Disneyland Weddings

Your wedding day is the happiest day of your life. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the happiest day of 

your life at the happiest place on earth? Of course it 

would – and Disneyland has made that possible with 

Disneyland Weddings.

Women start dreaming of their weddings from the
time that they are little girl’s. Now, you can really
have a fairy tale wedding that is truly unique,
romantic, and enchanting – and you can have your
very own ‘happily ever after’ wedding day at
Disneyland. Disneyland weddings include a magical
ceremony and a creative reception that you can’t
find any place else on earth.

You won’t have to stress over the details. Like
Cinderella, you can have your very own God Mother
to take care of the details – although in this case, it
will actually be a fairy God Planner.

Disneyland weddings are not last minute events.
The planning stage starts one year before the date
of the wedding with a meeting with the Disney
wedding planner, a site tour, and a selection of the
possible locations for the wedding. Eleven months
before the big day, the letter of agreement must be
signed and returned with a deposit. At ten months,
announcements are mailed out to the guests who
are to be invited.

Eight months before the big day, the planning steps
up. Planning sessions are held by phone or in
person with the wedding planner, and ceremony and
reception event orders are prepared. Everything starts
falling into place, and the planning continues until one
month before the big day. Final payments are due
thirty days before the wedding date, and the final
guest count is due four days before the wedding is
to take place.

Everything is planned with your input, and all of the
details are handled without any stress being placed
on the happy couple. Flowers, invitations, and
catering are all included. After a ceremony that will l
ive in your memory forever, you and your new spouse
will enjoy the reception of your dreams.

The reception will be handled by a white gloved staff,
complete with elegant resort table settings, a head
table, floor length linens, and place cards. Your
wedding cake will be like nothing you could imagine
in your wildest dreams, selected by you from a variety
of choices.

There are also honeymoon packages available at all
of the Disneyland Resorts. From start to finish, your
Disneyland wedding will have all of your dreams
coming true, so you and your spouse can start your
road to happily ever after.

Disastrous Honeymoon Proves Lucky After All

A honeymoon is supposed to be the celebration of a couple's new life together, but Lynn and Steven Curran's honeymoon was more like an episode of "When Animals Attack."

The newlyweds from Chester, Md., had enough close encounters with wild critters to fill the storylines of several "nature run amok" movies. Because of their beast-plagued honeymoon, the couple recently won the grand prize in Thrifty Car Rental's 10th annual Honeymoon Disasters Contest.

Things started off mundanely enough for the Currans on their trip to Cancun, Mexico: They got the usual sunburns. That's when the couple decided that a moonlit swim in the ocean might be the perfect antidote for their lobster-red skin.

"No one was looking," said Lynn, "so off went the bathing suits." As the skinny-dippers frolicked in the water, it wasn't long before they realized they had company. Soon, the couple found themselves wrapped in the loving arms of a large jellyfish.
"We ran out of the water screaming," said Lynn, "which told everybody on the beach, 'Hey, look at the idiots running naked on the beach!'"

The day trip to the zoo was not much better. Swimming through a cavern, the newlyweds took a wrong turn and missed the "closed for repairs" sign. That's when they found themselves in a pool of algae, surrounded by alligators.
Mexico Honeymoon Vacations
"One swam right past me," said Lynn. "We had to climb up a 30-foot ladder to get out of the water, and we were covered in goo." That night, the couple ate dinner and went to bed without speaking to each other.

The next morning, when Steven woke up with a bad case of Montezuma's revenge, Lynn was forced to go snorkeling alone. A first-time snorkeler, she was entranced by the beauty of the underwater landscape. Then, from out of nowhere, she encountered a barracuda and the boat's drivers had to rescue her from her new swimming companion.

Lynn played it safe by swimming in the hotel pool the following day. When she snuck up on her husband to goose him on the backside, however, she soon realized that it wasn't Steven: It was another man wearing identical swimming trunks. The couple later decided to cancel a scuba trip when they found out Steven's "double" would be accompanying them.

"The only thing we did from that point on was sit around and eat," said Lynn. "I gained 10 pounds in one week and came home with a lot to talk about."

For surviving their postnuptial trauma and winning the grand prize in the Honeymoon Disasters Contest, the Currans will receive roundtrip airfare to a destination of their choice in the continental United States, three nights' hotel accommodations, a four-day car rental from Thrifty Car Rental and $500 in spending money.

Wedding Marquee - An Alternative Wedding Venue

Choosing a marquee for your wedding reception can be an inspired affair. A marquee allows you choices and freedoms that would be limited by choosing a normal wedding reception venue. With a marquee you can choose to have your wedding anyplace anytime. You will also have the freedom to choose your decor, caterers, and to express your individuality and personal style for the event.

There a very different types of marquees to choose from. Perhaps a marquee with silk lined walls, hard polished floors and fairy lights scattered throughout would suit your style. For that soft romantic feel you could choose a marquee or tent with no side walls and have draped silk flowing in the breeze, on a beautifully manicured lawn or on the beach at sunset.
Another type of marquee you could to choose is an event pavilion. Event Pavilions are more stable structures and would be better suited for certain weather condition. They are definitely the premium option when it comes to marquees. Event pavilions come in a wide range of options. A completely clear pavilion would be beautiful and allow you to view the stars during you special evening. You could choose side walls which are solid for privacy or clear for a little sunlight and to view to beautiful location of your wedding or event.
When it comes to decorating your marquee or event pavilion, stick to classic white or ivory for the draping. Perhaps you can choose a trim that matches your colour theme or the bridesmaid's dresses. Round tables still work best in a wedding marquee, as they are the most social table arrangement. They facilitate a more social atmosphere amongst the guests. Lighting in the marquee could vary from fairy lights, spot lights to candle light. Candle light is the most natural, soft and romantic light. Another option for lighting is lanterns with can add a touch a flare to your wedding or chandeliers which could hang from your marquee to make for a more elegant and sophisticated event.

For the perfect table centerpiece, take into consideration your surrounding and remember simple is best. When it comes to candelabras for your table centerpiece, you may want to consider the height and size. Marquees come in varied sizes and shapes to suit the number of guests you wish to have, type of entertainment and floor plan.

By choosing a wedding marquee you are only limited by your own imagination. So whether you choose a wedding marquee or an event pavilion, your wedding day can be a truly romantic occasion.

Making the Most Magical Day - Wedding Caterers, Wedding Food, Wedding Menus & Wedding Receptions

There is no doubt that your wedding day has got to be the most perfect day of your life – from the most beautiful invite, to the most breathtaking venue, from the fairytale dress to the stunning lights and flowers, from amazing favours and fireworks, to utterly delicious food and drink, champagne and chocolate…

Your wedding is the most important party of your life, full of your nearest and dearest, and the only day at which you are truly king and queen for the day! So a wedding reception takes a great deal of thought. It is, after all, a real reflection of you – do you want something low key and relaxed for example, with hay bales to sit on and a BBQ to eat? Or do you want a formal banquet with a set five course wedding menu and twinkling chandeliers hanging from a designer marquee? Whatever you are trying to achieve with your wedding catering, it helps to be absolutely sure what your vision is first.

When it comes to wedding food at your wedding reception - there are a thousand ways to do it – from fish and chips followed by an ice cream van, to a Bollywood themed Indian buffet. Any whatever way you choose, great food means happy guests, and an even more memorable day.

Paying a wedding caterer to look after the menu and food at the wedding reception is the answer for many couples. And there are a huge number of catering companies specialising in wedding receptions in the UK, and when choosing a wedding reception caterer – such as Absolute Taste, "rhubarb" or Alison Price - it is very important to establish a few things straight a way. Can they work within your budget? Can they travel to where you want them to be? And would they be able to provide all the drinks too, and research possible venues?

Once you have found your wedding reception caterer it is very important to focus on the wedding menu very early on. Get your wedding caterer to suggest ideas. Talk about what suits you as a couple, and get advice on what is right for the wedding venue, the overall occasion and for your guests. And don't forget your wedding cake either – a wedding reception isn't a wedding reception without a stunning cake!

Wedding reception caterers can vary hugely in price and in product. Low key weddings may benefit from smaller, more relaxed (and likely cheaper) wedding caterers. But if budget is no issue, then nothing is impossible, and you can find luxury wedding companies who will provide ice bars laden with the finest caviar and the most superb cocktail barman serving freshly mixed martinis to your guests until the early hours.

And a wedding reception is not just about the food either of course – you also have to think about wedding reception theming, lighting, staff uniform, table centrepieces and of course what about dancing and photography? With each and every supplier remember to look for testimonials that might give you a steer on whether they really know what they are doing.

The main thing about wedding caterers is getting them to work well for you – don't feel you can't ask for a bespoke wedding menu for example. If the company's wedding menus don't offer what you are looking for, always ask if they can create one just for you. Any good kitchen and event team should be able to tailor what they do to your exact requirements, and if they don't – then you should be looking elsewhere!

As far as the chosen menu is concerned, if the produce is excellently sourced and superbly cooked, even steak and chips can be perfect for a wedding meal! As a rule, try to stick with what is seasonal. Popular choices still tend to be chicken, lamb, beef and salmon. They're generally well liked and, if your wedding reception caterers are any good, they don't have to be boring either.

And of course staff are crucial too. Smiling, happy and helpful waitresses are so much better on a glorious wedding day than grumpy serving staff who just wish they were somewhere else!

Finally, if the budget isn't quite tallying up, then remember that good wedding caterers should be able to suggest great ideas and clever ways of doing things within budget. If you want to save money, consider serving substantial canapés or bowl food instead of a starter for example, or a very luxurious chocolate wedding cake as your pudding.

Overall, the best wedding reception caterers are those who specialise in making a dream day a total reality, while you just sit back and enjoy the magic!

Cut A Big Chunk Out Of Your Wedding Expenses With Cheap Groomsmen Gifts

You’re about to have the wedding of your dreams. It doesn’t come cheap. After all, no expense should be spared for the perfect white dress and shoes, the matching platinum rings, the gala reception, the flower arrangments, videos and photographs, the wedding giveaways, and even the 6-tiered wedding cake. Unfortunately, your pocket book is becoming alarmingly lighter by the minute. So in order to spend for the things you really want, you’ll have to think about cutting back on the things you only kind of want.

Think Twice and Cut Back

Indeed, cutting back on your wedding expenses seems like a good idea. But like all good ideas, it’s easier said than done. Being a bride, you want everything to be perfect no matter what the cost is. All reason flies out the window - and for good reason.

If you stop, take a deep breath, and put things in perspective, however, you’ll realize that this isn’t a good way to do things. After all, though your wedding might not be like any other day, it’s still just one day. You don’t want to spend your entire savings for just this one day and end up with hardly any money to start your life together as a couple. That’s not a good way to start a marriage, and it definitely doesn’t put you on the road to happily-ever-after.

Cut Where Nobody Notices

The average bride can indeed be unreasonable when it comes to her wedding. But that doesn’t mean you should be, even if you can get away with it. Though you may not want to spare any expense on your dress or the reception, you can cut back on minor things, like the wedding giveaways, table centerpieces, or even cheap groomsmen gifts.

Don’t feel bad about getting cheap groomsmen gifts. Your groomsmen are a handful of your and your fiance’s closest family and friends. They’ll definitely understand why you’re giving them cheap groomsmen gifts. In fact, they might even expect it.

Cheap Can Be Chic

Breathe easy. Cheap groomsmen gifts aren’t as bad as you think. Just because they’re cheap, doesn’t mean they’re tacky. You can put your genius to good use by picking cheap groomsmen gifts that are still tasteful and elegant.

Simplicity is the key. Contrary to what you may think, men aren’t that hard to please. You can find many sophisticated items as cheap groomsmen gifts. Consider cufflinks, liquor flasks, cigarette lighters, and wallets. They’re functional, and with your impeccable taste, you’re sure to find elegant sophistication under $50.

With that taken care of, you can then spare no expense for your dream wedding dress with the excellent beadwork. The money you saved from buying cheap groomsmen gifts can be used to purchase more flowers or add more desserts for your guests. You can probably even add another tier on your cake. Indeed, by cutting back on some of your wedding expenses, you’ll be able to splurge on the things that really matter – and have more than enough left over to live happily ever after.

Elegant Celtic Wedding Rings

Now that you have popped the marriage question and got a "Yes" answer, what's next? For many, this is the start of many wedding day preparations. The planning of this special day can be a stressful experience considering the myriad of activities needing to be planned for and coordinated such as the catering, wedding ceremony, location booking, photographer, and wedding gown shopping. Being that it is an important milestone in people's lives, the preparations must be perfect with everything in it's proper place on wedding day.

While this event will come and go, the memories of the wedding day will live on. One of the symbols of the love between two people on this special day is the wedding ring. While buying wedding rings will depend on the couple's budget, it's also important to realize that a wedding ring will be the enduring symbol of a couple's love long after the champagne toasts and wedding ceremony are over. After all, a couple will have it for the rest of their lives. Thus, the decision to buy a ring should not be taken lightly and a couple should get the best wedding rings they can afford from a trusted jeweler.

As a symbol of everlasting love, what better way to represent it than with a Celtic engagement ring? Compared to traditional wedding rings, the Irish have a rich romantic and enduring Celtic jewelry tradition. Because of this, Celtic wedding bands have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional wedding rings. Celtic wedding rings are perfect way to seal your wedding vows on this special occasion. It's easy to see why. Celtic rings are steeped in history and tradition dating back centuries. Their intricate designs or interwoven patterns throughout the metalwork denote a couple's promise to create a new life together with the one never-ending, continuous circle signifying eternal and endless love. Celtic wedding band designs are derived from Irish manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. In the past, the wearing of Celtic jewelry was an outward sign of a person's wealth and status. This resulted in many Celtic wedding rings being passed on from one generation to another becoming treasured family heirlooms.

Today, the popularity of such elegant wedding rings enable couples to purchase these Celtic rings from specialty retail jewelry stores online so there is no need to travel to Ireland to get an authentic Celtic wedding ring. Celtic rings are handmade by Irish craftspeople and are shipped all around the world. If you opt to have your wedding ring custom designed, it's best to do so early. For those couples who prefer to go for classic and timeless Celtic wedding ring designs, there are also many existing design varieties to choose from. A good online retailer like Shanore will have a wide choice of the following ring characteristics: precious metal (white gold or yellow gold), Celtic pattern, ring size, number of gemstones, size of gemstones, etc. The number of possibilities are truly endless and is completely within your control, making them timeless pieces of art that remind you and your loved one of your uncompromising love for each other.

Eight Important Basics to Planning a Bridal Shower

Planning a bridal shower can be one of the most exciting activities you have ever experienced. There is so much joy associated with bridal shower. Everyone is pleased to bring gifts that the bride is excited to see as a sign of the start of her new life. Even though getting ready can be an exciting time, it can also be a very stressful time. There are so many things that you must consider when you are planning your bridal shower.

One of the most important things to first consider is the guest list. You should invite anywhere from five to twenty people. If you invite more than twenty, you risk overwhelming the bride and the guests, as you want it to be a rather intimate affair. When you make your guest list, be sure to consult the bride as to whom she wishes to have at her wedding shower. Female family members of both sides of the wedding party should certainly be at the top of your guest list. You will also want to include the bride's closest friends, and, of course, the wedding party. Be sure that everyone who is invited to the wedding shower is also on the invitation list to the wedding to avoid any hurt feelings.

The second important thing to think about is the invitations. The invitations you choose can have any look or feel that you like. If you wish to have a themed shower, send out invitations that match your theme. For example, if you plan to have a beach party shower, send out invitations that have the look of a beach party. If you are not having a themed shower, you might want to go with something that looks like the bride's wedding invitations. Check with the printer of her wedding invitations, as he or she might be able to cut you a deal if the bride's invitation order was big enough. Whatever type of invitation you go with, be sure to include the guest of honor's name, the time, date, and location of the invitation, the hostess' name and phone number, an RSVP deadline (about two weeks before the shower is sufficient), and the shower theme. If you wish, include a map of how to reach the location. You might also think about including where the couple has registered and the colors of their future home. Send the invitations out about one month in advance of the wedding shower.

Once you've sent out the invitations, it is time to start planning your party. You will want to start with some light appetizers for your party guests. Try to provide a variety of foods, and try to avoid foods that guests might be allergic to. If you intend to serve highly allergenic foods like peanuts, be sure to keep them well away from the other foods you will serve. Don't forget to think about drinks as well. Serve a wide variety, and be sure to include healthy drinks like water and fruit juice. If you also intend to serve cake, try to make it fit with the theme of your party.

Once you've considered the food, you are ready to start thinking about party games. You will want to play two to four games during your bridal shower. These games can serve as ice breakers if you wish. One fun game is to issue a list of common purse items. Whoever has the most items in their purse from your list wins. Another great game is a simple wedding word scramble. Whoever deciphers the most words in the time allotted is the winner.

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

Be sure to include time in your shower for everyone to introduce themselves and their relationship to the bride. Remember that several of your guests may have a connection to no one but the bride, so it is important to help them get involved with the other shower attendees.

A sixth thing to consider when you are planning a bridal shower is party favors for all of the guests. While this tends to be a regional idea, offering party favors for each guest is a nice touch. You can do something as simple as a small box of candy or a scented candle. Try to offer party favors that reflect the theme of your shower, if you have one.

An additional thing to think about when you are planning is the decorative scheme. If you are having a themed shower, you probably already have some ideas in mind for decorations. If you are having a fairly general themed bridal shower, you need to think about table linens and centerpieces at the very least.

One final thing you must consider when you are planning a bridal shower is planning for after the shower. Buying some thank you notes for the bride to send that match the invitations is a nice touch. Furthermore, giving the bride a preprinted list of guests with up-to-date address information can also be quite helpful.

Planning a bridal shower is an intensive procedure, but getting the right combination of events will lead to a happy memory.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing--the more you understand about bridal showers, the more you will be able to share with others.

Creative Wedding Gifts And Ideas

Many new couples receive more picture frames, candy dishes and candle stick holders than they can possibly use. While these are all lovely gifts, they are also very common and not likely to stand out very much to the new couple. On the other hand a gift that is truly creative is likely to be well appreciated by the bride and groom.

A collection of board games can be a very creative and useful wedding gift. Many couples enjoy entertaining and having a number of their friends over for dinner, drinks and conversation. While this in itself is a great deal of fun, introducing board games can be a competitive way to spice up the evening and bring laughter into the gathering. Everyone enjoys playing their old favorite board games and many people also enjoy experimenting with new games. Giving the couple a collection of board games as a wedding gift can lead to many nights of fun for the couple and their friends.

Theme baskets also make wonderful creative gift ideas. In creating a theme basket you are only limited by your imagination in what to include in your basket. You could create baskets that are cooking related, sports related or travel related. The key to creating a theme basket that is not only creative but also appropriate for the couple is to keep in mind their likes and dislikes. The couple that eats out every night of the week may not enjoy cooking and would therefore not appreciate a basket full for recipes and kitchen utensils, however, the couple with season tickets to a particular sport may enjoy a basket filled with DVDs from a championship series as well as memorabilia from their favorite sports team.

A couple is likely to receive countless picture frames on their wedding but you can put a twist on the idea of giving a picture frame to turn it into a more creative wedding gift. One way to do this is to purchase a large frame and insert an inexpensive print that the couple will appreciate or a blown up picture of the two of them. This creative gift stands out from the traditional picture frame because it includes a photo and is ready for immediate display. Many picture frames remain in the box for years while the couple tries to decide on the perfect picture to display in the frame but giving the couple a framed portrait or print eliminates this dilemma.

Another creative gift for a wedding is a personalized calendar. Many office supply stores will create a calendar for you if you provide them with the twelve pictures that you would like to include in the calendar. This creative gift idea can be created by an office supply store for a relatively low price or the wedding guest may opt to create the calendar themselves on their own computers. It is very simple and many word processing programs offer calendar templates. This creative gift idea is sure to be appreciated by the new couple for its practicality and originality.

There are many companies that will create a print that has the appeal of a watercolor painting from a photograph. Giving a gift certificate for this service can be a very creative gift idea. You may choose to give the gift certificate with instructions for the couple to redeem the gift certificate to have a water color likeness created from one of their favorite wedding pictures. If you have a copy of a picture that is flattering to both the bride and the groom you may want to arrange for this service using the picture you have in lieu of giving the couple the gift certificate. The one caveat to giving this gift is to allow enough time for the print to be created and returned to you so that you don’t have to present your gift to the bride and groom after their wedding date. If you plan to attend the wedding in person, it is appropriate to have the gift for the bride and groom either at the wedding or else scheduled to arrive via shipping prior to the wedding date.

A couple that already has children may appreciate a gift certificate stating that you would be willing to baby-sit for the couple’s children once a month for the first year of their marriage. This creative gift is extremely useful for the couple because it allows them one night a month to go out and enjoy themselves.

Creative wedding gift ideas don’t have to be expensive but they are often widely appreciated. A creative wedding gift is likely to stand out from the more traditional gifts. Creative gifts are also likely to be greatly appreciated by the new couple.

Creative Wording for Wedding Invitations: A Unique Style

As you reach the time to design your invitations, you get to think on the appropriate wedding invitation wording. On which words you would like your guests to read when they open the envelope. If you write down normal common words, your invitations could turn out to be quite boring. That is why creative wording for wedding invitations is very important.

 - What to do first

The first thing you must decide on is who is going to invite the guests to the ceremony. It could be the bride and groom, the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, or the bride’s and groom’s parents. This is very important because the invitation will focus around the person who is inviting.

The bride’s and groom’s parents are the ones that usually invite the people to their child’s wedding, but it has become very popular now a day that the bride and groom invite the guests.

 - Creative thinking

Once that is determined, you can begin to think on creative wording. A great technique many people use for creative wedding invitations is beginning the card with a quote that represents your marriage, such as: “And the two shall become one...”

If your wedding is going to have a theme, it is wise to start the invitations with something about it. Let’s say you are going to have a tropical wedding. You’re invitation could start with something like: “Love drifts in like a soothing tide on the dry sand”. Try to think of something that will go perfectly with the theme of your wedding.

 - Personalize it

For a more personalized wedding invitation it is best to write down something that stands for you and your partner; something that speaks for you. The words must make your guests remember you when they read them. It could be a quote that you say a lot or one that describes you perfectly. If you can’t remember of something like that, try asking your closest friends and family for suggestions.

 - Treat them like kings 

As creative as you get when you write down the words for your invitations, always remember to use words like “the pleasure of your company” or “the honor of your presence”. Try to think of the words in a very elegant manner, so that when your guests read them, they feel as if like they were being treated like royalty.

Creative, Trendy Wedding Favors Get Personal For 2011

We all know that today's brides feel free to mix it up. You'll see electronic RSVPs in place of card stock, and you might find a handful of tiered key lime pies instead of the traditional French confection on the cake table. Favors are another spot where wedding couples put their personal spin on the proceedings.

The last few years have seen an explosion of favors to match the explosion in theme weddings -- and to suit all those weddings that simply don't fit any rubber stamp.

Even so, brides hit the online boards and forums bemoaning that they haven't found the right favors. When you read between the lines, you realize that what many brides want is:

- A favor so unique (or so uniquely presented) that it could practically only show up at their wedding.

- A favor so perfect for their wedding that none other would do.

In other words, brides want to find the one favor that's just about as perfect a match as the man they've opted to marry.

** Do You, Jill, Take This Favor ... ?

It wasn't long ago that the ability to order scented pear soaps or silver-plated salt and pepper shakers came as a huge relief to brides and guests alike -- what a refreshing change from five Jordan almonds wrapped up in tulle! But these days, a multitude of choices just isn't enough. Brides are looking for uniqueness with a capital U, and they're choosing:

* Favors that are Anything but One-Size-Fits-All.
Instead of two truffles in ballotin box, brides are choosing "fair trade" truffles with a dusting of chipotle pepper. Instead a pair of enamelled chopsticks, brides are going for miniature bonsai or tiny Zen garden kits. Fortune cookies in a takeout box are sleek, but brides really want their cookies to come in custom flavors and colors (blueberry, anyone?) with a fortune they've penned themselves. You get the picture -- brides want favors that looks like they came out of a little shop of elves assembled just for their wedding.

* Favors the Locals Love.
Brides are stealing items from the out-of-town baskets and retooling them as favors. Miniature gifts with major mouth appeal include jars of wild blueberry jam for a Maine wedding, leaf-shaped maple syrup jars for Vermont, cranberry "Bog Frogs" for Cape Cod, or individual salmon spice rub tins for Seattle (the "Rub with Love" tins by Tom Douglas are adorable).

* Hi Ho, Silver.
This theme's as old as time, but silver's showing up everywhere in weddings, from sparkly sandals to silvery satin-lined favor boxes. It's not hard to go over the top with gold, but silver's innate restraint makes it a perfect choice for weddings ranging from ultra-traditional to celestial. Sleek placecard frames and silver key chains are both au courant and elegant.

* Wild at Heart.
Brides are opting for favors that reflect the current lust for the outdoors -- and all the weddings taking place on golf greens, beaches and vineyard hideaways. Favors that offer tactile reminders of the natural world are hot: engraved sand dollars, for example, or votives or glass bottles graced with embedded sand and shells. Favors that reflect popular niches within the beach theme are strong, too: consider starfish soaps and coasters that support the increasingly popular starfish theme, and abalone or paua shell jewelry that's making a big splash at Pacific Rim weddings and bridal showers.

Of course, it's not just the favors where brides want something different -- they're putting their individual spin on presentation too, tucking those unique little favors into unexpected packages, such as the new pyramid or triangular-shaped truffle boxes (which double as placecards), small apothecary jars, or lidded boxes in strong, unexpected colors like celadon and chocolate, red and black or hot pink and brown.

So as you can see, it's not that hard to find the one perfect favor for your wedding. Think local or outdoorsy, think presentation, or simply ponder your theme until you find the edges that lead to a fresh and exciting idea. Simply think for yourself and your favors will show it -- just as if you really did have your own platoon of elves in the backyard, ready to turn your dreams into reality.