Pittsburgh flair: Eat 'n Park Smiley Cookies

If you're looking for a great Pittsburgh-inspired wedding favor, look no further than the Eat 'n Park Smiley Cookie. Whether you're getting married in Western Pennsylvania or are a couple from the 'Burgh saying your vows elsewhere, it's easy (and pretty affordable) to add this sweet treat to your big day.

Of course if you're in Pittsburgh, you can stop into any Eat 'n Park to pick up the local treat. But now you can also order the cookies online to be delivered anywhere. Plus, the Web site let you design your own cookie, so you can customize the smiling faces to match your wedding colors, whether they're blue and orange or black and gold:
While the cookies would make a great favor at your wedding reception, they'd also be a great item to include in out-of-town welcome baskets for your guests. Visit Eat 'n Park's online store for all the details.

Fab 5: Spring Wedding Favors

It may not feel like it outside yet. . .but it is finally spring! Let's welcome in the sunshine and warmth with a look at five fun, unique wedding favor ideas for spring.

1. Miniature Watering Cans
   
   How cute! These little watering tins make a perfect (and affordable) favor for a spring wedding. Fill them with candy or a small blossom or two.
   Favor and image from Beau Coup
   
   
2. Calla Lily Bottle Stopper
   
   Give your guests a spring favor that they can use at home whenever they open a bottle of wine. The painted flower wine bottle stopper comes in a box that looks like a planter.
   Favor and image from Lilies
   
   
3. Butterfly Candle Holder
   
   This silver, whimsical butterfly candle holder serves two purposes: it can add romantic light to your reception (and be reused at home by your guests) and can be used as a placetag holder too!
   Favor and image from Favors By Serendipity
   
   
4. Cherry Blossom Fans
   
   As the weather warms up, keep your guests cool with these cherry blossom silk hand fans as favors. They are painted with a delicate and elegant blossom design.
   Favor and image from Beau Coup
   
   
5. Hand Painted Vases
   
   These glass bud vases are hand painted and sure to be a memorable favor at your wedding. Each order of four includes four different floral designs.
   Favor and image from Hanson Ellis

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Pittsburgh flair: The Terrible Towel

Want to really bring some Pittsburgh into your wedding? Have a Terrible Towel send off at the end of your ceremony or reception. Imagine the bride and groom walking through a stream of guests waving the towels, acting like the Steelers just won the Super Bowl:
Whether you're having a black & gold wedding or not, the Terrible Towel send off can be a great way to incorporate some Pittsburgh-style fun into your wedding (take a look at Knottie Pittsburgher's bio for a real wedding example). Plus, using Terrible Towels offers some side benefits as well. Terrible Towels:

• Can double as favors for your wedding guests.
• Raise money for charity. Proceeds benefit the Allegheny Valley School.
• Prevent messes, unlike rose petals, rice, confetti or bubbles. Chances are your site won't restrict them.
• Make for one cool photo.

The Mike Feinberg Company sells Terrible Towels at bulk discounts. If you can't afford to buy one for every guest, ask around: many of your hometown family and friends probably own one already. Or you can just line your exit with your bridal party members, saving on the number of towels you need to purchase.

Image from Charm Bracelet

Pittsburgh flair: Black & gold M&M's

Trick or treat! I had to do a candy-related post today, and what better way to express your Pittsburgh pride than with some black and gold M&M's?

You can buy M&M's in 22 different shades, which makes it easy to coordinate with your wedding colors if you want to use them for favors or a candy bar. But, if you're putting together Pittsburgh-themed welcome baskets for your guests or have a Pittsburgh-themed wedding, pick the colors that represent our town best.
MYMMS.COM sells 7 oz. or 5 lb. bags of individual colors online. You can also head down to the Strip District or many other candy stores and hand pick your own combination.

Also, you can add an extra touch by personalizing your M&M's. Create a custom message like you names and wedding date, welcome or thank you (if you go through the business site, you could even upload your monogram or other artwork). Unfortunately, the site doesn't offer customized candies in black--but then again, just customizing the yellow ones and buying a bag of standard black will save you some money.

On top of all that, you can even have the candy arrived packaged in one of four favor options. You could certainly do this part yourself for less, but if you don't want the hassle, this option's for you.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween! Don't eat too many sweets!

Fab 5: Halloween Edition

In honor of Halloween this week, I searched the Web for five fun photos for Halloween weddings.

1. Masquerade Ball
   
   Keep it formal and classy with gorgeous masks for the bride and groom. You can provide less expensive simple versions for your guests as favors.
   Image from Inside Weddings
   
   
2. Wedding Pumpkin
   
   Add a glow to your decor with a pumpkin carved with a custom image of your wedding. This one features the silhouette of a bride and groom, but you could also carve your monogram or a portrait of the two of you.
   Image from Yankee Halloween
   
   
3. Spooky Wedding Cake
   
   How cool is this cake? Be playful with your wedding cake and add some Halloween whimsy to your reception. I love this design, inspired by Nightmare Before Christmas.
   Image from gnyc.net, Cake by Let Them Eat Cake
   
   
4. Table Settings
   
   Go all out in Halloween colors--the orange and black pop off the blue linens here--and add in the details. Use a pumpkin as a vase for flower centerpieces.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
5. Costumed Guests
   
   Invite your guests to dress up for the affair. Make it optional, but anticipate a lot of fun and crazy costumes on the dance floor at your reception.
   Image from The Knot
   

Pittsburgh flair: Guest welcome baskets

Many brides choose to provide a welcome basket or gift to their out-of-town guests--usually containing snacks or information on the wedding and local attractions. You can drop these welcome packets off at the hotel before your guests arrive and they'll be awaiting them at check-in (Tip: On the day your guests check in, have someone make sure your guests are actually receiving the gifts. Hotel desk staff can get overwhelmed by several different weddings on the same weekend and may forget to hand them out).

To really welcome your guests to the area, treat them to a basket of local goodies. You can head out to the store and pick up some Pittsburgh classics, or order from A Basket of Pittsburgh. This gift basket company offers three different welcome boxes ranging from $12-$20 (not a bad price for the contents and the work you'll save by not putting them together yourself). Each one comes in an incline box, and you can add a personalized ribbon with your names and wedding date. Some of the treats included in these welcome boxes include Clark bars, Troyer Farm snacks and Iron City beer nuts.

Just add some info on your wedding and some local guides and you'll be all set!

(I'm having some difficulties uploading images right now. . .check back later! UPDATE: Problem solved. -Lauren)

My mouth is watering. . .

Kudos to Classic Bride for spotting this absolutely gorgeous piece of heaven disguised as a cupcake:
These would be absolutely delicious for a favor at a fall wedding or bridal shower. Visit the Cupcake Bakeshop blog for the recipe.

Excuse me while I head out to the store to pick up some apples and cream cheese. . .

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Pittsburgh flair: Heinz ketchup favors

If you're looking to add a taste of Pittsburgh to your wedding, in either your favors or your out-of-town bags, order personalized ketchup and mustard bottles from MyHeinz.com. You can order miniature bottles of ketchup or mustard or a set of both, as well as larger size bottles.




The bottles would work great in a bag of Pittsburgh-themed goodies for your visiting wedding guests, or you could just pick up a couple to use if you're having an after-wedding picnic the next day.

Fab 5: Fall wedding favors

It's officially fall, and today's Fab 5 looks at my current top picks for fall-themed wedding favors.

1. Twig Votive Holders from beau coup
   These candle holders lined with tiny twigs will add an outdoorsy, rustic touch to your fall wedding.
   
   
2. Caramel and Candy Apples from Daffy Apple
   I love edible favors and can't think of any treat that says "fall" like a candy apple.
   
3. Maple Syrup in Leaf Bottle from MyWeddingFavors
   What's not to love? You get color, shape and taste all in one.
   
   
4. Turning Leaves Bookmark from Creative Bride
   A favor your guests can actually use. The burgundy tassel adds another fall touch.
   
   
5. Wedding Gourmet Fortune Cookies from Lilies
   With a wedding message inside, the cookies complement a fall theme with rich colors of chocolate and caramel.
   
   

These are just a few of the options out there for fall wedding favors. Look for items that incorporate a fall element, like leaves, apples, pears or pumpkins, or something that highlights colors like, red, brown, orange and yellow.

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