Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Molded Candies, Mints, Fortune cookies, or Hershey's Kisses (in their Easter pastel colors).
There are many different companies offering these in beautiful small bottles of bubbles in either plain or decorated wrappings. Some people even purchase labels and print their own unique decorations for the bottles.
Wildflower and tree seed packets, monogrammed wine glasses, and small perfume bottles tied with ribbon.
Party supply stores, craft stores, and rental centers are good resources for centerpiece supplies and ideas. Often mirrored tiles and candle holders can be rented much more cheaply from these locations than from a florist. They also have large numbers of identical items, which saves you the hassle of trying to find matches.
- You can decorate the bases of Hurricane Lamps with gold lame', white or colored tulle, greenery or grapevine wreaths, flowers (silk or real), loose floral blooms/petals, or potpourri.
- Votive candles can similarly be decorated with wreaths, flowers, or mirrors. They can be presented in an unmatched cluster of second-hand stemware, crystal globe votive cups, or goblet glasses. Votive candles could also be stood in colored sand, layered in the bottom of rose bowls.
- Candlesticks for taper candles can be decorated with floral candle rings in the wedding colors or seasonal candle rings (such as autumn leaves, holly, etc.). They can be decorated with wire-edged ribbon, silk/dried flowers, fake butterflies, or small item related to theme (i.e. teddy bears).
- Floating candles in rose bowls can be decorated by adding ribbons, dried flowers, or circles of tulle gathered around the sides and tied at the lip of the bowls. A mirror coulc be placed under the bowl with scattered glitter confetti, shredded mylar, or glass beads around the base of bowl. For that matter, shredded mylar could even be placed inside bowl along with water before adding the floating candle.
- Topiaries can be made of silk or dried flowers, ivy, greens, buttons, or bows.
- Planters can range from large pots to shallow bowls filled with a profusion of blooms (either grow them from seed or buy small plants in season). Large green plants can have decorated pots (paint, paper, tulle). Planters could be painted and filled with Spanish moss, then decorated with dried flowers and ivy with an inserted taper or pillar candle.
- Triangle-shaped, mirrored bud vases can be used with a single red rose.
- Tiny individual pots of ivy, peppermint, or cacti can be used to decorate the table by painting or wrapping the pots with tulle or bridal wrapping and clustering several pots in the center of tables. (If enought are made, these could be given away as favors.)
- Vases of various shapes and designs look beautiful with wildflower bouquets.
- Floating blooms can be placed in colored glass bowels (i.e. blue, green, etc.) bowls on top of matching colored glass plates. Blooms could be placed in large, colorless bowls with floating candles, and the bowels could be placed on a mirror or colored napkin.
- Ceramic pumpkins with candles inside.
- A "horn of plenty" can be created by filling a basket or bowl with fruit and nuts.
- Christmas trees (live, plastic, or ceramic) can be decorated with battery operated light bulbs.
- Ceramic cherubs or angel candle holders can be decorated with silk flowers.
- Bird houses or cages can be decorate with silk flowers and two fake birds can be added.
- Balloon bouquets are very festive when, tied to weights wrapped in squares of mylar or tiny bottles of champagne/wine.
- Plastic top hats decorated with a bow and/or silk flowers.
- Mansions, country clubs and hotels are still the most popular locations.
- Head tables are being used less frequently.
- Receiving lines are obsolete.
- Open bars are disappearing and guests are drinking less alcohol.
- The couple's engagement photograph is matted and framed and displayed on an easel at the reception. This takes the place of a guest book.
- More brides and grooms are taking dance lessons to be prepared for their first dance.
- Matchbooks and monogrammed napkins are obsolete.
- Fresh flowers on the wedding cake are replacing a cake top.
- Children that are invited to a wedding have a separate room to spend time in that is complete with movies, coloring books and games.
- Disposable cameras are placed on each table for guests to use to help capture candid moments. These pictures are also sent with Thank You notes.
- Brides and grooms frequently are toasting their parents and guests.
- Brides and grooms are staying until the end of the reception and are not changing into a going away outfit.
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