Posts Tagged ‘keepsakes’
One of the most challenging and time-consuming tasks for a couple-to-be is settling on a seating arrangement for their reception. Especially if you have an extensive guest list, there are sure to be some people who simply can’t sit next to one another. Not to mention the fact that people want to be seated close to the bride and groom, so you will inevitably have to hurt some feelings.
The best way to ensure that your careful planning for the seating arrangement doesn’t go to waste is by putting place card holders at each table. This lets everyone know where they will be seated and eliminates the need for hosts or the confusion that will inevitably ensue with open seating. Not to mention the fact that place card holders can double as wedding favors. Also be sure to set up a couple of extra tables, just in case you overlooked some people or guests attend without sending in their RSVP.
In our consumer-based society, the personal touch that gifts used to carry has been lost. Traditionally, keepsake gifts such as jewelry, art and antiques were passed on through generations and became treasured family heirlooms. Today, many people would see an antique gift as a sign of frugality and laziness on the part of the gift giver.
My family has tried to maintain a sense of community and heritage by preserving our family heirlooms and working to create new ones. In order to facilitate this process, certain gift-giving holidays are designated as “keepsake holidays” in our family. On these occasions, you are not allowed to give a gift that you bought at a retailer. Instead, it must be an heirloom or something original and handmade, such as a photograph or piece of artwork.
Special occasion keepsakes don’t always have to be made of glass, silver, ceramic, plastic, or cloth. In keeping with today’s ecological campaigns about minimalism and reducing clutter and waste, it seems a better, more realistic idea to give away edibles and beneficial items during weddings, parties, reunions, and other momentous happenings.
A few sensible couples have already put this in practice. Rather than have an oversized cake made for the grand event, one newlywed pair opted for several little cakes which they then presented as wedding favors to guests and loved ones. The petite cakes were packaged in cute cartons that carried the colors and motif of the bridal entourage, as well as a personal message from the husband and wife. Of course, the recipients of the boxed cakes were thrilled with their booty and went home with smiles on their faces.
Another couple contributed to the Earth’s cause when they tied the knot. They did this by giving everyone bookmarkers made of recycled paper. More significant though was the message in the keepsake which stated that a mahogany tree has been planted in the name of each guest/recipient, and that this move will benefit more than just a community in the years to come.
I have worn some really ugly bridesmaid dresses, but the last wedding I was in was the worst. Belinda was getting married, and I was her maid of honor. We had been best friends since we were in nappies, and I would do anything for her. That includes wearing the most hideous dress I had ever laid eyes on. The thing was horrible. First off the colors included cotton-candy pink, baby blue and lemon yellow. Some could have mistaken me for an Easter egg! The layered-chiffon monstrosity was ruffled around the neck and on the trim, and had a gigantic bow at the waist. Even worse all the bridesmaids had to wear white stockings with the dress. Not only did I look like an Easter egg, but I looked like a fat Easter egg.
The only thing that got me through the entire production was the thought of the expensive bridesmaid gifts I knew Belinda would give us. I participated in the wedding because I loved my best bud, but I’ll tell you what—the diamond necklace she gave me didn’t hurt.
When my siblings and I were little my parents were obsessive about chronicling our development. Although this recording of our histories has continued to this day, it was most fervent in our early years. Our home is littered with childhood portraits and our own original creations.
Since I was the first child, there are a particularly high number of baby keepsakes of mine. My parents had a replica of my first shoe forged out of copper; it still sits on the bookshelf in their home. They also keep a set of handprints that I made in clay throughout the years, so that they can sentimentally remember my childhood.