SUGAR SUGAR

If you are anything like me when it comes to weddings it's all about the details. It's those extra special touches that you add to your wedding that make it yours and nobody else's. So when it comes to having a coffee station at your wedding it's not just about making sure there is a barista and some coffee it's the finer things that make it special like having thought about the sugar.

Sugar doesn't just need to be it's usual self in a bowl or little packets of a well-known brand. You design your sugar so that it suits your wedding.

The easiest way to make your sugar noticeable is by using a unique container to display it. Choose something that fits in with your wedding. It can be a glass jar or vase, a box or even just bring your sugar container from home to add something quirky. You can find any container that lends itself to your theme colour. I love the idea of using a jam jar and then just adding a sticker label. It looks so cute.

 

The other option for making your sugar stand out is to change the structure of the sugar itself and this doesn't just have to be the traditional cube of sugar anymore. Sugar comes in a multitude of shapes; triangles, hearts, flowers, butterflies puzzle pieces and even skulls if you are going for a Rockabilly or Mexican style wedding. There is also the option of sugar sticks/ rock candy, which have made a big come back. These look gorgeous on display and they come in an array of colours, which is perfect if you want the sugar to fit in with your wedding colours.

 

But your creativity with sugar need not end at just shape and colour, don't forget flavour can also play a role. 

I love these exotic sugar flavours and they look great in these jars, but you can take it one step further and colour the sugar to match the flavour and offer guests a glass tube of sugar that is just one or two teaspoons.

Last but not least, you can forget all the other fancy sugar and opt for the packet, but there is no need to loose originality. Get the packets printed with sweet sayings, your names or monogram.

And there you have it some great sugary ideas, now it's just a question of one sugar or two.

THE ART OF COFFEE

When you think about including coffee in your wedding, you are probably thinking of having it there in it's traditional form as a steaming cup of delicious brew. But don't box coffee too soon, it's a versatile substance that can add far more to your wedding than just it's aromatic flavour. It can also work as decor and as this specific blog will talk about, decor using the coffee stain. It's not just an annoying thing that happens in the morning to your important documents, the coffee ring can also be art.

The simplest use of the coffee ring stain at your wedding is to use the stain for your guests' name setting. It creates such a subtle look and a personal touch with the handwritten names and the best part is how cost effective it is. No need to waste loads of money on expensive designed stationary, all you need is a mug some coffee and a pen. It's that simple. Brew a relatively strong cup of coffee, put it in a saucer or bowl, dip the bottom of your cup in the coffee (make sure you get the coffee right round the bottom edge of the cup) press the bottom of the cup onto a piece of paper with even pressure and voile you have a coffee ring. More porous paper of course makes more effective stains. You can make small coaster size versions that you can place at each setting or if you are really adventurous you could have a paper runner with all the names, but you could even use material instead for this, coffee will stain white cloth just as well. If you are going to do the coaster size ones think of actually making them into proper coasters people can use. Then your name settings can double up as your guest favors.

What you can also use the coffee stains for is your guest book. You could either have a large piece of paper with coffee rings that each guest can write their names and leave a note or you could even have a book filled with coffee ring stained pages. It adds a different meaning to a coffee table book.

Another fun use for the coffee ring is to create a backdrop of coffee stains. This could go behind your main table, hang behind the bar or can even work as your backdrop for your photo booth. To add to this, a cute idea could be to write short stories and phrases in the different rings highlighting the big and the small moments in your relationship with your fiance.

If you are worried about your whole wedding smelling of coffee, then a simple solution is to cheat your coffee stain by finding an image on the internet and just printing the stains. Although not as authentic as the real DIY task, it creates the same effect in a practical way.

So if you weren't planning to drink coffee at your wedding think seriously about including it in your decor. It's cost effective, creative and unique.

THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN THE MARRIAGE OF CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE

If you are wanting to give your guests wedding favors and are looking for something inexpensive, then perhaps consider gifting them with delicious chocolate covered coffee beans. I'm a strong believer in giving wedding favours to your guests as a way of thanking them not only for being a part of making your big day extra special, but also because of the money they are likely to have invested in your wedding. Remember they have probably been involved in bachelor/ette parties, which often require contributions and gifts, then there is the wedding gift which is usually an expensive item and on top of that it often involves a new outfit and if your wedding is out of town, accommodation and travel costs. It therefore does only seem fair to give them a small something in appreciation of all they have done to be at your wedding.

Coffee beans covered in chocolate make an excellent wedding favor. Not only are they an inexpensive gift, but they are small and can be packed into a multitude of packaging. This means you can place them on each place setting without having a bulky item destroying your well thought out table decor. It also saves you from having to find another area and table to pack the gifts.

The great thing about the chocolate coffee bean is that you can really pack them in whatever container fits the feel of your wedding. So if you are going rustic you can have little hessian bags, modern maybe a cardboard sleeve, quirky might inspire a glass jar, elegant could mean a little box or traditional might have you using a plastic container. When it comes to packaging the choices seem somewhat endless and that's perfect as it allows you to have a gift that blends in with your wedding.

You can also add fun thank you tags to your gifts which can really add that personal touch that people love and makes your wedding memorable.

The fact that chocolate coffee beans are also really delicious cannot be ignored and your guests will go home with gifts they will actually enjoy instead of some pointless item they'll end up throwing away.

If you are wanting to give a gift to your guests then really consider the chocolate covered coffee bean. they are versatile in their presentation, delicious in taste and a consumable item that won't go to waste.