Atlanta Local Scout: Wedding Favors & Gifts

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Local Scout

Melissa Bradley Diskin

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Our Local Scout serves up your daily dose of wedding trends and planning tips from Atlanta.

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A fresh, totally functional guide to planning your Atlanta wedding.

Favors & Gifts

Gourmet gratitude

If you're like me, you're tired of seeing the same old Jordan-almond wedding favors. That's why I L-O-V-E Heidi's Heavenly Cookies, heidisheavenlycookies.com. These sinfully delectable treats are from Alpharetta native Heidi Nel, who will wrap each cookie in a sweet customized box to match your wedding colors and style. You can put them on your tables' place settings or stack them for guests to grab as they leave.
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October 11, 2007 7:11 PM
Ma vie en rose, patisserie-style

Bakeries are a dime a (baker's) dozen in Atlanta, but Chocolate Pink's blend of frothy style and French-inspired substance always has me licking my fingers and asking for more, s'il vous plait, in no time.... read more

October 23, 2007 10:53 AM
Fa-la-la favors

I love the idea of a Christmas wedding. Many churches and reception venues are already decorated with lights and branches, and there are so many ways to use the colors green, red or cream/white that it's easy to extend the holiday spirit into your nuptials. But what about favors? Here are a few ideas that work for the holiday:
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November 12, 2007 5:27 PM
Party with the Chocolate Bar

Attention, bridal-shower-planning friends: ditch any plans for a toilet-paper bridal gown or other time-honored (yet... dull) tradition and head over to The Chocolate Bar in Decatur. Because, let's face it - what could be a more perfect celebration of bridal glee than a festive meal of chocolate, served in courses? ... read more

November 21, 2007 10:00 AM
Silver wedding: Beverly Bremer Silver Shop

Think silver is an impractical registry item? Think again: it's durable, hygienic, and gives a bright lift to your everyday table. And Beverly Bremer has just what you need.... read more

November 23, 2007 5:26 AM
Make it memorable

Bridal registries are great, but longtime friends may feel the need to add something a bit more personal to the mix. And last-minute givers may find the registry full. What to do? Local writer and gift-giver extraordinaire Robyn Spizman has some ideas.
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November 28, 2007 10:00 AM
For goodness cakes

We've seen it all when it comes to fondant cakes. They're lovely, but if truth be told, they don't taste all that great. But what if you could have your cake and (ahem) eat it too? Melonie Stanger of For Goodness Cakes is a miracle worker, crafting moist cakes with buttercream icing as smooth and sexy as fondant.
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December 3, 2007 10:00 AM
Paisley Umbrella launch party

This just in: Paisley Umbrella, a new bridal designer showroom created by the owner of Olive and Olive Weddings, launches next week with a cocktail party. Meet designers and enjoy holiday treats, including the Paisley Umbrella signature cocktail and exclusive gift bags for the first 25 guests!
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December 7, 2007 10:58 AM
Tisket, tasket, welcome basket

I'm a native Atlantan who married a bona fide Yankee from (gasp) New York. And if you or your groom is a transplant, the end result is that you may find yourself with a ton of out-of-town wedding guests and no idea of how to welcome them to our fair city. Thankfully, Leah Harris of Tulles of the Trade can help.
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December 10, 2007 10:02 AM
Ring my Belle

Looking for a one stop shop that can help you with everything from save-the-dates to parting favors for your guests? Head to the La Belle Weddings boutique in Duluth, where their motto is "everything but the dress."
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December 13, 2007 10:08 AM
Cakes that branch out

Tasty cakes, pretty cakes, modern cakes, traditional cakes. Whatever your style, Caryn Nash of Caryn's Cakes has you covered - in buttercream, with hand-painted decorations and amazing sugar boughs that elevate your wedding cake into a work of art.
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December 17, 2007 10:06 AM
Do the Cha Cha

If you're looking for a great gift to thank your bridesmaids - each with her own personality, sense of style, and color preferences - look no further than these sparkly, handmade friendship rings by Cha Cha Bella.
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December 20, 2007 10:00 AM
Love stories

A few facts: I met my husband in the lounge at the Four Seasons in Midtown. Attracted but scared of a relationship, I tried to set him up with a friend. I didn't kiss him for months when we did start to date. But on a day hike in North Georgia -- after my dog had chewed his seatbelts to pieces —I realized I loved him and that he was The One, not least because he hung in there to win my heart (and loved my dog despite her appetite). And if you have a great story - and every love story is great in its own way - you can tell it with flair, courtesy of Ellen Braunstein's Courtship Stories.
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January 1, 2008 10:00 AM
Cold weather gifting options at Owen Lawrence

See? It does get cold in Georgia. And if randomly ducking into tucked away, warm, inviting boutiques while running errands in West Midtown has taught me anything, it's that chilly weather wedding gifts ideas abound this time of year, you just have to know where to look.
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January 11, 2008 11:00 AM
The bells are ringing, part two

Still with me? Great. Here's the second half of Sugar Sweet Event planner Nicky Graham's top 10 wedding etiquette rules rundown:

6. If you're inviting a wide range of guests, tier your registry to fit different budgets. You may have Tiffany's tastes, but register for great, non-designer items at mid-level department stores, too.
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January 22, 2008 11:00 AM
Always a bridesmaid? Never a tacky one

Gotta love a left-brain-right-brain thinker. Full of brilliant ideas. Brimming with business savvy. And, in the case of Mickey Lynn (a former IT pro turned jewelry designer) crafter of killer accessories.
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January 28, 2008 4:33 PM
And a place for everything

I recently spotted Soraya Jones' reversible placemats and trays at America's Mart and decided to give her a ring. To hear her tell it, Jones' home decor line was born out the need to balance a large-scale mural painting career with running a household that included small children.
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February 8, 2008 11:00 AM
Green gift source

In my endless efforts to tackle "green" living lingo, I was still pleasantly surprised when Paul Baird at Verde Home, Inc. in West Midtown tossed me a work I'd never heard before:
Upcycling.
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February 11, 2008 11:13 AM
Relics to Relish at Scott Antique Market

We've all heard the saying that one man's trash is another's treasure. But what about another girl's antiques? If there's anywhere that may convince you, it's Scott Antique Market. It's ideal for the new couple on the hunt for heirlooms of their own.
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February 14, 2008 11:00 AM
Photo boxes at Olive & Fig

Ready to put your hand over your heart at the thought of something that's entirely romantic? Here goes: Custom quoted photo boxes at Olive & Fig in Historic Roswell.
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February 29, 2008 11:00 AM
Rebecca Wood Studio

You don't have to be a crunchy-granola girl to appreciate gorgeous, hand-thrown pottery. Add these bright serving pieces, bowls, and flowery, fruity cake plates to your table via a registry at Rebecca Wood's pottery studio in Athens. ... read more

March 4, 2008 10:34 AM
Champagne savers from Mary's Garden

Looking for an especially elegant way to preserve your bubbly? Step on over to Neiman Marcus and look for Mary's Garden Champagne Savers, stylish sterling silver crafted into incredibly natural twigs, stems and leaves.
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March 6, 2008 10:11 AM
The Handcrafted Wedding

If you're tired of bridal-out-of-the-box-itis, local Web site owner Lynn Dotson has your cure. Her site, The Handcrafted Wedding, gives you access to independent designers to customize everything from invites to your wedding jewelry and beyond.... read more

March 18, 2008 10:08 AM
Silhouettes from BeeGood Studio

If a monogram is too staid for you, try incorporating these mod silhouettes from BeeGood Studio into your wedding decor. Submit a photo and within 2-4 weeks you'll have a great way to personalize everything from your save-the-dates to pillows for your post-wedding home.
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March 26, 2008 10:16 AM
Cute signature wedding cake plate

Limetree is one of those stores where you pop in and you always find something. My find of the month? Brittney Cate signature platters$mdash;perfect for a shower gift, but also a hip twist on ye olde wedding guestbook.
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April 2, 2008 10:00 AM
Blush Bags—great gifts!

You've heard me joke before about the when-donkeys-fly hardships of trying to find just the right gifts for your wedding attendants. Bridesmaids are hard enough, but for groomsmen? Nigh impossible. But now the joke's on me, because Blush Bags are in town.
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April 3, 2008 10:50 AM
Try Blizzard's Bones for cute mint favors

Promote minty breath, find a wedding favor AND give to charity, all in the same cute package? Blizzard's Bones mints are just the ticket.
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April 15, 2008 8:16 AM
Green gifts from Reed La Plant

For the eco-conscious couple, a bridal registry is more than a list of possible gifts—it's a way to live and evangelize green in a tasteful way. But you can up that ante—with commissioned furniture by Reed La Plant.
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April 18, 2008 10:10 AM
Modern invites from JetKat Design

Looking for a modern suite of wedding stationery? Kate Zimmerman of serves up kicky ideas from her Athens studio.
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April 21, 2008 10:27 AM
Divine Chocolate favors

Mix-tape CDs (yes, I know I'm mixing eras here) are SO yesterday. Want to help someone while you celebrate? Here's a favor everyone can get behind: bars of Divine Chocolate, a fair-trade brand chocolate made from cocoa grown by Ghanian farmers.
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April 27, 2008 3:09 PM
Lush jewelry at Turq Bridal

Looking for a great necklace that will go with your dress as well as be perfectly wearable with your more usual attire? Want to lavish a little something on your bridesmaids? Then take a look at the fab handiwork of Turq Bridal.
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May 6, 2008 3:25 PM
Haute Hostess Aprons from Elizabeth Scokin

Who needs a party dress when you can glam it up in an apron? Check out Elizabeth Scokin's Haute Hostess Aprons, perfect for themed showers, bridesmaid gifts, or a sassy hostess or housewarming gift for a new bride.
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May 7, 2008 1:46 PM
You and your sweetie, sittin' in a tree

Okay—I'm one of those girls who would have eleventy-hundred sets of china if I were allowed to. But one with my hubby's and my initials carved into the tree design? Sweet.
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May 21, 2008 2:46 PM
Inexpensive chic: monogrammed wine bag and stopper

One of my favorite boutiques for gifts and just browsing (for myself, if truth be told) is Vivid, on the Decatur square (next to Starbucks). On a recent jaunt, I found a couple of items that put together make a sweet off-registry gift: monogrammed wine accoutrements for only $20 for the pair.
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June 10, 2008 10:10 AM
Painless framing with Real Memories

At some point you will come home from your showers, your wedding, and your honeymoon and be faced with that dreaded task: getting your photos from existing as little tiny pixels in your camera or computer to real, touchable framed pics in your house. And there's a neat site that makes that task absolutely painless.
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June 17, 2008 3:14 PM
Handmade Atlanta

I love Etsy.com, the go-to site for handmade loveliness. Yes, the wares run the gamut from professional and classic to downright kitschy. Do a search on "Atlanta" or "Georgia" in the main search area or in the "buy local" box and you'll get a wealth of results that either feature our fair city and state or directly support local artists (and sometimes local charities). Here are a few of my faves currently for sale.
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June 18, 2008 6:04 PM
Dress up your rehearsal dinner or shower with plates from My Clean Plate Club

It's not often I stumble upon the perfect gift. But these pretty-yet-practical melamine plates from My Clean Plate Club will rock your wedding, shower, or home, and here's why.
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June 22, 2008 10:00 AM
Princess Bubble (minus Prince Charming)

When "Princess Bubble" crossed my desk I wasn't sure what to think of it. The little book follows the adventures of Princess B as she journeys, prince-less, to acceptance that her life is great as it is and that she doesn't need a prince to be happy.
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June 26, 2008 10:53 AM
Avindy's lush jewelry

I fell in love with Avindy's jewelry last year. It evokes an incredibly physical response—no one who sees it can just look at it. You want to touch it, run it through your fingers, and pose with it (dangerous if it happens to be, um, on someone else's neck). The point is that it's addictively touchable—and with a special discount this week through July 4th, more affordable than ever.
... read more

June 28, 2008 10:32 AM
Green ideas for your wedding

Green is the new black. Or white, as in the case for brides. But a green wedding doesn't mean hemp dresses and wheatgrass cocktails. Here are a few great resources for your wedding, from invites to post-honeymoon home furnishings.
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July 1, 2008 2:00 PM
Garlands make great shower gifts

When I ran across The Nester in the blogosphere I paused. Here was a woman my age, with 3 kids, whose house looked amazing, who was a funny writer, and who I kept wishing lived in my town. (Partially so I could kidnap her and hold her ransom for her decorating savvy.) But when she started making these beautiful garlands, I knew I had to share her with the world.
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July 11, 2008 12:35 PM
Something new: handmade guestbooks and photo albums by Kristin Saegaert

White satin is lovely for a dress, but a bit bland for a guest book. So take a look at these handcrafted, hardbound albums by Kristin Saegaert.
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July 18, 2008 10:32 AM
Dress as art: Stephanie London's gown portraits

Is the fee to preserve and box up your dress worth it? It's a nice idea to save our dresses to pass down to a sister or a daughter. But there are more ways than one to preserve a memory. I like what artist Stephanie London does: paint portraits of the dress itself. Who needs a box in a closet when you can have art on the wall?
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July 24, 2008 3:24 PM
Local gifts (& favors) to welcome your guests

So I'm always on the lookout for fun things to put in welcome baskets. And when I was at the Peachtree Road Farmer's Market recently, I came across some great stuff, all from local vendors, that would perk up your welcome for out of town guests.
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July 28, 2008 1:40 PM