DIY Planted Teacup Favors and Seed Packets

One of the major headaches that weddings can cause is the question of favors. They can also be an afterthought if you aren’t careful about planning. What should we get in bulk to give to our guests to take home? What favors won’t cost a big load of money? What will they actually use and like?

 

Pinterest has definitely tackled that dilemma that will take brides beyond the standard candle or potted plant. These revolutionary ideas include everything from candy stations (which I have actually seen in person) to every small knick-knack that has ever come in bulk. But really how many pairs of cheap sunglasses do you need?

To go with our English theme I played around with the idea of using vintage tea cups collected from various thrift stores for my bridal shower. The ideas went from filled with homemade wrapped caramels, to briefly candles, and finally to potted plants. Despite the cliché, I liked the idea of individual plants in different teacups.

 

We even played around with attaching teabags to the teacups, directly plagiarizing from my bridal shower (I’m a hopeless bride.) Luckily, our wedding coordinators suggested seed packets instead.

Whether or not my guests will actually use the seed packets and potted teacups is still unknown. But then again, they were pretty.

The Breakdown:

You of course want a beautiful favor your guests will remember. But unlike the SNL skit, that doesn’t mean two tickets to Italy and $40,000. Hopefully these budget friendly favors will go over better than cheez-its and a mini bottle of water.

The teacups cost about $1 per cup at thrift stores, but if you have a bigger wedding than 50, I recommend finding bigger quantities for less.

We got the potted pansies $4 for 6, costing roughly about $1.50 per plant.

The cost of actual seeds which you can get in bulk from flowersoul.com ended up costing roughly 70 cents a packet (versus $2.00 a packet at retailers.)  They had quantities starting at ¼ lb. to multiple pounds so you can get different types of seeds like we did.

Including the printer paper, glue, etc. each favor cost about $3.30 said and done to make.

$1.00 Teacup and Saucer

$1.50 Plant

.70 Seeds

       +   .10 Paper/Glue

__________________

Total: = $3.30 each

Why DIY?

When doing extensive research about our particular favors, I found that traditional seed packets (that aren’t even that pretty,) you see at the garden store go for $1.50-$2.00 each and those aren’t even personalized! There are companies that will customize wedding seed packets with your names and image, but after the initial “personalization cost” of $85-$115 for your own “message,” in addition to .35 per packet for 50-100, we would have nearly reached our total budget just for the packets. Not to mention they only offered three types of wildflowers for the seeds. (If you don't want a DIY seed packet, that site isn't bad and they will send you a packet sample.)

 

After shopping around, I found seeds in bulk for much cheaper with a heck ton more variety. Armed with vintage seed packet clip art from Jodie Lee Designs and the Microsoft Office template, we could make our own packets that were really personal.

Not to mention the teacups looked awesome.

Verdict:

The Knot and wedding wisdom say budget 1-2% of your budget for favors, so we were “right on the money” so to speak. Either the teacup portion of the favor or the seed packet would make nice favors for your wedding or even a bridal shower.

The completed seed packets would also work as a part of another favor such as a small garden shovel, pale, wine glass etc. With a little bit of tweaking the template, these would also be great as combined place cards/favors for seating with the guest’s name printed on the seed packet.

If you have a smaller wedding like us and have the time to DIY, this was a very personal gift that a lot of the guests loved (and pocketed two or more.) If you have a more standard 100+ wedding, I recommend either the teacups or the seed packets. But hey, I heard you can get sunglasses in bulk!

How to do it yourself:

Planted teacup favors

with attached customized seed packets

Planted Teacups

You will need:

1 teacup and saucer
1 small plant, we used pansies in different colors (I recommend getting plants that are individually packaged in six-packs)
Extra soil if small plants
Water
Small shovel
Optional: Dot adhesives to attach saucers

 Directions:

Tips:

·         First check each teacup for leftover sticky adhesives or grim before planting.

·         You will want to buy the pansies and transfer into the teacups around the week before the wedding so flowers stay nice and don’t wilt. Keep in cool area, especially if it’s for a summer wedding.

·         If possible bring to space the night before so you don’t have to worry about these favors on the day of. Understandably, most coordinators won’t want to deal with watering the plants days before the wedding.

 Working with individual plants, carefully take plant out of plant container. Make sure each plant is a little wet. If not, water in container before transferring.

Depending on the size of the plant, you may have to take off some of the bottom root system. Do this carefully as you don’t want to hurt the plant.

Using the small shovel and your hands, mold the bottom of the plant to fit into the narrow teacup. Place the plant in the teacup and press down on the soil so plant is securely in the cup.

Once each plant is in the teacups, gently water if needed. Be sure to wipe off the teacups for any residual soil.

Optional: use dot adhesives to attach corresponding saucer to its teacup so they stay as one unit.

 

How to make customized seed packets:

You will need:

Desired seeds such as wildflowers, basil, or other plant (enough for 1 tbsp. per packet)
Printer paper
Quality color printer
Glue stick
Raffia or other string to tie seed packets to teacups
One Hole-punch
Desired clip art for seed packets (Check out Jodie Lee Designs for the ones I used)
Microsoft Word Template

 

Directions:

Download Microsoft Word Template and customize by adding desired clip art and text.

This can include a message from you as well as directions for the included seeds and vintage seed packet cover, photo, or other clip art.

Once you have customized and tweaked your template, print a tester on your color printer to test color. Once you like the proof, print desire amount of templates and carefully cut around black edges.

Once the printed seed packets are cut, carefully fold along the lines:

·         first sandwich each side of the packet together, making sure it lines up perfectly

·         Fold side flap first over; lining up with gray line. Repeat step with bottom and top flaps.

Using glue stick, glue side flap first, then bottom flap over top, careful not to get glue outside flap-lines. DO NOT glue top flap yet. Allow sides to dry.

Once dry, carefully open up packet and fill each one with 1 tbsp. of seeds. Shake seeds to the bottom.

·          Lastly, glue top flap, while leaving one edge of flap slightly loose so packets can be reopened once gifted.

·         Using hole punch, punch one hole into the glued top corner of seed packet. (Leaving the loose side for opening.)

·         Thread raffia through the hole and use to attach to handle of the teacup.

If this long break down hasn’t scared you away, I hope you consider this DIY favor for your special day!

What is the best wedding favor you’ve ever seen? What is your “dream” favor, if that’s even a thing?

A Semi-DIY Wedding: DIY Fascinators

On March 3rd, 2012 my then boyfriend Aaron proposed to me in front of the Arch de Triomphe in Paris. At that moment I held naïve beliefs a year and a half engagement would be long one. Boy was I wrong. This weekend we were married at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA among the photographs my late father took and family and friends. I must say the day was just about perfect. But I definitely had my work cut out for me in planning it.

We don’t have all of photos yet but here are a few sneak peeks from our amazing photographer, Kalim including our DIY projects.

In my case planning a wedding takes a village, six bridesmaids, and a coordinator. This wasn't a "DIY" wedding but we also had several do-it-yourself accents.

 

chalkboard direction signs

 

 planted teacup favors with personalized seed packets

 Photos to come: wedding cake, centerpieces (except flowers)

 

 

bridesmaid gifts: personalized wine glasses for a day of wine tasting

And fascinators...

 

With all that said, DIY weddings aren’t always easy. We considered a lot of DIY options including are flower arrangements, but luckily we left the important things to the professionals. DIY weddings don’t always save you money, so consider what is worth both your time and money.

As more of our professional photos become available, I’ll offer more DIY instructions and tips.

Today, here was one of my favorite accents, which remains one of the easiest.

Worth it:       

Fascinators for myself and all my bridesmaids

 When planning an “English” wedding, you must have hats and fascinators! Buying fascinators can run you anywhere to a few hundred dollars just for one.  In order to makes ours a little easier to assemble, I purchased pre–maid clips from A.C. Moore for our base. These worked well because they provided both an alligator clip to attach to the hair as well as a smooth front for the fascinator to attach more feathers towards the back.

 

I was able to purchase these on clearance for only $1.75 each, but you can get them directly from the maker’s website, still making your fascinator much cheaper.

I also found the best deals for different types of feathers and birdcage netting on Etsy. Shop around and should be able to get several different types for low-cost per fascinator. Depending on quantity of fascinators, each one will cost as little as $4-5.

 

Supplies needed for each fascinator:

1 La Liberi White Feather Blossom Pin & Clip Flower (or alligator clip with back and more feathers)

At least two types of assorted feathers, 1 larger, 1 smaller (10-15)

1 square foot of birdcage netting whether French, English, or Russian style; cut into pieces for desired look

1 button of choice

Hot glue gun an glue

Directions:

Using La Liberi clip, remove safety pin from the back, leaving only the alligator clip.

Arrange desired feathers and desired amount of netting together the way you would like them to appear. Such as larger feathers in the back, netting in between, and smaller wispier feathers right behind the La Liberi clip. Use hot glue gun to attach feathers and netting, making sure they are enough glue to hold. Allow glue to cool between layers.

Once layers are set, use the hot glue gun to attach desired button in the front middle of the fascinator along with any other desired feathers or attachments.

Once cooled and dried, your fascinator is ready to where! For special occasions allow whomever is doing your hair to place the fascinator.

All of our fascinators were a little different, that made it more fun! These are great way to add a little English and vintage elegance to any occasion.

More DYI wedding tips to come! Any preference on what to see next?

Love,

The Married Cuisiner

 

My Elegant Bridal Shower Tea Party WIAW #56

On Saturday I was so lucky to have my beautiful bridal shower tea at my mother's house all set up by my bridesmaids.

 

Get ready for browser overload with all of these photos because it was the only way I could paint a full picture of my out-of-this-country bridal shower.

The Shower took place at my mother’s house in Central PA and I could not believe how well my bridesmaids transformed my mom’s backyard into a formal tea/garden party.

I must say, since this was a “surprise” I knew none of the details and boy do these girls know me! Every table had its own vintage tea cup my mother has been collecting for the shower (which we are repurposing for my wedding favors FYI.)*

Bridesmaids  (matron of honor behind the camera) Lisa Borrelli, Me, Mackenzie, Renee, Niki, Amanda

Accents:

Individual plants favors with tea bags my mother grew herself

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous flowers provided by Mama Lisa and arrangements by Amanda

HATS! That’s right, this is an English affair people.

What we ate at my shower:

There was also a rack of savory tea sandwiches ranging from cucumber to my favorite—Coronation chicken, to turkey ham, watercress and heirloom tomato.
(Some gluten free ones for Lisa)

The spread was just as gorgeous as it was delicious!

Herbed potato salad; arugula salad with pecans, pears, and prosciutto, pickled shrimp salad with onions and yellow peppers (so delicious, I NEED the recipe)

fresh fruit with the same cream cheese frosting off my mother’s wedding cake
(fresh batch though)

Once we finished the savory it was on to the sweets made by my bridesmaids

These adorable teabag sugar cookies dipped in chocolate with individual tags with our initials and wedding date (Pinterest inspiration Amanda worked on for weeks!)

Blueberry scones made by Niki

biscotti, almond pound cake with raspberry jam

strawberry cupcakes also made by Amanda in floral wrappers

gluten-free macaroons made by Mackenzie

My only complaint was they took my sweets away before I could finish!

Of course there were games created by Amanda from”He said, She said” for the guests to guessing Aaron’s answers and shoving marshmallows in my mouth for the wrong answers (I actually did quite well thank you!)

I loved my personal gift area complete with rocking chair throne. I was so touched by all the thoughtful gifts ranging from the best of my registry to personalized gifts. My family and friends are so generous! I cannot wait to use my new pots and pans set from my Aunt Jeanna (she bought them all even though I had registered them separately!) I love my two bar sets from Niki and Renee that will replace my broken IKEA wine glasses and give me proper sets for entertaining!

 

Mackenzie made me this sweater!

 

 

It would take forever to name all of my gifts but I loved them all along with very much needed practical items such as a salad spinner, wooden cutting board, a gorgeous cake dome from Grandma LaFave, knitting supplies, gift cards, rolling cooler, and more!

I also got some personalized gifts including a special casserole dish that belonged to my grandmother, to a antique locket for my bouquet with photos of my father from Amanda, a much needed handbag from my mother, a beautiful antique “marriage box” from my friend Lesley that belonged to her Nana whom I adored, and the gifts from Mackenzie and my Aunt Janet*. Aaron and I are truly blessed to have such generous people in our lives.

* I had a very special cup which I would soon realize was a part of an absolutely breathtaking set of tea cups, saucers, and plates that my Aunt Janet sent for me from England.

 

I cannot wait to have this as a part of my tea/entertaining set which my family has been slowly adding to along with my sister Mackenzie’s gift of an antique silver toast rack, crystal jam jar and earlier Christmas gift of a traditional samovar.

 

 

After a long day we beat the rain and I had an amazing time. Thank you to all of my amazing bridesmaids, my mother and matron of honor, and all of the guests who came and those who could not make it and sent your best wishes. I feel like the luckiest bride-to-be and now have a lot of expectations to uphold!

Photos credits to Mama Lisa

Love,

The College Cuisiner

Four Things Guest Post

Today I’m over at my friend’s Jennifer’s blog, Live Beautifully.

 Check out my addition of her Four Things series....including a few things on our wedding registry!

Make sure you let us know you stopped by!

In the meantime here are a couple updates on our upcoming wedding. Only five months away officially!

 

We have had our date, venue, caterer, band, dress, etc. for qutie a while now. But here is what we've been working on for the last month:

 

 

Our Engagement photos are taking care of by our amazing photographer, Kalim, who was a friend of my dad’s (also a professional photographer)

 

 

Save-the-Dates are out! Finally! Now just the invitations need done!

 

Red wine selected. Now we just need our wine-expert (invited guest) to come up with our white and figure out our signature cocktails which I will reveal soon with recipes once Spring is in bloom!

More updates coming soon......

Love,

The College Cuisiner