Weddingbee Blog

Mr. Husky and I are working very hard to throw a helluva party without being wasteful. One way that we are doing this is by offering our guests a choice of what favor(s) they take home with them.

Inspired by the many adorable candy buffet bars, we too will set out jars full of goodies. But instead of various types of delectable sweets, ours will be filled with a variety of items that are meaningful to us both as individuals and as a couple. First up? I present to you Stumptown Coffee:

(source)

It’s no secret that the Pacific Northwest is home to a great many coffee snobs, and Mr. Husky is no exception. But even the most elite java junkie couldn’t turn their nose up at this cup of joe. Stumptown Coffee, an independent roaster in Portland, Oregon, is known by the locals to have the best coffee in the city. But be warned—brew a pot of Stumptown, and your palate may never be the same.

In addition to the coffee, our favor bar will have:

• Fragrance Beads. Take a short drive around Miss Husky’s hometown of Small Town, Texas, and you’ll see these fragrance beads hanging from the rear view mirror of nearly every vehicle. As the sun warms the beads, they release a wonderful scent. These beads are scented with gardenia, representative of purity and joy—and also the favorite of Gran, Miss Husky’s paternal grandmother.
• Rocky Mountain Wildflower Seed. Since moving to Colorado, Mr. and Miss Husky have spent a great deal of time in the mountains. During the summer, the peaks are brightened by the many wildflowers that are native to the area. Bring the beauty of the Rocky Mountains home with this bright blend of drought-resistant seeds!
• Papa’s Chili. For three generations, the recipe for Papa’s chili fell only into the hands of the boys. Miss Husky and her sister spent years convincing their dad that Papa really would have wanted them to have it, and they finally got their wish in 2006. The secret blend of spices has been mixed for you—to enjoy the award-winning chili, simply brown some chili–ground beef. Add enough water to cover the beef. Use one tablespoon of the secret seasoning per pound of beef in the chili. Simmer together on low for two hours, stirring often. Remove from heat and enjoy! Just don’t ask us the ingredients…
• Uncle Ned. Walking through Mr. Husky & Miss Husky’s home can sometimes feel like a jungle adventure—their first Denver apartment had more plants that it did furniture! They would like to share some of their chlorophyll with you. To take a cutting of Uncle Ned, the philodendron that hangs beside the kitchen window, simply fill a clay pot with the soil provided. Using the gardening shears, snip a three- to five-inch length of stem at an angle, just below the node (where a leaf is attached). Remove all but one or two leaves from the stem and dip the angled end of the stem in the Rootone, a rooting hormone. Gently tap off excess powder. Using your finger, make a small hole in the center of the pot of soil and place the stem inside. Lightly press the soil to surround the cutting and water well. Put your new cutting in a sunny spot, keep it hydrated, and watch it grow!

Set out with the jars will be these muslin pouches, hand-stamped by me:

(personal photo)

You may recognize the logo from our proposal story. Mr. Husky turned it into a silhouette, and we had a stamp made of the image.

For the plant cuttings, we have purchased 50 two-inch terra cotta pots—by our estimation, the maximum number of cuttings Uncle Ned can endure.

We’re hoping that our favor bar will help enable our guests to take a favor home that they can use and not just toss out. Unless, of course, we’re talking about the wildflower seeds—I think the whole point is to toss them!

How are you personalizing your favors? Do you think our guests will be confused by the plant-cutting instructions?