Practical Bridal Party Gifts for Casual Weddings

Author Bio
Wedding favors say that you appreciate that your guests took time away from their busy schedule to be with you on your wedding day. Most brides and grooms provide drinks and food for their guests, but if you want to do something more, consider upping the ante with little gifts that say a lot. Favors also add to the festivities as part of the decorations. Coordinate your favors with the theme of your wedding and wedding invitations, place cards, program, and menu sheets. One elegant way to do this is to stay with the seasons. Spring Nothing says spring like pastel colors, fresh greenery and flowers - lots of flowers. Lay colored table cloths or heavy duty paper table cloths underneath lace cloths. Or buy inexpensive wall paper in floral prints and use that as the table topper with a gathered skirt around the table itself. Of course you'll have floral center pieces for each table at the reception but don't stop there. Scatter blossom, buds, and petals across the table. Favors that continue the springtime theme include a Butterfly Wine Stopper for each guest or Miniature Wooden Birdhouses with "Love Nest" inscribed on the front. Love Blossoms is a card with a modern botanical image featuring two detachable blossoms embedded with real wild flower seeds. Set a rose ball candle in an attractive see through gift box besides each setting. Or a calla lily vase shaped candle. For do- it-yourselfers, have stickers or cards personalized with your names and wedding date. Attach with a festive ribbon to color coordinated boxes filled pastel mints, potpourri, or a single flower shaped candle. Summer Warm breezes, the beach, and bright colors all say summer. Hand Fans in SSA paper provide cooling breezes and will be appreciated by your guests at an outside reception. Summer wedding receptions can be dramatic or fun. Tropical flowers, such as orchids, proteas, and ginger aren't cheap but they are so unusual you only need one or two in a vase. Fill the vase with lemons, kumquats or limes before inserting the flowers for even more color. Lay a runner of palm branches or banana leaves down the tables to continue the tropical theme. Favor your guests with Flip-Flop Photo Frames with Flower Accent, the colors are bright greens, pinks, yellows, and blues. Fill a Palm Tree Favor Box with candies. Or set a Marguerita Glass Gel Candle in a Tiki Hut gift box by each place setting. Place "Love-sicle" Popsicle Soaps in children's sand pails for guests, but be careful, the soaps look good enough to eat. Evoke the beach even if you're miles away by using vases filled with pale blue water and masses of baby's breath. Spread seashells around the vases and a few starfish. Add Seashell Candles as the favors. Mark each guest's place with a Seaside Sand and Shell place holder which can later be used as a photo frame. Fall Crisp days, gold and burgundy chrysanthemums, and falling leaves put anyone in an autumn mood. Instead of flowers, use piles of apples as the centerpiece for the tables surrounded by Apple of My Eye apple shaped candles. Pumpkins, squash, and gourds make a fall floral arrangement when interspersed with yellow and red mums. If you're ambitious hollow out the pumpkins and use them as containers for potted mums. Mark each guest's place setting with a Turning Leaves Bookmark with Burgundy Silk Tassel or a Leaf Tea Light and Place Card Holder with Autumn-themed Gift Box. Fill Autumn Elegance Laser-Cut Fall Leaf Favor Boxes with gold, yellow, red, and burgundy jelly beans for guests to take home. Winter Winter means snow, icicles and, of course, Christmas. If your wedding has a winter wonderland theme, create a snowscape. Sprinkle white, silver, and iridescent glitter on a white table cloth. Use silver chargers at each place setting. Place a mirror in the center of the table surrounded by artificial snow so the snow covers the edges of the mirror. Hot glue silver and white iridescent snowflakes to the mirror with a dab of hot glue so they stand upright. Place votive candles in glass holders around the snowflakes. When the candles are lit the sparkle begins. Continue the winter theme with Snowflake Place Card Holders, Snowflake Gel Candles, and Winter Wonderland Glass Coasters. Your guests won't soon forget your wedding. Any extras make wonderful keepsakes for your first holidays together as a married couple. Fill white Tin Favor Pails with Hershey kisses (which can be ordered with your names). Wrap in a cellophane bag tied at the top with blue personalized ribbons. Thanking your guests for joining you in your wedding celebration lets them know how special they are. Favors don't have to be expensive as long as they're thoughtful. Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about weddings wedding favors

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