|
 Fun Favor
Ideas for Do-it-Yourself Brides
(ARA) - With the average wedding
costing around $20,000, is it any wonder the do-it-yourself movement
is gaining popularity among brides-to-be? Smart brides are saving
thousands by taking over wedding tasks usually handled by the
professionals, from printing invitations to creating their own
bouquets.
"Making key elements of
your wedding yourself, such as favors, centerpieces and even
headpieces, is rewarding on many levels," says Cheryl Galvez,
editor of Pashweddings.com, a Web site that specializes in information
and products for do-it-yourselfer brides. "You save money,
plus you can really mold the look of your wedding. Making your
own favors is one of the easiest ways to save money."
Here are four of Galvez's favorite
do-it-yourself wedding favor recipes, ranging from the simple
to more challenging. Brides can find more ideas for favors and
other do-it-yourself wedding projects at www.pashwedings.com.
|
1. A Perfect Pear
"Pears make delicious wedding
favors," says Galvez. "They are especially festive
for holiday weddings."
You will need:
* Anjou pears
* clear cellophane (or colored wrap for holiday weddings)
* satin ribbon
Wrap each pear in the cellophane.
Tie each package with the satin ribbon. For a personalized touch,
use ribbon imprinted with your names and/or wedding date. |
|
2. Love is Brewing
You will need:
* small burlap bags
* whole coffee beans
* hang tags or labels
Fill burlap bags with coffee
beans. Pull the drawstrings, then tuck them into the bag. Wrap
each bag with a rustic-colored smooth satin-faced ribbon. Dangle
a decorative hang tag printed with your wedding date from the
front of the bag, or stick on a seal imprinted with the words
"Love is Brewing."
3. Lucky in Love
You will need:
* your state's $1 scratch-off
lottery ticket
* glassine envelopes (remember to measure to ensure the tickets
will fit in the bags)
* labels
* pennies minted in your wedding year
Slip a lottery ticket and one
penny into a glassine envelope. Seal the flap with double-sided
tape. Place a label on the front with your personalized clever
saying such as "Lucky in Love," "Wishing you riches
from the new Mr. and Mrs," or "Hope our luck rubs off
on you."
4. Fanning the Flames of Love
You will need:
* a small hand-held palm fan
* one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of patterned vellum paper
* one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of solid paper in a coordinating color
* scissors
* glue dots or glue strips (do not use regular glue or tape)
* computer with printer
* 1 1/2-inch wide colored double-faced satin ribbon
Cut a glue strip to the width
of the ribbon and affix one end of the ribbon to the neck of
the fan. Wrap the ribbon around the length of the fan's handle.
Adhere the other end of the ribbon to the bottom back of the
handle. For a clean look, make sure the ribbon's end is out of
sight at the back of the fan.
Design your ceremony program
using your personal computer. Print it directly onto the decorative
vellum paper (available at local arts and crafts supply stores).
Overlay the vellum on top of the solid color paper - having the
solid color beneath makes the vellum easier to read. Cut around
the program in a decorative pattern to that more of the solid
color paper shows beneath the vellum. Affix the vellum to the
solid paper using a glue strip at the top and another at the
bottom. Then use two glue strips to adhere the double-layered
program to the fan. Glue dots or glue strips adhere well to the
natural palm of the fan. |
