Alternate title: “How I Will Inevitably End up Gluing My Hand to Something”
True confessions: I am the farrrrthest thing from a do-it-yourself’er. My arts and crafts capabilities mimic those of a five year old.
You know what? Scratch that. The two little girls I babysit (who are also our flower girls and two of the cutest girls in the entire universe) are super adept at arts and crafts, and they’re both under 10. In fact, as I told a friend this morning, they often ask me to do arts and crafts and I end up having to dissuade them. (“Don’t you want to play Simon Says?”)
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Image from Amazon / This is about as arts-and-craft-y as I get, folks.
As I’ve been perusing websites, I’ve been finding more and more awesome DIY ideas.
From hive member IrishBride2Be / How to make your own / This just isn’t possible—my new last name has a “z” and is eight letters long.
From Mrs. Brooch / How to make your own / I actually have dreams for these—so adorable.
Here’s pretty much what happens: I see it and go “OMG. I LOVE THAT!” Then I go “Oh…wait, I can’t buy it? I can’t make it on a computer?” Then I scroll through the tutorial and my heart sinks. For example, no matter how hard I try, this would turn into a pile of fabric with some glue, and this would turn into chocolate-covered crumbs…and that’s only if I were lucky! It’s more likely that I’d end up cleaning some sort of explosion. From the ceiling. It’s a curse.
Thankfully, I have a crack team of a bridal party, almost every one of which has DIY skillz (yes, with a “z,” ’cause it’s a baller trait). They all bake around the holidays (something I equate to DIY skillz, mostly ’cause I suck at that too), they’re all super crafty when it comes to gifts and other holiday-themed items, and best of all, they LIKE doing this stuff. I mean, they probably won’t when May rolls around, but good thing I’m a super planner and I started early, right?
One of my bridesmaids and I have been discussing wedding things exorbitantly via email. I’m talking no less than 15 emails a day, the bulk of which are swapping ideas and such. So I expressed to Bridesmaid Y (or Bridesmaid-to-Be Y!) that I really, really wanted to somehow have a place card setting that could also be a favor. Why am I obsessed with this idea? I’m not really sure, but I knew from the start that it’s what I wanted.
At first, I figured we could do a very loose “under the sea” theme. Since our colors are basically shades of blue, we could throw some greenish and silver accents in there and be done with it. Hey, I love The Little Mermaid! Mr. Palm Tree loves fish! We both love Disney (are obsessed with it, actually). PERFECT. Pft, not. Mr. Palm Tree’s words were—and I kid you not—“I think seeing fish everywhere will remind me that I’m not a fishing boat captain, and it’ll make me sad. I don’t want to be sad at our wedding.” Fair enough, I thought, but in my head I saw all of my visions shriveling (bye, adorable fishie place card settings; see you later, saltwater taffy in fishnet gifties) and being replaced with a giant damnnearflashing “NEW PLAN! I NEED A NEW PLAN!” thought. So, I thought, OK, we can do a LOOSE fairy-tale theme. Not horse-and-carriage style, but just soft, pretty, romantic, sparkly style. VOILA!
Back to Google I went…
For any fellow brides-to-be that are ALSO brides on a budget: how are you going about your favors? Are any of you putting your stellar entourage to work like I am? 
And for those BTBs who are purchasing favors or have other ideas—I’m super jelly. There are so many cute things I love but are simply unobtainable.
i haven’t doing anything im not patient, but my boyfriend made the favores 
, he is really good with all that.
Haha! We’re going with a bit of an underwater theme (we’re big scuba divers!) Here is an inspiration of our cake
http://pinterest.com/pin/72831718945890622/
We’re also planning to do something like this
http://www.shamrockaffiliations.ws/index.php?pr=Oyster_Shell_Candle_Holders#.USgdcRPn_ng
Favors aren’t exactly necessary, either! We aren’t doing them, and even when we were we considered donating some money to the Oregon Coast Animal Rescue. Then we’d just put out little cards like “in lieu of favors, we have donated $x amount of dollars in your honor to help the (charity of choice)”
It’s something that really helps out, and something that won’t wind up forgotten about.
We are doing a candy buffet as our favors, easy and also makes for a focal point
We’re not doing favors either, but I think something edible could be fun! You could stick with your color scheme with candy and/or cookies… I’ve seen soo many adorable cookies in all kinds of designs
My FI and are planning on doing Moonpies for favors and personalizing them somehow. They are cheap, delicious and I don’t mind if there are a ton left over because they taste good and you never know when you might get a craving for sweets later on in married bliss.
We’re also doing a candy bar for our favors. I found cute bags that the candy will go in and they will be stamped with a “love is sweet” stamp with our names and the date on each bag. We’re also thinking of doing the baskets of dancing shoes around the dance area, that would kind of count as favors.
My new last name has 8 letters and a Z in it as well… probably the same as yours? Anywho, I got one of those hangers and it totally works!
We are having a photobooth at our wedding. At each setting there will be a frame the same size as the photobooth print out so each guest can have that as his/her favor.
We had a winter wedding. I made hot chocolate cones. Bought the mix in bulk bought pastery bags and mini marshmellows. They had stickers that said our warmest thanks. 150 of them for about 50 cents each. And only a few people didn’t take theirs home. We had an assembly line with my mom and mob/sil. I like flavors you can eat (or drink)
I can sew and bind books (I know, random skill, but I took an awesome class in college about using printing presses and binding books). I’m always super nervous about any other crafting. People assume because I sew, I craft – totally different!
@Ms_Maple: That’s an awesome idea!
I saw some really cute seaglass favors on pinterest that could fit with your under the sea theme no fishies involved
We purchased little wooden birdhouses from Michael’s and my FI’s cousin helped us greatly by painting them all beautifully. We are also putting a tiny bag of wildflower seeds in each one.
I love your new theme
Our favors are little pots and sticks and jars of honey. I was inspired by the “Honey Bee”music video by Blake Shelton. I can’t wait to put it all together, but I have to wait so they honey doesn’t go bad!
@chica_b: I totally lack patience, too. Yay for your fiance taking on that responsibility!
@Pacificgirl: You’re absolutely right and that’s on our list of contenders. It’s always nice to do something for the Greater Good – I have a few posts related to that general idea coming up in the future!
@mkelove: We’ll have take-home bags at our cookie table but part of me gets nervous feeling like that’s not enough or like I won’t have enough cookies for everyone to fill up their bag. . . so many worries.
@Miss Lemur, @krislynn_sd, @Kelshock: I really like edible favors. I think they’re so useful and definitely helps avoid the ‘waste’ or ‘get left behind’ potential.
@hlayers: Another ‘z’ girl! This maybe fits into my stalkerness that I mentioned previously 
but I practice writing my new last name often and it took me forever to get a handle on the ‘z.
@Ms_Maple: Love that idea! So useful – another contender of ours.
@DEBeachGirl: SO unique and sweet (no pun intended ). I’d love to be a recipient!
@DaniLyn: Random, maybe, but AWESOME! I can’t sew either, but I’m creative with words and ideas and I get the same reaction. “You’re so creative, why can’t you craft?” Mer.
@hmgreene3540: I love that idea! The colors could fit, too! You’ve just given me the necessary motivation to go on a Pinterest scavenger hunt!
@mylittleviolett: I seriously applaud your skills and patience. I’d love to receive that favor, I love things that can be re-used and re-purposed.
@new york bride 13: I’ve seen those on Pinterest! I love them and you can have such cute wording with it. Mrs. Eagle had really kickass DIY Honey favors – have you seen hers?
Maybe one of your uber-talented BM’s can make you a hanger? 
I’m doing ribbon wands, and basically a lot of ribbon decor (garland garland everywhere). I made my wands a bit different, I’m not really sure what will look best in pictures the way I did it (looking lots of smaller pieces around an eye hook that’s inserted into the rod) or the way you have pictured above. I hadn’t even considered making them that way until after I had already started mine. I’m a bit concerned mine won’t photograph well now but oh well they look great and I’ve already done over 60 so I’m committed.
@Blonde17Jess: I do have some lovely skilled ladies! I try to spread out the projects, though, so I don’t tap them out – or over-annoy them.
@lovelyduckie: I love ribbons and this idea! I think that yours will photograph awesomely, the way I have it pictured from above is one of many. If you think they look great, that’s what really matters – definitely be proud of your creations!
Miss Palm Tree, Pittsburgh, PA Age and Occupation: 23, Lease Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Associate Systems Analyst Engagement Date: December 22, 2011 Wedding Date: May 2013 Venue: The Fez in Aliquippa, PA About Me: I’m Miss Palm Tree - an opinionated, loyal and outgoing bride-to-be. I currently work as a Lease Analyst by day and a catering assistant by night. Mr. Palm Tree is a Computer Engineer with a love for all things cats. Mr. Palm Tree and I are absolute soul mates. Having grown up across the street from each other (I have the scars to prove it), we have been a part of each other’s lives for almost as long as we can remember. We are far from perfect: we fight, we get annoyed with each other and we certainly take advantage of knowing one another so well when pushed to the edge, but ultimately, what truly defines us as a couple is our love.
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