Wedding Favors Unlimited Advice Blog

What do the colors mocha and cream call to your mind?  Fragrant coffee…luscious, creamy chocolates…buttercream…sumptuous, sensuous tastes, textures, and scents.  How do these two delicious colors taste in a wedding?  They have become a very chic combination for modern brides and can help create a very elegant, sophisticated atmosphere.  How can you make your wedding as lovely and smooth as these two great tones?

Mocha is usually made with one part espresso and two parts steamed milk.  A dash of chocolate is added and topped with frothed milk or whipped cream.  A dusting of cinnamon or cocoa powder make the presentation complete.  The color mocha is much like the drink: it is very rich, deep brown that may have undertones of rust or red (think cinnamon).  A lighter mocha shade incorporates more cream and looks like a perfect cup of smooth, light coffee.  Cream, of course, is a variant of white; originally, the term was used to describe the color of fresh dairy cream, which had a yellow tint.  Today, it can be called anything from beige and oatmeal to ecru and camel.

When looking for your mocha and cream wedding accessories, you will find that different manufacturers have different interpretations of the colors.  Some mocha shades may be more chocolately, others more brown, still others with more hints of red.  These can all be wonderful, but make sure to check the colors carefully before you choose to ensure it is the shade that you want.

All eyes will be on the bride, and everyone will wait breathlessly to see what she is wearing.  You can add your mocha and cream color palette to your dress quite easily if you’d like. A cream or white gown with a mocha sash is lovely, but also consider trying a vintage dress in a beige or mocha color.  This can be equally exquisite: the Anjolique Bridal Mocha Beige Gown, for instance, features gorgeous mocha lace and sating in a strapless a-line design.  A sweetheart neckline, dropped waist, floor length skirt, and chapel train complete the classic touches.

Mocha is a hot color now, so you should have no trouble finding bridesmaids’ dresses.  Again, simple, strapless a-line gowns are great, and if they hit just below the knee, they offer great contrast to full length gowns.  For non-traditional brides, especially those who chose to wear lighter mocha dresses, a darker cream dress with mocha sash may be the right combination for a gorgeous wedding.

Flowers are elegant and simple:  ivory, white, and chocolate roses are classic choices.  Why not choose roses in mocha and cream?  Add bits of greenery and chocolate pearl pins for accent, and you have a very simply, exquisitely elegant bouquet.  Don’t neglect to add accent colors: pinks, dusty oranges, white, touches of silver, and green help add contrast; with mocha and cream, you should always add a splash of color here and there, whether it is a sage  ribbon around your bouquet or a pink ribbon around a vase holding flowers.

Cakes: you cannot go wrong with mocha and cream cakes.  Anything is bound to look delicious.  A mocha fondant tiered cake with crisp cream accents or a white fondant cake with brown patterns, such as damask will be a classy and eye-catching focal point. Chocolates make wonderful favors, as do mocha-coffee flavored chocolates or even gourmet chocolate covered coffee beans. Favors are just as simple. There are tons of options, including personalized coffee mixes and other coffee wedding favors for the big day.

A mocha and cream wedding is all about luxury, sumptuous pleasure, and maybe a hint or two of decadence.  This is not the time to worry about calories or conventions: from your beige gown to chocolate pearls, you will find dozens of beautiful ways to incorporate these charming colors into your wedding.

There is perhaps no greater feeling than finding the perfect wedding dress at the perfect price. You can relax knowing you picked exactly what you always wanted and have stayed within your budget. If this isn’t how you’re feeling, perhaps you can benefit from these tips on choosing the perfect dress for you.

• Budget wisely. If you have your heart set on wearing a $5,000 Vera Wang gown, start saving early. Work overtime or skimp on some other area. But don’t set yourself up for disappointment. Don’t even look at gowns way out of your price range. Any “discount” a bridal sales representative promises to get you will still not make the dress fit your budget. So before you end up in tears in the dressing room, know your price range and stick to it.
• Be honest with yourself and know your body type. If you know you have a flat chest, don’t opt for a dress that requires mega cleavage to hold up. If you have a very curvy figure, don’t go for a stick straight gown. It makes sense, but many brides end up buying gowns that don’t really fit them well.
• Never buy a gown in a smaller size because you plan to lose weight before the wedding. Many a bride has fallen into this trap only to go to her last fitting and discover her dress does not fit. What can you do then? Don’t set yourself up for heartache. If you do end up losing weight, you can always have the dress taken in, but you can’t have it made bigger.
• Bring someone along with you whose opinion you trust. If your mom has her heart set on you wearing a mermaid gown but you want a simple tea length dress, bring an objective third party who can run interference. Don’t rely on the salesperson’s opinion. It’s her job to sell gowns, so she’s going to tell you you look good in every dress you like.
• Eat before you go shopping. Not only will this help keep you from getting lightheaded and exhausted, it will also give you an idea of how the dress will fit after you’ve had your meal at the reception (along with cake, or wedding cookies). If it’s too tight, go up a size. Who cares what the label says? You want your dress to fit properly.
• Go for a style that flatters you. If you’re an older bride, as so many are today, go with a style that makes you feel gorgeous. As long as it flatters you, don’t let anybody talk you out of it. There are no age limits on beautiful. And conversely, if you’re very young and getting married, don’t let someone talk you into a hip, funky dress that doesn’t suit you. Each bride is an individual. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the style.
• You’ll want to know the price of every gown that’s being brought into your dressing room. Often, you are there for an hour or more trying on gowns. As the excitement builds, so will the price range. The salesgirl may start bringing you gowns based on what you’ve described as your dream dress. That’s fine, but ask how much each one is before you try it on. You don’t want to accidentally fall in love with an $8,000 gown.

After the proposal comes the planning.  For some brides and grooms, this task can be exciting and fun; for others, however, it can become a complicated and arduous task.  Either way, by creating a theme for your big day, you can greatly simplify the task at hand.  One of the most popular and most easily adaptable themes is a beach wedding.  If this has become your objective, then choosing your beach wedding favors will be a breeze (a gentle ocean breeze!).

Sea Shells

A favorite when one thinks of the beach, seashell favors are always fun and can make gorgeous gifts to show your appreciation and love to those who attend your big event.  Shell necklaces can be found in many gift shops and/or purchased in bulk from online retailers.  They are beautiful, fun to wear, and reusable.  These characteristics make them a wonderful wedding favor that can be twirled, hung, or contained for an added touch to the reception tables.

If you would rather make a larger impact, why not find or buy some large seashells and fill them with individually wrapped candies?  For those who choose not to be quite so literal, there are many things shaped like seashells, such as wine bottle stoppers, key chains, and jewelry.  One of the most fun things shaped like a shell, is a cookie.  Whether you buy and individually package cookies, or buy the cookie cutters so guests can make their own, this is a gift that has a sweet touch.

Monogrammed Mementos

There are many things that companies monogram today and they can be given as wonderful personalized favors for special occasions, such as weddings.  This is true for wedding favors as well.  To maintain the beach theme, you might consider a monogrammed beach towel (or to stay within a more modest budget: monogrammed, colorful washcloths).  Small bags filled with a tasty treat that also includes the names of the bride and groom and the date they took their vows can be a lot of fun for guests.

There are also personalized flip-flops that can be bought with special messages on them.  You might even buy your own, for as little as a dollar per pair and have them emblazoned with the message of your choice.

Other Goodies

If none of these ideas are exactly what you were looking for, then consider these other little “something specials.”  If you are going to spend the day on the beach, it is always wise to come prepared.  Consider some of the things that you would need for a day on the beach and provide those same necessities for your guests.

You might choose to give small bottles of sunscreen or after-sun aloe rub.  These bottles could easily have the labels replaced with homemade ones that offer a special message for your guests.  Another great idea is sunglasses.  These can be purchased in bulk for a relatively small cost per set, and whether traditional in style or featuring a wedding-themed shape, these can be a fun way to greet the guests.  Another great and useful idea is to give picnic basket wedding favors.  Fun to use on the beach and great for containing other special treats, or for integrating into the table design, picnic baskets are a great way to say “remember us always.”

A bridesmaid will be with you through dress fittings, seating charts, rehearsal dinners, and the hectic hours before your wedding. Not only do they lend their time and support, they also do everything they can to make sure that your day goes smoothly, and you look stunning – and stress-free – as you walk down the aisle. Thank the women in your wedding party with thoughtful, personalized gifts and let them know that they made your day even more special. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• When your bridesmaids want to kick off their heels to do some serious dancing, give them some comfortable personalized flip-flops. These make wonderful gifts, particularly for beach, summer, and casual weddings, because they are practical and stylish. You can find these shoes in a wide variety of colors and have a bridesmaid’s name written on each flip-flop. They may not wear their bridesmaid dress ever again, but they will slip on these time and time again. Just make sure you get the right size for each lady!

• Everyone needs a tote bag. Because this is such a popular option, you can find a wonderful variety of bags from which to choose. From bags for beachgoers to hanging cosmetics totes for travelers, you can find just the right bag to suit each of your bridesmaids. Giving them bridesmaid monogrammed totes add a special touch.

• Engraved custom compacts are perfect for your glamorous girls. You can have these engraved with initials or your bridesmaids’ names. Not only are they elegant, they are practical for those who wear cosmetics.

• If you have a larger budget, purchasing a gift certificate for spa services or at-home spa gifts for your bridesmaids is sure to be appreciated. A massage, a manicure or pedicure, a facial – all of these are terrific ways to say thank you to your special ladies.

• Personalized wine or martini glasses are chic gift ideas that will be beautiful and useful. Barware is a popular choice for groomsmen gifts, but they are entirely appropriate for ladies as well. Find gorgeous cocktail shakers, wine accessory kits, wine stoppers, and even fun faux leather flask gifts.

• Show your support for all the beautiful women in the world by giving “for the cure” gifts. A portion of your purchase will go towards research, and at the same time, your friends can enjoy great scarves, totes, blankets, cosmetic bags, and more. In addition to the recognizable pink ribbon, you can have these gifts monogrammed.

• Personalized jewelry might be a fabulous choice for your bridesmaids. You can find heart and oval pendants, cuff bracelets, pearl bracelets, and small jewel boxes that can easily be engraved. Instead of trying to match their gowns, go with a simple piece that can be worn with anything.

Being a bridesmaid, particularly the maid of honor, is a lot of work! There are hundreds of details to take care of, and while the bride is often the one bearing the brunt of the stress, her bridesmaids do help take a lot of weight off her shoulders. Say thank you with a gift that is personalized and will be used and appreciated by the recipient. No one wants to wear a tank-top that says “Bridesmaid” unless they’re actually at a bachelorette party or have a set of coasters with someone else’s wedding picture on them; instead, give your girls something that they can use after the wedding to remember your special day and their part in it.

The idea of having a wedding in the fall is surely a romantic one. Nature is bursting with color and harvest time is a rich source of inspiration. If you are planning a fall wedding, there are many ideas you can take straight from nature to incorporate into your theme.

A Color Pallet

Harvest time brings with it an artist’s pallet of browns, reds, oranges, and yellows. Within that color scheme, there are hundreds of hues of color to choose from. Choose the shades you like best. Do you like the burnt umber browns and lush shades of warm beige? Are the rustic reds more your style? There are so many tones of red to pick from. And of course, you can combine any and all of these fall colors for a dramatic look. Visit a paint store to gather chips of fall colors you like. Shades that pop out at you from the rack are usually the ones that you are really in tune with. Look for several shads of orange, brown and tan, red and yellows from a dab of cream to full-on sunshine yellow. Then lay out all the shades against a white background when you get home. You’ll more clearly be able to see which colors you want to include and those you don’t.

Your Gown

You can add an accent color to your gown even if you plan on wearing white or cream color. You might want to choose a gown that has a sash around the waist. That can be a sweet velvet band in any of your fall color choices. A red band would look stunning next to white or cream. Or, add a pin, necklace, bracelet or hair combs in a rich gem color to accent your gown. Bring fall right into your attire.

Groomsmen

The groom and his groomsmen can wear an accent that matches your chosen color as well. Perhaps have them wear burgundy bowties or an orange handkerchief or flower on their lapels.

The Flowers

Your flowers can be blossoms of rust colored roses, cream calla lilies, orange tulips or a mixture of any of your favorite flowers in fall hues. Try weaving in silk maple leaves and add a velvet ribbon to your bouquet in an autumn color. Your bridesmaids can carry bouquets with colors that are shades different from yours, or the same shade as yours but in different flowers.

The Centerpieces

Once at the reception, you’ll want to set an autumn table. As your harvest centerpieces, you can have a horn of plenty cornucopia basket spilling over with apples, mini pumpkins and gourds all in your accent colors. Or, have tall vases in which you can place tall twigs, willows, cat tails and other fall foliage. Be sure to display acorns and other natural berries.

Tables and Chairs

Cover your tables in coordinating colors of oranges, reds and yellows. The bottom cloth can be one color and the top a coordinating hue. Or, you can have layers of color—say, orange on the bottom and pale yellow on top.  Your chairs can be dressed in cream color slipcovers and tied with satin or velvet bows in one of your accent colors. Use linen napkins with a maple leaf tied to them.

Wedding Favors

Offer fall wedding favors such as leaf-themed favors in bold colors of autumn. Fall colored candies will also look lovely on the tables. Scatter silk leaves imprinted with your wedding date and names for an outdoor feel.

Be bold and daring. Fall is a season of rich and deep colors. Don’t be afraid to use tones that you’d normally find in nature in autumn. Browns and yellows, reds and oranges are all excellent choices for a wedding color scheme that’s warm and inviting. Bring the warm tones to life with candlelight accents. Just be sure to keep open flames away from any foliage or branches.

As the head bridesmaid, the Maid of Honor has the task of making a speech at the reception. For some, this is a happy responsibility that is easy to carry out. For others who do not enjoy speaking in public it can cause a bad case of sweaty palms. There’s no reason you can’t pull off a perfectly polished speech. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Be yourself. No one expects you to be a professional speechwriter or a seasoned actress. Just get up there and let your true self shine through.
• Start by introducing yourself and how you know the bride and groom. Remember, not everyone in the room knows who you are.
• Prepare ahead of time. Bring your speech on note cards that will fit into your purse. Read it right off the cards if you get nervous. Otherwise, just have them there as a backup.
• This is the time to honor the bride and groom with lovely sentiments about who they are, how you met, and how much they mean to you. It’s not the time to bring up old boyfriends or tell embarrassing stories about either the bride or groom.
• Be funny if you want, but don’t feel you have to be a stand-up comic. Tell an amusing story about what the bride first thought of her groom when they first met or how crazy she was about him. If you know the groom well, include a story of how silly he acted when he fell in love with his bride.
• Give the groom friendly advice on some of the bride’s silly habits. Make sure they’re fun and lighthearted. Don’t say anything that might be misconstrued as insulting.
• Talk about how thrilled you are that this day has arrived. Tell the couple you couldn’t be happier for them and wish them much joy in the future.
• If you happen to be the groom’s sister and don’t know the bride that well, focus on the groom. Tell a light story about your brother and the things he did when you were growing up. Make it one she wouldn’t already know. Keep it short and sweet.
• Above all, be sincere. You can simply stand up and wish the couple all the happiness in the world, or that you’re looking forward to babysitting their kids one day. Whatever you feel is appropriate. Leave out anything that might embarrass the bride or groom. Even if you think it’s funny, Grandma might not see it the same way.
• If you can’t think of anything to say, talk about the honeymoon destination and how you know they couple will have an amazing time there. Toss in a word or two in Italian if they’re going to Italy or Chinese if they’re going to China.
• Use a famous quote from the Bible or noted author on love. It’s okay to read it right off the page to get it right.
• Above all, make sure you have not gone overboard on the champagne or the open bar. A drunken Maid of Honor is a sorry sight. And you’re less likely to have control of your tongue. The last thing you want is to be remembered for having gone on a drunken ramble or telling an off-color story. Stay away from the bar until after the speech.

As long as you give your speech from your heart and put some time into thinking it over, you will be just fine. It’s just one of many wedding tradition items that many before you have conquered, so don’t be nervous. Have fun and enjoy the night!