Save the Date, NY-Style
The Idea: When Scottish couple Wendy Jack and Kenneth Aitchison decided on New York City as the location for their intimate destination wedding, they wanted a fun and stylish way to get the word out to their 15 guests. Inspired by the city's energy and imagery, the couple sent guests these elaborate invitations by Robin K Design and Tara DeLeeuw of Oh So Fabulous!: yellow boxes tied with a black-and-white checkered ribbon and a taxicab charm. They also included a pamphlet filled with things to see and do while in the Big Apple.
Why We Love It: Invitations that emphasize your wedding location can help set the tone for things to come—and get guests excited about what's in store.
Treat Their Feet
The Idea: The clever wedding planners at New York–based Oh So Fabulous! came up with these adorable pink takeout boxes filled with foot-soak fizzies for all the ladies to take home—the tags, by Robin K Design, read, "Thank you for dancing all night with us…go home and soak your tired feet!" Both the bride's and groom's families love to dance, so it was a saving grace for the women who were in heels all night.
Why We Love It: Guests expect to find a favor or token of thanks at their place settings, but a thoughtful gift on the way out the door adds a special touch.
Cool Candles
The Idea: Melanie Sabarre and Paul Evers wanted to tie in the New York feel of their wedding, held at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in April. So they came up with this fun idea: apple-shape candles by waxwizard.com with attached escort cards in the shape of leaves. Guests got to keep the candles as favors.
Why We Love It: Having escort cards double as favors is a great money-saver, and incorporating apples into the wedding is a subtly sweet way to celebrate an N.Y.C. celebration.
Comfort Food
The Idea: Nothing warms a belly better than hot chocolate and warm gourmet cookies, which are exactly what guests were given at the end of one December wedding. Paper bags were on hand for guests to safely transport their selection home. When the valet brought their cars around moments later, guests found velvet pouches filled with hot-cider packets and cinnamon sticks on the seats. "Valet favors add a special touch to the end of the evening," says Christy Stoehr of Oh So Fabulous! "Guests love finding something waiting for them in their cars."
Why We Love It: Cookie buffets are a new, unique alternative to the increasingly popular candy buffets—and a surprise treat at the end of the night is a great alternative, or addition to, traditional favors.
NY State of Mind
The Idea: For Wendy Jack and Kenneth Aitchison's New York City–theme reception, held at 212 Restaurant & Bar in Manhattan, centerpieces of red gerbera daises and carnations designed by Giovanna Cicerchia of Oh So Fabulous! were placed in kitschy metallic taxicabs. As favors, each guest received a red photo album and a gift certificate to have their photos developed.
Why We Love It: Centerpieces and favors don't have to be expensive to be stunning or appreciated by guests—carnations and gerbera daises can look elegant when densely bunched together; the couple bought the photo albums at a local drugstore in their hometown for half the price of those they found on the Internet.
