wedding favours

Irish Wedding Themed Favours

Forget shamrocks and leprechauns! If you want to avoid the old stereotypes of Ireland, but you still want to give your guests a taste of the country, then think about what stunning produce modern Ireland has to offer.

From artisan chocolates, to chic gin, to candles, seaweed beauty products and everything in between there are so many options to choose from.

Of course, you’ve got to have some of the retro classics in there too and without doubt one of the things people miss if they are living away from Ireland is the food. Favourites like Barry’s Tea, Kerry gold, Brennan Bread and Tatyo Crisps

Equally if you are having your wedding here and want to familiarise your guests with Irish culture, these items are ideal.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

Tayto

It’s the Irish classic, that might seem a bit odd to overseas guests, but it will be a truly unique favour they sure won’t have had before. Equally if you’re living abroad and coming home for your wedding, what a taste of home this will be! Yes it’s the classic Tatyo sandwich pack with bread, the famed crisps and butter!

 

Tea

Ireland and Tea go together like peas and carrots. We are obsessed with tea and again this could be a really fun favour. Try and track down some retro style tea tins of brand such as Barry’s or Lyons and leave one for each guests.

 

Seaweed

Ireland’s Seaweed is famed for its skincare benefits and healing properties and indeed on the west coast of the country you can indulge in a luxury seaweed bath. But why not give guests a sample of the product with items such as soaps, bath salts and body lotions. Brands such as Voya are ideal.

 

Irish Drinks

A simple, but welcome favour, why not leave a different mini bottle of an Irish drink for each guest? Whiskey is an obvious choice, but think about all the artisan gins, craft beers and non-alcoholic drinks being produced here in Ireland. If you want to get fancy, then you could personalise them and have each on a bundle with a few other items, such as artisan chocolates or mixers.

 

Candles

Irish artisan candles have become huge in recent years. It’s a thriving business and many of them are truly unique with scents such as rainy Irish day or a turf fire to really give your guests something different.

 

 

Images via Pinterest

 

Edible Wedding Favours

Having a wedding favour for each guest is not only a lovely surprise for your family and friends, but it also allows you to channel your creative side. Try and pick an item that fits in with your overall theme if you can and something you know your guests will enjoy.

Sometimes it can be hard to pick something that’s going to appeal to both men and women and to all ages. So an edible favour is an obvious choice because it will delight everyone universally.

There’s a huge scope of options when it comes to this choice, you could go for something as simple as a single chocolate, up to elaborate items like homemade jams or mini cakes.

Try and find something that’s going to fit in with your overall budget and will be appealing to everyone.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day plans, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Sweet Treats

It’s a safe bet that most people love a sweet treat. Weddings can be very long days for guests, if they’ve had to get up early, make a long journey etc, they may not have eaten properly for hours and would like nothing more than a treat to whet their appetite before the meal. Think about everything from a single macaroon, to an iced cookie, mini cake, donuts.

 

Savoury

Cheese is a great choice, especially if the couple are big cheese lovers but don’t want to go all out on a cheese wedding cake. Think about some mini varieties of your favourites parcelled up with crackers and even a personalised mini cheese knife. Or what about a single piece of sushi or bento box? Chutneys are also a good choice, as are some mini loaves or artisan styles of bread packaged in personalised paper bags. And the piece de resistance has to be Tayto crisps and bread which guest can keep for their midnight snack.

 

Personalised

Any kind of edible favour will be even more appreciate if you can personalise it. It will of course take a little extra time and effort but if you can afford do to it, it’s really worth it. You can put each guests name on the item, or perhaps find out their favourite flavour of whatever you are offering – be in a cake, macaroon, cookie, jam or drink.

 

DIY

If you’re a dab hand and making things at home, then this is the perfect time to flex those muscles for good. Think about making things like Jam or honey in personalised jars. What about whipping up some Sloe Gin, flavoured vodka, or homebrew? Or why not let the guests get in on the DIY action with some jars filled with hot chocolate or cookie mix?

 

Images via Pinterest 

 

How To Use Greenery In Your Wedding Decor

A big trend this year has been for greenery in wedding décor. On first thought, it may seem a little boring when compared to colourful florals, but on the contrary, using bold greens in your décor can be incredibly stunning. Think of a vibrant array of greens against crisp whites for the ultimate look. They can also be much more budget friendly then fresh florals, which is another major plus to consider.

There’s also a huge range of greens to choose from, such as ferns, herbs, boxwood, moss, eucalyptus, lambs ear, lavender, gypsophila, banana leaf, bamboo, holly and many more. And there’s so many ways to incorporate them into your wedding day décor and theme, for example using more banana style leaves will give it a tropical theme, whereas more moss and ferns will make it feel more woodland. From the ceremony itself, to the room décor and even in your bouquets, greenery is the really versatile addition to your wedding day.

To chat about this, or any other aspect of your wedding day décor or planning please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

In the Ceremony
Greenery works incredibly well for your ceremony pew ends. It can look so atmospheric especially in a church setting. If you’re going for lanterns, then why not surround them with a mini garland or greens or use mini green wreaths on each pew? Alternatively a scattering of green leaves can look stunning along the aisle and don’t forget an arch, which can look incredibly eye-catching in vibrant greens.

 

On the Table
Table runners work so well especially for long tables, but don’t discount it for round tables too. Use the greenery in a circle for a unique centrepiece that will really stand out. Also think about wrapping candles in greens, bamboo or leaves and why not use larger banana style leaves for the each guests place name.

 

Favours
Herbs are a super quirky idea for favours, especially if you and your husband or wife to be have a bit of a green thumb. You can give guests mini potted herbs or even some seeds for them to grow. Micro cacti works really well too.

 

Hanging Greenery
If you don’t want to go for greenery on your tables or around the room, but would like to incorporate it in other ways then think about going for hanging greens. It can be a real stand out detail of your décor and is relatively easy to pull off. Just take a hula hoop and some greens and you’re got a readymade woodland chandelier! Also inverted lace parasols stuffed with greens make ideal hanging décor too. Greenery can be hung over the top table, the dancefloor, over a dessert station or cake table, or indeed over each table.

 

Staircases
If you’re lucky enough to have a staircase in your wedding venue, then make the most of it, by styling it with some dramatic greens. It is a look that works so well and especially when you team the greens with simple candles. It is surprisingly impressive and very simple to pull off.

 

Ways to Honour Lost Loved Ones At Your Wedding

Honouring a loved one or loved ones who have passed away is a really heartfelt and special thing to do on your wedding day. From remembering grandparents, parents, friends, or other loved ones who are no longer here, it adds a really personal touch to your wedding celebrations. Indeed it’s a day when family and friends who may not have seen each other in a long time, or perhaps even since the person in question has passed away, finally get together and it is only right that the person is remembered on this special day.

It can be emotional however! Especially as a wedding day is high on emotion at the best of times, so be prepared to shed a tear when you do see your tribute in the flesh. There’s lots of ways to honour someone and they don’t all have to be grand gestures. There’s plenty of ways to do it privately which indeed can be even more special. The thing to remember is that, there is no wrong way to remember someone and do whatever feels right for you both as a couple.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Private Tribute
You don’t have to make a public tribute to your loved one. Instead something private can be even more meaningful and special. Think about wearing something of the deceased maybe earrings, a necklace or cufflinks or even the wedding bands themselves? Or what about putting a small photo of the loved one the bride’s bouquet or the grooms buttonhole? Speaking of the flowers why not incorporate the person’s favourite blooms into the bouquets?

 

Photos and Candles
Photos are of course one of the easiest ways to remember a loved one or loved ones. Setting up a photo or memory table at your reception is a lovely way to remember them. This can be photos on a table, or you could get creative and have a photo wall or board. Look for photos of them maybe on their wedding day and leave a note to guests to explain the significance. Also having some candles interspersed with the photos looks lovely too. And don’t forget a message or dedication. You could also have photos of the deceased on a chair or seat at the ceremony in their honour.

Make a Toast
This can be a little hard to do, especially as emotions are running high on the wedding day anyway, but if you think you can hold it together, then making a toast or small speech is a truly beautiful way to pay tribute to a loved one. You can talk about them as a person and the impact they had on your life and end with a small toast.

 

Favours
This gives you lots of scope to be creative. You might want to offer guests something that was a favourite of the person you’re trying to remember, such as a chocolate, a mini bottle of their favourite tipple, macaroons, jams, soaps, flowers, seeds etc and this can be kept private in that only you or your partner know, or you can have a little note to explain the meaning for each guest. If the person may have passed away after a battle with an illness, a lovely way to remember them is with a donation to a foundation that aids others with the same condition in lieu of an actual favour. Many charities do this and offer little notes to explain for each guest.