Unique Table Settings and Favors For Your Wedding

 

 

As a soon-to-be bride, if you want something more for your wedding, that little extra added touch – there are many ways to do it. From choosing a unique wedding dress and bouquet to finding things that have never been done before with the wedding cake, it’s fun to think of new ways to spice up old traditions. Unique table settings and favors are another way to make your wedding stand out.

You will find below a couple of great ideas for unique table settings that you can use at your wedding.  At the very least, these suggestions will stimulate your imagination to create your own unique table settings.

Go Natural With Nature Items

For a wedding outdoors or with a floral or natural theme, you can get a lot of use out of sticks and other natural items – especially for unique table settings. Imagine centerpieces made from beautiful branches, pinecones, berries and candles for an autumn-themed wedding. For your table settings, you can take small, flexible branches and craft wire to create custom napkin rings. Simply wire them together and hot glue a few berries or some ribbon on top of the craft wire.

You can also use beautiful leaves as place markers by writing your guests’ names on the leaves! By using natural items, you can create beautiful, unique table settings for your reception.

Themed Weddings 

There are a great many ideas for unique table settings when you’re having a themed wedding. Spend some time thinking about your theme and the different items you could use. For instance, if you’re having a Renaissance wedding, use silver goblets rather than wine glasses and pewter table settings.

If you’ll be having a garden wedding, place tiny flower pots or spring hedges by each table setting with your guests name on them for your reception. If you can find dinner plates with blossoms or greenery, it would be perfect for your reception table. There are all sorts of unique table settings for themed weddings – just use your imagination and creativity to determine what's best for you.

How to Find Inspiration

If you aren’t sure how to come up with unique table settings for your wedding, there are a few things you can do to find inspiration. Consider your wedding theme and location and think about things that go along with your theme. For instance, if you’re having a beach wedding, what could you do with seashells or small containers of sand? Flip through magazines and see what other brides are doing – is there anything unique that you could change around a little bit and make your own?

It’s always fun to break away from tradition and create something fresh and beautiful. The same goes for unique table settings – so spend some time finding inspiration to create a scene that you and your guests will really enjoy.

Happy Planning,

 

From Love and Marriage to Baby and Carriage

www.volnersloveandcarriage.theaspenshops.com

Celebrate Baby's 1st Birthday with Scoops of Love and Ice Cream

Remember the saying, "you scream, I scream, we all scream for ice-cream"?.  No matter what the age, ice-cream is the ultimate 'feel good' feeling.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate baby's 1st birthday party than with ice-cream, with scrumptious toppings in abundance.

One of our very own graphic designers for Kate Aspen who supplies our fabulous favors to our online store Volner's Love and Carriage, celebrated her little sweetheart turning one just a couple of weeks ago and she shared pictures with us that we can't resist in sharing.
 From brightly colored tissue poms to glittered styrofoam “scoops” and hand made banners, the décor was simple but executed the theme perfectly.  The colorful arrangement of food consisted of cake balls that mirrored ice cream cones, lemon burst cookies, marshmallow pops with M&M “cherries” on top, chocolate dipped rice krispie treats, and more.  Don’t forget that food is yet another way to tie in your party theme!



Leah sent her guests home with a little something to remember the day, Kate Aspen’s “Scoop of Love” Heart-Shaped Ice Cream Scoop in Parlor Gift Box.  Along with these favors, she also made goody bags for the children that included a container of bubbles in the shape of an ice cream cone, some colorful candy, and a tightly wrapped washcloth in cupcake packaging.  By the end of the day, they were all screaming for ice cream!

Happy planning!

From Love and Marriage to Baby and Carriage
Visit us online today: www.volnersloveandcarriage.theaspenshops.com 

Forget Me Not The Favors!

Recall the most beautiful wedding you’ve ever attended. The day was perfect from the bride’s exquisite dress, to the romantic venue, to the artfully-rehearsed first dance. But what made that wedding stand out, a day you’ve remembered for years? It was the details , of course – the little things that made all the difference. The distinctive subtleties designed to make each guest feel appreciated – from the thoughtful, themed table décor to the engaging place cards holders, to the personable favors handed out at the end of the night.

 

Wedding favors are a high-impact, low-cost way to make a dramatic impression on your guests. These days, most wedding guests expect to receive some sort of favor, whether large or small, expensive or affordable. The point is, it’s a tangible memento to remind them of your special day beyond the wedding festivities. It’s up to you to put your own personal mark on these favors and tie into your overall theme or color scheme. Here are a few ideas using favors to enhance your overall celebration.

Place Card Holders
Place card holders are growing in popularity and are typically the most affordable favor. Guests can use place card holders as a unique photo holder after the wedding. Use place card holders such as Kate Aspen’s “Evergreen” Window Planter Place Card Holder to point guests to their tables, meanwhile adding a charming, verdant aesthetic. These place card holders work with a variety of themes but look especially beautiful in a summery, casual setting.



Table Décor
The right favor can embellish your event, adding a subtle complement to your wedding theme or color scheme. Favors such as tealight holders, coasters, and photo frames make wonderful gifts and enhance your tables’ décor. Volner's Love and Carriage and Kate Aspen’s “Golden Renaissance” Glass Tealight Holder looks pretty in its gift-ready packaging and is a beautiful, yet practical memento for your guests.



A Personalized Thank You Favor
More and more, couples are putting their own special mark on favors as a way to personally thank guests for participating in their special day. Darling little jars filled with honey, jam, or candy are the latest favor sensation. Kate Aspen’s “Spread the Love” Personalized Strawberry Jam is quite fetching and guests simply can’t stop talking about this sweet send-off.



Whether practical or whimsical, affordable or extravagant, you must not forget about favors! It’s the little details, the subtle touches that help to create an extraordinary, memorable wedding day.

Happy planning!

From Love and Marriage to Baby and Carriage
Volner's Love and Carriage Unique Favors and Gifts
www.volnersloveandcarriage.theaspenshops.com

Got Cosmos? Second Step To Girls Night Out

So glad to see you back! We’re still having the time of our lives giving you the low-down on high times—Cosmo-style. Let’s jump right into it—



Mushy Movie Night

Here’s another get-together that can take place at home or away. The only rule is that it has to be a mushy movie—no horror, action or war movies. Two-tissues or more movies only! Order pizza for delivery, have everyone bring a dish or, after the movie, head to a favorite restaurant to eat and enjoy—what else? Cosmos! Wrap up the evening by giving your guests a girls’ night out favor that keeps the party going when they get home—“Bottoms Up!” Cosmopolitan Cocktail Mix. All they’ll need is a mushy movie and a box of tissues.



“Vive la France” Night

Hey, if you’ve got the money to transport your party to Paris, don’t let us stop you. In fact, we’d love an invitation! If you’re like us, you’ll have to bring the Eiffel Tower to your own town. It’s easy! Wear berets. Eat at a French restaurant—go for the snails, the frog legs and the croissants. (French fries are not an option.) See a French movie. You might even want to treat yourselves to a bottle French champagne at dinner (and end the night with Cosmos at a good ol’ American bar or night club.) Oh, and French-themed favors are perfectly acceptable as a reminder for your tres magnifque soiree (totally magnificent evening!) Yes, we’ve got those, too!


“Far Out” Food-Tasting Night

Well, we find ourselves with another night that can be just as much fun home or away. And we’re talking really far-out food—exotic foods you’ve never tasted before. This might sound a little like “Vive la France” night, with the snails and frog legs. Look for a Peruvian restaurant, an Ethiopian restaurant, a Bulgarian restaurant or a place equally as different from your typical girls’ night out fare. If you host the night at home, ask each guest to make an unusual (but yummy-sounding) dish from another country. (Tacos and lasagna don’t count.) Add a few interesting side dishes of your own, and don’t forget the Cosmos—which go with foods of all nations!
Having fun, ladies? Welcome to the club!

Happy Planning!

Got Cosmos? First Step To A Great Girls Night Out

A bunch of us girls are sitting here listening to some outstanding music (Hotel California by Eagles followed by some REM and some Backstreet Boy's—we’re a pretty eclectic group!), exchanging hilarious “girls’ night out stories” (some of which are pretty crazy) and laughing a lot. We’re also sipping luscious Cosmopolitans, which seem to be an element of most of the narratives we’re hearing. There’s a reason for that.

When you’re out to have fun, a little loosening up never hurts, and nothing does it in better taste than a perky, pink Cosmopolitan—the cocktail made famous by the TV show Sex and the City. It’s definitely a girly drink, but hey, we’re girls—and we do have excellent taste. We’re pretty sure you do, too, so our little group gathering is dedicated to growing our membership (including you!) and sharing a few of our cool ideas for a cosmo-fueled girls’ night out!

“Girls’ Night In” Spa Party

Okay, you got us. A spa party is as cliché as bar hopping for a girls’ night out. We do it with a bit of a twist. We make it a “girls’ night in”, and bring the spa to us. Check with your local spas to see which ones will come to your home for manis, pedis, facials, massages, etc. Have each guest bring an appetizer, and be sure to have plenty of Cosmopolitan components on hand! You’ll send everyone home relaxed, refreshed and ready to make their own Cosmopolitans with this handy “Oh, So Cosmopolitan!” Reversible Recipe Coaster! Speaking of recipes, here’s the basic recipe for a Cosmopolitan, which you’ll find on one side of the coaster:

4 oz. Vodka
2 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
1 oz. Lime Juice
1 Orange Slice
A Twist of Lime

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, serve, sit back and unwind.

Belly Dancing Bash
Here’s an evening that will leave you breathless—in more ways than one. Take a belly-dancing class and shake what you’ve got for a couple of hours—long enough to work up a thirst. Then head to a favorite watering hole to cap off the evening with cosmopolitans, nourishment and a few belly laughs!

“Go Directly to Jail” Game Night

The beauty of a girls’ game night is that you can stay in and play board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Apples to Apples (a fabulous game!), Trivial Pursuit or whatever you love to play. Combine it with Cosmos and canapés and go for the win! Or, if you live near a casino, hit the gaming tables—blackjack, roulette, poker, the slots. The Cosmos will come to you. However, please do make it a point not to do anything that will cause you to “go directly to jail!”
On that cautionary note, we’ll save a few more Cosmo-cool ideas for girls’ night out until next time. Meanwhile, think film, France and far-out food!

Happy Planning!

From Love and Marriage to Baby and Carriage
www.volnersloveandcarriage.theaspenshops.com

Wedding Theme Spring Cabaret

If you are looking for a bright and fun theme for your wedding, consider using Cabaret. One of Pantone’s 2012 Spring Colors, Cabaret is bold, bright and energizing! It would look great on a bridesmaid’s dress or in a floral bouquet. If you plan to turn your wedding celebration into the party of 2012, be sure to utilize Cabaret within your color scheme!

Bright blossoms in Cabaret could warm up the centerpieces in your wedding reception. Kate Aspen’s “Elegant Orchid” Tealight Holder could enhance your table decor and will also make for fabulous petite gifts. Volner's Love and Carriage also has many personalized favors by Kate Aspen in bright pink to add a personalized pop of color to your event.

You can also incorporate this color in wedding invitations and decorations and try out various combinations. For instance, pairing Cabaret with Tangerine Tango or Margarita will create festive color combinations that will have everyone excited at your event!

Happy planning!

From Love and Marriage to Baby and Carriage
www.volnersloveandcarriage.theaspenshops.com

Baby Shower Idea Activities: Advice Book

Buy or make a small blank book. Ask each guest to write a piece of advice in the book for the mother- or parents-to-be.

Expectant mother Arielle Ikeda of Forest Knolls, California, gave us a sampling of the words of wisdom called from family and friends at her baby shower. "Most of the advice was about sleep — 'Sleep when the baby sleeps,' 'Get as much rest as possible,' " she says. But a bit of the more unusual advice told her to remember that when she's up at 2 a.m. — nursing the baby in the rocking chair, feeling exhausted and lonely — hundreds of other women are up, too, with their babies. Her favorite piece of advice came from the hostess: "Whatever works."

A variation on the advice book involves asking each guest to write a wish or proverb for the baby. You could use poems, quotes, or something original.

Happy Planning!

From Love and Marriage to Baby and Carriage
www.volnersloveandcarriage.theaspenshops.com