Just came in from outside. The thermometer is at about 95 degrees and, even with low humidity (a rarity in my corner of the country,) you can just stick an apple in my mouth and bake me. I sat down at my weddings-oriented writing space and knew I had to save this summer’s outdoor wedding guests from certain melting. So brides-to-be, here goes!

A quick bulletin: The sun radiates light to the earth, and part of that light consists of invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause tanning, burning, and other skin damage. Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC, but we only have to worry about UVA and UVB, because UVC rays–the most dangerous–are blocked by the ozone layer and never reach the earth. But there’s still plenty of reason to protect yourself, your wedding party and your wedding guests. UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. UVB rays cause sunburns, cataracts (clouding of the eye lens), and immune system damage.

All your wedding guests, local and from out of town, should receive a wedding welcome bag with an assortment of items: bottled water, sun block, a fan, snacks, maps, wedding timetable, city guide. Did I say bottled water and a fan or two? You should make chilled, bottled water readily available throughout the wedding weekend. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important it is to keep your body hydrated. The human body is about 60% water. Your muscles and brain are about 75% water. Your blood–about 82% water. Bottom line, human bodies require water. Personalize your bottled water, and your guests will always remember it was you who hydrated them from arrival to departure.

Finally, don’t forget to throw a couple of fans in the welcome bag. Fans also make wonderful wedding favors, and your guests will be oh, so grateful! They’ll be more comfortable and more likely to make it through your ceremony and reception without fainting from the toasty weather. On the bright side (no pun intended,) it’s not raining–so be happy and have a fabulous affair!

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If you’re faced with the decision of picking the “perfect wedding gift,” you know how challenging it can be.

There are so many choices out there. Do you go with the registry and risk duplication or veer off the list and get something that they might never use? Would they appreciate something quirky or conservative? And, to make matters worse, if they are combining two household’s worth of stuff, all of the traditional wedding gifts, like toasters, blenders and crock pots, may be out of the question.

So, what’s a gift-giving guest to do? Get cooking, of course! Here’s a way to give them a “traditional” kitchen-themed gift with a contemporary twist. I came across a cooking school that offers gift certificates for “Romantic Cooking Classes” so couples can have some hands-on fun! I thought, “Cooking over candlelight might be an interesting way to go.” It gives the couple a delightful outing and might even be helpful if the newlyweds are lacking in their cooking skills. Who knows? After an evening of slicing and dicing, things might really get heated!

Turn up the heat on this wedding-gift idea by including these heart-shaped salt & pepper shakers for a unique presentation. They are a great reminder of their flavorful love and can really spice things up! Adding these “Love Beyond Measure” measuring scoops and champagne flutes create a recipe they both will enjoy!

Personalized wedding gifts are always an excellent choice. Check out these engraved glasses and coasters. New brides will love seeing their new name printed on these, and they are a great way to keep the kitchen theme alive and cooking. Bon appetit !

Sue here. Saw the movie. Must put my TWIST (The Way I See Things) into the flood of opinions swirling around out there. I was a big fan of the HBO series (Sex and the City, if you haven’t figured it out yet,) and the movie didn’t disappoint. It was a hoot!

But I’m compelled to comment on Cari’s choice of bridal headwear. When she first tried on the gown that she would wear on her wedding day, I thought it was one of the most beautiful gowns I’d ever seen. It truly was breathtaking. Then, on her wedding day, she had her veil attached to this blue, feathered thing that turned out to be a bird.

Now I freely admit I’m not a fashionista, nor do I pay a lot of attention to high fashion because, like most people, I really can’t afford it. But I can tell when something looks ridiculous, and that hideous, blue bird caught in her veil undid every bit of beauty, elegance and style she might have otherwise had on the most important day of her life. Once you get a load of that bird, it’s impossible to look away–like watching a horrible accident scene. I know Carrie Bradshaw’s hallmark is her avant garde sense of style, and I really do think most of her clothes are very cool. But the costume designer or stylist who made this call really blew it. I can’t say anything more without giving important plot points away, so I’ll make the best of this fashion freak out.

How? By finding the absolute perfect wedding favor to complement that bird! Who knows? Maybe it was the greatest fashion moment of the century so far. If it was (but I sincerely doubt it,) how fabulous would it be to decorate her wedding reception tables (in the distinguished New York Public Library!) with the “Love Dove” Chrome Bottle Opener. At the very least, it would give guests a more becoming bird to focus on. Actually, the “Love Dove” would be a gorgeous wedding party favor even if Carrie had worn a more appealing head ornament.

When I ignored the bird and concentrated on the dress itself, I realized she would have no problem coordinating her guest book and ring bearer pillow with the champagne color of her gown. Sleek satin with a simple bow–and no bird.

So really. You must tell me. Whether you’ve seen the movie or are just seeing the photos of Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding ensemble right here and now–what do you think of the look? And I need more than “I love it!” I’d really appreciate knowing why you think this is a smashing wedding combo. For those of you who say, “Yuck,” believe me, I understand…

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I came across a list of the 10 Worst Wedding Cake Toppers and thought it would be fun to share the top five with you. (I apologize in advance if yours happens to be on the list.) Many of them are fun and whimsical, but some left me wondering what the couple the couple was thinking.

Customized cakes have paved the way for customized cake toppers. While it may be a nice idea to let the cake topper reflect your wedding theme or personality, some of these designs may push the limit.

The Stripper: As you can tell by the picture, this design features a bride with dollar bills in her garter along with her leering groom. He has more dollars in his hands and more than wedding cake on his mind. While I’m all for the “private dance,” this may be a bit too public for me.

The Kiss: Speaking of private, there are some things that might need to be left behind closed doors. If I was the bride, I’m not sure I would want everyone to see me “jump his bones” right there on the wedding cake!

Prisoner Of Love: Just as the name implies, this pistol-packing bride has a handgun strapped to her garter and is handcuffed to the groom. I guess he’ll be under house arrest for a long time!

Catch of the Day: This one was so realistic, it was scary. The detail of the life-size fish was amazing with scales, fins and even a visible worm in its mouth. Kudos to the designer though for pulling it off!

Gone Shopping: The perplexed and helpless groom stands atop the wedding cake alone reading a sign that says, “Gone Shopping!” The only remembrances of his bride are the shoes and veil. Let’s face it. If you can’t forget about the mall on your wedding day, there might be a problem.

Seeing these unusual designs may have you wanting something a little more subdued for your wedding cake, like these beautiful cake toppers from MyWeddingFavors.com. Monogrammed cake toppers are the latest trend, adding simple elegance to your cake. Hearts and plaques can also be engraved with your name and wedding date for a keepsake that’s truly your own.

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It’s the height of wedding planning season! Wedding planners, caterers and bakers are all abuzz with the details. Preparing for all of those summer weddings is a pain-staking process for the owners of a Wisconsin bakery. They’ve taken nearly 250 wedding cake orders by hand, thus far. Each order is too detailed for the computer, including photos and sketches of the cake designs. That’s why these precious gems are kept in the office safe.

Burglars must have thought there was more than contracts in there, so they recently stole the entire safe from the 25-year-old business. To the burglar’s surprise, there was very little petty cash in the safe, just the contracts. When the police notified the owners that the store was robbed, they weren’t upset because they knew that they only kept a small amount of money at the office. But when the owners were told that the thieves stole the entire safe, they hit the roof! And rightly so. Imagine all those orders–gone just like that! It will definitely take some time for them to recreate the information.

In the meantime, why not try these cakes instead? The baker’s search may just be beginning, but your search for perfect “cakes” can end with these. They are beautifully crafted, cake-shaped candles that will be the icing on a beautiful wedding or shower. Or forgo the cake altogether, and let them eat cupcakes! These dainty cupcake holders are a stylish and practical way to serve up some smiles at your event.

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We’re Running for Our Lives…and Yours! 

Saturday, May 10, was a glorious day for a race to eradicate breast cancer. Perfect weather! Great friends! And thousands of others who feel the same way I do! The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure took place in Atlanta this past weekend, and I was one of 15,000 who helped raise $1.5 million for breast cancer research and treatment. I raced (walked, actually) with my teammates from MyWeddingFavors.com, who raised $3,000 from bake sales, breakfasts and cookouts here at our company.

Why We Participate 

One of our co-workers is a two-time survivor, and within one month of each other, I lost my favorite cousin and a dear friend of almost 30 years to breast cancer. Last year I walked in the Breast Cancer 3-Day here in Atlanta, and this year I’ll be a member of the volunteer crew. The staff at MyWeddingFavors is primarily women, so we have a vested interest in finding a cure for this horrible disease. Our participation in this race was a no-brainer. But we’re doing even more toward this fight!

Kudos to Kate Aspen! 

As a preferred retailer for Kate Aspen, a top-tier designer and manufacturer of unique wedding favors and bridal shower favors, we recently had the distinct pleasure of adding to our website Kate Aspen’s In Favor of a Cure Pink Ribbon Collection–three fantastic favors that feature the “pink ribbon” icon. What’s really cool about these favors? Despite their obvious significance, Kate Aspen is going to donate 10% of the net proceeds to two national charities that focus women and breast cancer.

One is the Young Survival Coalition (YSC,) and the name says it all. This organization is made up of young women in their 20’s and 30’s who are surviving the disease, and they are dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. The YSC is also point of contact for young women living with breast cancer. The other is the Making Memories Foundation, which grants wishes and brings joy into the lives of women and men who are losing their battle to breast cancer, while continuing to support, educate and increase resource awareness. 

Here are the three, new wedding favors (although these favors will work for many other occasions, too!) that will make a difference in our lives. Just click on the photos to find out more about the favors. Who knew a favor could do so much?




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