Favor Warehouse

That’s right ladies – wedding season is almost here and that means that it’s time for you to start planning your shower. Now, we all know that the shower is a perfect way to de-stress with your best girlfriends before the big day, so think about having your shower at a tea house, day spa, or other luxurious location where you can unwind. Trust us – we know you’ll be stressed by the time the shower rolls around!

So after you’ve booked your location and are all set to go with a relaxing day for you and your best girlfriends, consider giving them something that shows them just how much you care while adding a bit of flavor into this special day. We recommend our beautiful Drink Mix Wedding Favors that come in raspberry iced tea, lemonade, and margarita varieties so you and your best gal pals can sip on something special as you relax in honor of your wedding day. Enjoy!

Everyone wants to make his or her wedding day stand out and one way you can do that is through your centerpieces. Here are 3 unexpected (and easy) centerpieces that are sure to add that little extra touch to your big day:

Centerpiece Idea #1: Instead of going with a large and opulent flower display, go for something a bit more whimsical and modern by creating a tree centerpiece with hanging pomanders. Start out by finding a tree branch and spray painting it in a single color. Then, make pomanders using real or artificial flowers in a bright color. Hang them from the branches or stick them on to make “leaves”.

Centerpiece Idea #2: Give your guests something healthy and delicious as a centerpiece by placing fruit in a unique bowl or old-fashioned crate. It’s super affordable, easy to make, and looks very crisp and clean on your table. Plus, your guests get to take a little something extra home at the end of the evening!

Centerpiece Idea #3: Potted cacti or other succulents make beautiful centerpieces and can be enjoyed a long while after your fresh cut flowers have wilted. Look to group different plants together in a single unique container, or use rows of little succulents to adorn your tables, which can be then taken home by guests as a favor!

We all know that picking a date once you’re engaged isn’t easy, but there are a few ways that you can make the process even simpler. Sure, there are plenty of reasons to choose a specific date, but when it all comes down to it, you have to make sure that both you and your fiance are happy with the choice. Here are a few tips to make setting the date easier than ever.

1. Think about important days in your relationship’s history. Do you remember the first date? The day he proposed? The first day you met? First kiss? First “I love you”? Dates like these are important to consider if you want your day to have even more of a special meaning. Look to see if you can set your date for one of these special occasions.

2. Think about what seasons you enjoy and what time of year you’d like to have your wedding. Consider what the seasons are like in the locations you’re considering as well. Some seasons may be able to save you some money in terms of booking and travel fees for your wedding as well as your guests.

3. Think about how long it’s going to take to plan and save up for a wedding. Make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to get it all done.

4. Pay attention to any potential large conflicts, such as a graduation or another wedding. Keep in mind that not everyone on your guest list is going to attend, but you still have to plan around others.

5. If you’re having a destination wedding, make sure you give everyone involved enough time to book tickets, plan the trip, and save up. Destination weddings can be a lot of fun – but they use up a lot of time and money.

When it comes to the couple deciding what song they will use as the first time being introduced as Mr. and Mrs., there are some great lists of popular songs to choose from.  Some couples may choose a romantic tune while others will turn to an upbeat, party dance song.  Your entrance song should illustrate your personalities and below are a few of our favorite wedding entrance songs.

• “Accidently in Love” – Counting Crows
• “Ants Marching” – Dave Matthews Band
• “Beautiful Day” – U2
• “Get the Party Started” – Pink
• “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” – James Taylor

Have fun with your song choice and make sure it’s fitting for your special day.  Whether it is a sweet melody or a party starting mix, enjoy this fun and memorable moment at your reception!

Question: “Hi! I recently got engaged and my fiance and I sat down and came up with a budget, as well as a guest list for our wedding. There’s only one problem: our budget is for 100 people but our guest list is well over 150! What can we do to trim our guest list without the guilt? Thanks!” – Julie, PA

Answer: Hi Julie and congrats on your engagement! Trimming the guest list is one of the hardest things to do when you’re planning a wedding, but don’t worry. We’ve got a few tips to help you get back within your budget without all of the stress and guilt.

We know you’re feeling overwhelmed and we know you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but the first step towards trimming your list is to remember that your wedding day is just between you and your groom! You don’t have to please anyone else on your guest list in terms of who gets invited – especially Mom who is probably itching to have her best girlfriends on the guest list. So sit down with your hubby-to-be and discuss only your family and close friends as must-haves on the list. Then, you can think about coworkers, old roommates, and long lost cousins.

Next, ask yourself a few questions about the guests you’ve chosen. How close are you with this person? When was the last time you spoke to each other? Would having that person there really make your wedding day better or worse?

Finally, consider leaving off those people who you’ll probably never see again after the big day or children who will cause stress and just drive up your wedding bills. Also, a great rule is that if you can’t remember the person’s name – don’t invite!

You’ve got your sweetie, you’ve got a ring, and you’re ready to get married – but once the initial shock of getting engaged wears off, there’s a lot to be done. Not sure where to start? Let Favor Warehouse help with this quick and easy checklist for the first five things you should be thinking about as you start to plan your dream wedding:

1. The first thing you and your hubby-to-be should think about doing is setting a timetable for how long the engagement will be. This will give you a better idea on how long you’ll have to save up money, how long you’ll have to plan, and when the actual wedding date will be. Make sure you give yourself enough time for all of these things. Remember, a wedding doesn’t get planned overnight.
2. Next, work with your fiancé to come up with a budget because in the end, it’ll be the budget that determines exactly what can happen on your wedding day. Think about how formal you want to have your wedding, the date, the time, the location, the size of the guest list, and the vision you’d like to go for as you set a budget so that your expectations can stay realistic and you won’t feel like you have to settle on your dream wedding.
3. Now that you have a few ideas on the style you’d like to pursue, continue to run with that idea and think about what key elements you’d like to have in your wedding. Talk with your fiancé about where things will take place (ie. State, city, town, country, etc.) and from there, you can start taking a look at different venues and theme ideas that can work well.
4. After you’ve got a budget, a timetable, and an idea of what you want, it’s time to set a date. Consider any possible conflicts that your loved ones may have, as well as the restrictions on travel that some guests may run into. Try to avoid dates of big events and holidays that could make space difficult to find the weekend of your wedding. Do your research and find out what dates are best for booking all of your vendors, as well as your venue.
5. Finally, announce your engagement! Have a party, put an ad in the paper, post on your blog, send an email – whatever you want to do to make it known that you’re getting married!

Times are tough for brides right now and if you’re looking to plan a low-cost wedding that’s big on fun, we have a trend that you just may want to check out: backyard weddings.

From barbecues and island luaus to elegant soirees held in a stunning tent, backyard weddings come in all shapes and sizes and can be the perfect way for you to celebrate your nuptials without having to go into debt by booking a hotel, reception hall, or other venue for your wedding reception. Able to be held in a friend’s, family member’s, or even your own backyard, this type of wedding offers a very intimate, personal feel and can be a great, affordable way for you to make your dream wedding happen, especially if you’re looking to have a more laid-back or intimate setting.

Try experimenting with different themes that could work well in a backyard, such as a barbecue, sock hop, or a party that’s just plain fun. Incorporate elements that celebrate your wedding theme but can be easily accommodated in such an informal setting. Finally, be sure that you take into account your guest list. Backyard weddings can tend to be a bit more cramped than a reception hall, so think about exactly how many people can fit into your backyard wedding comfortably. Don’t forget to think about the catering and other wedding services too – they’re going to need some space.

Your bouquet is one of your most prized wedding day possessions. Why let it be tossed out with the rest of the arrangements? If you love your bouquet, consider having it preserved so that you can enjoy its beauty – and significance – for many years to come.

If you’re looking to preserve your flowers, you have three main options. The first is to select a few blooms from the bouquet and then press them. From there, you can use the pressed flowers in a necklace, picture frame, glass domes, or other keepsakes. This is probably the most affordable method and it can be done either at home or professionally.

The second option is to dip your bouquet in silica gel, which is just a quick immersion in a sand-like, silicon substance to dry it out quickly. This should be done professionally and can cost anywhere between $50-$300, depending on how you choose to present it.

Finally, there’s always freeze-drying, which involves your bouquet being sprayed with a starch to set the colors and shape and then baked in a freeze-dryer. This has to be done professionally and can be costly, though most agree that this is the best option for keeping the bouquet “true-to-life.”

Have you ever preserved your bouquet? If so, which method did you use?

Wedding music always seems to be the same. Either the entertainment is provided by an iPod or there’s a DJ set up somewhere near the dance floor. However, if you want to really wow your guests, you can go for something a bit more bold, like a Spanish guitar player or a dazzling jazz trio. Having unexpected music at your reception can be one way that you can add flavor and personality to your wedding day while still ensuring that your guests have a great time.

If you’re planning on using unexpected music as part of your reception, consider options like a bluegrass or mariachi band, a barbershop quartet, or even a local singer/songwriter to serenade your guests as you celebrate during cocktail hour or dance the night away after dinner. Or, if you or your honey is a part of a musical group, have them perform as a special treat. Either way, you and your guests will love this special detail that helps to make your wedding day!

As many dream about their wedding day from a young age, there are lots of questions that come to mind. What type of gown you will wear, what types of flowers will be part of the bouquets, and where will the celebration will take place? But besides these things, we also dream of what song you will first dance to as a married couple. There are tons of lists of popular first dance songs and we at FavorWarehouse.com wanted to share with you readers a few of our very favorites.

• “Faithfully” – Journey

• “Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton

• “At Last” – Etta James

• “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” – Bryan Adams

• “Don’t Know Much” – Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt

Have you considered any songs in our list as the song for your first dance? Which one is your favorite or least favorite? Those already newlyweds, what song did you choose for your first dance? What was the significance behind your pick?