So remember when I was adamant on having chocolate & peanut butter Buckeyes as our favors? No? [Please reference this post or this post or this one]
Well, I suddenly began to think about the weather and how chocolate & peanut butter tend to react to 75 degree temperatures (which is apparently what the temp. will be in the Fall here, according to Weather Tracker). Do I really want my cute little boxed-up favors to be a melted mess for our guests? Nope.
Enter our new and improved favor (a.k.a. our former Welcome Basket ingredient): Salt-Water Taffy.
The front ...
... and the back.
Next question: Now that I've eliminated my cutest addition to our Welcome Baskets, what should I replace it with???? All I'm left with is local magazines and brochures, a few munchies, water bottles and the standard aspirin and sunscreen all bundled into the galvanized buckets. I need something fun and beachy and adorable. Help! :o)
msteacherlady: I heart your ideas!!! I love the sweet tea mix idea -- I'm thinking I could put a Lipton mix with a heaping bag of sugar and a note about 'Sweet Southern Tea' ... and I adore the cookie-cutter as well as the Magnolia soap!!! I'm still brainstorming but these are fabulous ideas I would have never thought of myself! Thank you!
Update!
Also, I really, really, really like the arrangement Heather from the bar recommended below. It's ridiculously charming! I'm going to try out my Mom's silver trays, etc. and if those don't work, I'm definitely going to try and replicate this (from the one and only):
what about a pair of cheap (ie: dollar store) flip flops in your colours - maybe with a tag to let them know it's for the ladies' sore dancing feet?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do really like the idea of giving guests flip flops, I'm not sure I would like having to carry them around from my hotel to the ceremony to the reception. Knowing me, I wouldn't have a big enough purse to carry them in, so I'd probably forget them at one of the first two locations...
ReplyDeleteSince I love to eat, I'd go with more munchies, but make them regional to replace the regional taffy they're replacing. (Also, since the hotels will be air conditioned, you won't have to worry about melting goodies!) I did a quick google search and these were some of my favorites, all from the same site:
1. Mississippi MudPuppies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=688
2. Magnolia Munchies: White Chocolate Snack Mix http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=679
3. Candied Pecans http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=418
Cool alternative #1:
You could bake Mississippi shaped cookies yourself. Homemade treats would definitely be appreciated! Cookie cutter: http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=703
Cool alternative #2:
They probably wouldn't enjoy it on the wedding weekend, but who wouldn't like a nice handmade soap that smells like Mississippi's state flower, the magnolia: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_3&listing_id=10235870
or http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_12&listing_id=12681400
or http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_18&listing_id=7980914
(I'm surprised how many people make magnolia soap!)
Other ideas I had that didn't turn anything up in my short search:
-A sweet tea mix. Nothing says "southern" to me like sweet tea.
-Something with catfish. I know it would probably end up kind of kitschy, but it would be regional and show that you don't take yourself too seriously.
Hope this helps!
Oops! I somehow didn't notice that you requested something "beachy." None of my above ideas fit that description at all, sorry!
ReplyDeleteNot sure about replacing the taffy, but as far as the jars go, you could have them set up as part of your table decor, one at each place setting.
ReplyDeleteI really like MsTeacherLadies idea! If the state flower is the Magnolia, how about little tea size magnolia scented candle?
ReplyDeleteFirst: I just checked out a salt water taffy place up in monterey CA, and am thinking about using that as the favors as well, super cute and tasty :) and second, for a way to display them , i am in love with this display from martha: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/flaunt-your-favors?lnc=f1b1fa5661cee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&page=2&rsc=articlecontent_weddings
ReplyDeleteFor the Welcome Baskets, what about a fun bottle of Jones Soda and a brightly colored twisty straw? You can personalize your Jones Soda with your picture, too! You could also add a little umbrella for the drink - or something else along those lines...
ReplyDeleteFor the candy, what if you set up a candy table, with large apothecary-type jars holding the taffy, and candy scoops? You could have the empty jars in baskets, and people could fill up the jars themselves? Might be too much...otherwise I like heather from the bar's idea (per Martha Stewart).
Beachy idea for gust bags: What about fun sunglasses? H&M and other stores like that often have cute, cheap glasses that would be a great addition....
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ReplyDeleteI love all things starfish :) What about starfish sugar cookies sprinkled with white or yellow sanding sugar placed in a clear bag and tied with a pretty ribbon. I found a starfish cookie cutter at Michael's but I've also seen them online too. It might be a fun diy project :)
ReplyDeleteOr you could include real starfish and tie a small note for your guests to them with a pretty ribbon.
I think your salt water taffy would look really pretty on silver trays too or maybe for a beachy look in white enamel trays :)
Sparklers could be a cute idea too :)
ReplyDeleteI would set up the jars on vintage mirrors with scalloped edges -- very southern charming; I would also have maybe 1-3 mirrors as the backdrop as well. Then maybe create triangle flags that are hung on a light string in different patterns that match the colors in the taffy. It's a little bit country but I think the mirrors will reflect the jars so it multiplies them. Add a few tea lights here and there and it can look really stunning.
ReplyDeleteAs for the item for the gift bag -- I don't think it's necessary to spend a lot of $$ on this item especially as you already have a lot in there. Most people don't bring these items with them nor do they appreciate it as much as you do. SO -- I would just continue with the food theme. Maybe a cookie or macaroons in a southern type flavor, or candied pecans if it's a southern theme you are going for.
Everything looks amazing!
You could put a pack of cards in the baskets. I went to a wedding that had a little pack of playing cards in the shape of flip flops, but whatever kind would be good. People can play a game to pass the time in between your ceremony and the reception.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Ocean Springs a year ago there was this cute little store downtown that carried a custom made magnolia scent that was soooo good!!! I love the lotion. It was just a little shop on a corner and they probably have small bottles of bath gel or lotion in the scent.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!
ReplyDeletethe first thing i thought of was sunglasses! if guests are traveling they might not think to bring sunglasses - they would be a nice addition to the welcome bags, especially if the weather is going to be nice. if you look around you can find some really cute ones. maybe black plastic frames for women and sport shades for men? my boyfriend bought a few on ebay for about $1 each and maybe you could find them in bulk?
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