Those orange escort cards deserve the perfect reception setting and I think I’ve found just the one. This orange and white tent is fun yet refined – the perfect balance. Plus you know I love a good paper lantern, especially in bright color and especially in clusters of the same hue. These tables include the actual fruits and extend that pattern in the paper lanterns, also both orange and circular.

I also like the family-style reception tables. They give your wedding a more laidback, comfortable style. All around perfect for this week’s orange wedding.

I found this holiday gift idea in  Real Simple magazine and I love it. Make your own infused vodka. You can make any flavor you want and it is so simple to do! Put the fruits and vodka into little glass jars to make it both delicious and adorable. Giving this as a favor to guests could be time consuming and not necessarily appropriate for all of your guests, so incorporate it into your reception instead. You can change this holiday gift into a reception table centerpiece by hanging a number from the ribbon instead of a gift tag. Make a different flavor for each table. It’s cute, flavorful and a great ice breaker for any guests at the table that might not know each other. It also encourages your guests to mingle with guests at other tables to try the different flavors.

Infused Vodka Bottles

It only takes a week to prepare and would allow you to cut down the number of flowers in your centerpieces to make things a bit cheaper for those working on a wedding budget.

Even if all of your guests do not drink, these are great decorative pieces. Pick fruit, vegetable and bean flavors in the color scheme of your wedding. Make lemon, pineapple, mango, jalapeno, green pepper, and lime for a yellow and green summer wedding. Try cinnamon, vanilla, espresso, raspberry, cranberry, and cherry for an autumn or winter wedding.

Plus the leftovers would be nice to sample while opening all those wedding gifts the next day

Whether you’re having a cocktail hour, backyard gathering or a formal sit-down dinner, wine is a reception must-have. Champagne is a non-negotiable essential too. And if your friends and family are anything like mine, there will be cases of empty bottles by the end of the night. Since the bottles will likely be seen on tables, bars and in the hands of some guests all night, why not take a moment to remind your guests why they’re all here with customized bottle labels.

wine bottle labels

Just ask your invitation designer to put together an image using the same font, colors and style of your invitations (or try My Own Labels, which has an awesome assortment of custom wine labels).  Then stick the labels on the wine you were already planning on using for the reception. The personalized bottles are a great keepsake for you and your guests. It’s also an inexpensive way to add another custom element to your wedding. The custom bottles will look great on the tables at your reception or scattered on the buffet tables. Be sure to save a bottle to eat with the top of your cake on your first anniversary!

Not planning a wedding, but attending one soon? Step up your gift-giving game and create your own label for the bride and groom. It’s an easy way of making the traditional wine and glasses gift special, personalized and one the bride and groom won’t soon forget.