specific – you can be looking for a favor for your winter wonderland wedding, or something to match your fleur de lis theme.  You can rest assured that when checking out these products, you’re getting something that’s the best of the best and most of your guests will love and appreciate.  Here are just some of my favorite wedding favors that can also be found in our best sellers section.

Fleur de Lis Pewter Finish Bottle Opener – This has to be one of my favorite wedding favors.  For a couple of reasons:  one, I absolutely adore fleur de lis wedding favors.  Two, the packaging is absolutely gorgeous.  And three, it’s so practical – all of your guests, both men and women, can use this.

Lovebirds Design Photo Coasters – The second these coasters came out, which was not too long ago, they were an instant hit.  At an unbelievably low price, this favor features a sweet design and simple, elegant packaging.

Set of 12 Personalized Glass Favor Jars – I’m not a fan of DIY favors, especially candy boxes and jars, but these miniature mason jars are too cute to resist.  Fill them up with candy or anything you can imagine – I’d fill mine with loose tea!  I also love the free personalization and all the options you have to choose from.

Beautifully Beaded Place Card & Photo Frame – Table assignments is extremely important at your wedding reception.  After all, you don’t want your guests to feel uncomfortable if they don’t know other guests at your event.  These place card frames have been a best seller for a while now, and it’s no question as to why – they’re simple, elegant and though their price is low, they’re far from cheap!

Personalized Theme Playing Cards – If you’re like me, you might want to receive a favor you can actually use when going to a wedding, so use the same mindset when choosing your wedding favors:  can your guests use this?  These playing cards are a lot of fun.  Not only are they practical, but include free personalization – that’s 27 designs and colors to mix & match.’

Be sure to check out all of the best favors we have to offer, and if you decide to order them, save 20% by using the coupon code Best20 upon checkout.  Ordering favors, but not a best seller?  Not to worry – save 10% by using Best10 instead.  Remember – coupons cannot be combined.  Offer ends at 11:59PM on Saturday April 2, 2011, Eastern Standard Time.  Have fun shopping!

<3 Kelsey

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