Wedding Blog
While at the Aveda salon the other day getting my makeup done (oh, have I not blogged about that? *innocent look*), my stylist got to telling me about her sister’s fun and fabulous beach wedding. I was poised to hear all about the over-the-top resort or the phenomenal food when I heard this:
“They gave us these great welcome bags with all of their favorite candy in them. How cute is that?”
And then my world shifted on its axis.
What she remembered most were the special touches highlighting the couple’s uniqueness. That he loved M&M’s. That she always had Jolly Ranchers in her purse. That they met at a bar. (Okay, I totally made up that last one. Projecting, anyone?)
I’ve never considered doing favors or welcome bags, thinking them a pain that I don’t want to take on. I didn’t want to have to figure out what would make our loved ones happy. Do most people like chips? What about ginger ale - that’s a pretty benign drink choice, right? Now I’m rethinking them. The idea isn’t to be the Marriott, after all, just making sure that they’re hydrated and managing their blood sugar levels!
If, as a wedding guest, you enjoy knowing more about the couple whose wedding you’re there to celebrate (note to self: duh), then this couple will oblige. The mister’s gonna love another project.
Please, share your eye-opening random wedding conversations, will ya? Or, better yet, take off your bride lenses for a bit (brides think differently than guests) and tell us what you remember about the weddings you’ve attended.
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My sister and her husband mischieveously (but at the same time lovingly) smeared cake and icing on each other’s nose and chin. It wasn’t a moment for the guests (to cheer and jeer) but was a joke between the two of them — a continuation of the playful banter they had pre-wedding, and a sign it would continue into their married life. I don’t think many people noticed this, or got much out of their little sugar swap — but I did. 
Every wedding I come away with different kinds of memories. For example:
I knew nothing of the bride and groom at a fall wedding, but it was one of the best I had been too. They had the most simple decor, nothing extravagent (candle centerpieces, no flowers), but they spent a lot of time and money on making the guests feel comfortable. They had a full open bar, an amazing band and walked around to each table and made sure you got up and danced, I didn’t even know the groom and he got me on the dance floor to make sure I was having a good time, the bride did the same, they did a quick dance with pretty much every guest. It was pretty memorable.
Another memorable wedding was the first time I saw a cupcake tree, I think anytiem you see soemthing new, it really stands out.
A cousin who family loves scratch tickets, put one in each OOT bag. It was fun and made us think of the bride.
Lastly, a friend incorporated symbols of her college into the decor, it was really fun, since I went to college with her and very memomorable. All the guests learned more about her through the decor.
I love the special details that make a wedding unique, great post! Hearing or seeing these things, definitely makes you think differently as a bride!
I think the one thing that guests will remember, and that brides often forget, is guests’ comfort. Like, not having enough chairs at the reception site, although it’s a beautiful site, or having the ceremony outdoors when it’s 50 degrees because it’s prettier and only lasts 20 minutes. So many people have made comments like that, and I think brides often forget that in their quest to have a beautiful wedding or a wedding that lives out their fantasies.
And ceremonies only last 20 minutes for the Bride. The guests all show up at least 15 minutes, often 30, in advance!
honestly, I remember THE most random things like the candles, the confetti, and SOMETIMES the favors…pre-engagement…I also noticed if the ceremony was “too short or too long” IMO
In my last supporting role as a BM the groom didn’t like cake so instead of a traditional groom’s cake they ordered a few dozen doughnuts from his favorite local bakery and put them in a sailboat (one of his favorite activities). So personal and cute!
uhm, first of all, those candies up top look amazing and yummy!
I had a friend who was on a super budget but made everything look so effortless. How did she do it? She used mostly natural elements as decorations. Her colors were lime green and brown and so the centerpieces were huge bowls of Granny Smith apples with floating candles there were branches with hanging votives and wood chargers her dad made from a tree that fell in their background that summer.
Great post! I have no specific examples to contribute, but I think your conversation is a good reminder to me that thoughtful always trumps pretty much every other adjuective when it comes to weddings Thoughtful expressions of meaning are always special!
I was really touched when I went to an OOT wedding and there was a beautiful basket full of helpful things in our room. It made me feel special.
I also really loved the steel drum band my friend had at her wedding on the Cape a few summers ago. They wore fabulous blue Hawaiian shirts and we danced all night.
Silly but true, these are the things I remember about weddings i’ve attended: open bar. signature drinks. amazing passed hor d’ouvres. candy buffet. dessert buffet. midnight sandwich buffet after drinking and dancing all night long. can you see where my priorities are? 
The most memorable thing I remember is from a more recent wedding where the photographer went around and got a photo of each table with the bride and groom. It just helps to make sure you have at least one photo of every single person and it’s something that would be really nice to include in thank you cards. We tried to get our photographer to do this, but it didn’t work out as well. We did go around to all the tables, but instead of following us they were off doing who knows what and at some other point went around and got most of the tables when we weren’t there.
We got most comments on the favours I made. I made a sterling silver necklace for each of the ladies that came to the wedding ( i Make jewellery as a hobby).
But the most positiv comments we got was on the childrens “activity packs” that we made. My aunt and uncle told me it was the first time in 3 years he had been able to sit throught a festive meal with their little girl. And my older (7 and 9 years) cousins where so exited about the glowsticks that was in the pack.
So the work put into the favours and the activity packs was well worth it I think
As a guest, I always remember food and favors. I’ve never received a welcome bag but this would definitely be memorable as well!
Honestly, before I was a Bride (capital “B”) I *never* noticed things like centerpieces, guest books, etc. etc. etc. Now I feel so guilty, knowing how much hard work and decision-making and hair-pulling went into those details! My perspective has totally shifted, and I now notice and try to comment on as much as I can to the couple.
One other thing I always remember as a guest are my interactions with the bride and groom are at the wedding. It’s always great when the wedding isn’t so big that you actually have time to chat with the couple.
My friend was absolutely crazy about pink and they had little tubs of pink sweets on all the tables at the recption.
It was her cake I remember the best though - it was three tiers of white chocolate rice krispie cake with jelly strawberry sweets arranged on the top. It was amazing!
that candy looks SUPER Yummy!! Wherever did you find it?
where did you take that picture of the candy from? my father got me a box of candy just like that from taiwan a couple years ago and i’ve been looking through every asian area i come across for it because i think they are beautiful!!! and veeery yummy! wheres that picture/candy from?
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Mrs. Cheese, Knoxville
Age and Occupation: 29, Engineering Manager
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, CAD Designer
Engagement Date: July 31, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: October 16, 2008
Venue: Our home and the two acres it sits on
About Me: I’m an emotional girl who loves sentimental things, parenthetical asides, and trying to do things herself. I can cook, sew, am a whiz at planning, terrible at delegating, and totally in love with my fiancé (who will be my second husband but first love of the rest of my life). For our home/ garden/ DIY wedding, we’ll be moonlighting as interior designers, home improvers, and gardeners with the help of our fabulous friends and neighbors. We can’t wait to be married, and are learning how fun getting married can be.
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