This project is SO darling!!! It also looks amazingly easy, and you could use these for so many different things… even place cards. I just adore the entire thing from the vintage tea cups to the antique flatware. So sweet! After you take a peek at the finished product, just head on over to Intimate Weddings (click here) to take a look at the instructions.

Photo from Intimate Weddings

Well, now that clutch has gone to print, I am taking a bit of a media break since I have basically lived with my computer by my side. So, I am enjoying a week of no phone/no internet, but I still want you to have pretty things to look at! So, enjoy my Spring Blogiday postings, which are repostings of oldies but goodies. Oh, and don’t forget to register for Bliss, a fine wedding fair on April 1st by clicking HERE.

I came across these little cuties on Inspired Bride, and they make such darling little favors for a fall or winter wedding! If you are in search of a recipe for the cocoa, just click here to get Inspired Bride’s own version of the treat… your guests are sure to thank you and use these adorable gifts when the mood for a hot drink (or the need for a chocolate fix) arises.

What You’ll Need:
Plastic Vials with Metal Caps (ours are from SKS Bottle – the 40ml size)
Paper Wrap, Measuring 2″ x 6″ (our design is available here in PDF form)
Ribbon, in Two Different Widths (ours are 2″ and ½”)
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun and Glue
Double Stick Tape
Optional Favor Tag (ours is available here in PDF form) and Hole Punch

STEP ONE: Fill three plastic vials with cocoa mix (same flavor, or different varieties). Stack them horizontally in a pyramid formation and hold the ends tight to keep them together.

STEP TWO: Attach a strip of double stick tape to one end of the paper wrap, and attach it to the top of the vial at the top of the pyramid. Wrap the paper strip around the pyramid of vials until both ends meet and overlap. Attach a strip of double stick tape to the back of the end that is not attached to the vials. Press that end onto the area where the wrap overlaps to secure.

STEP THREE: Cut a length of your thicker ribbon that is approximately 6″ long. Attach the end of the ribbon to the paper wrap with a small dot of hot glue near the paper wrap’s seam. Wrap the ribbon around the pyramid and secure the other end with another small dot of glue.

STEP FOUR: Face the side of the pyramid with the wrap and ribbon seam down. This will now be your bottom side. Cut a length of your thinner ribbon to about 8″ long. Fold it in half to find the center and put a dot of hot glue on it. Quickly attach the ribbon to one of the sides of the pyramid that is not the bottom seam side. All of the ribbon but the center point should be free to move around.

STEP FIVE: This step is optional – only worry about this if you plan on adding a note tag. Cut out the tag out and use a hole punch to create a space to feed one side of the thinner ribbon through.

STEP SIX: Finish your favor off by tying ribbon into a bow.

Again, visit Inspired Bride if you get the chance! The posting and photos come from them, and there are more goodies on their site if you click here and check them out.

If you missed my previous post on my press trip to Cleveland, just click here. I had a wonderful time scouring the city with girls from all over the USA. It was fun to hop on the plane alone and make new friends while exploring a city that I had never visited before. Ok, on to the posting…

What girl doesn’t love chocolate? Ok, I know that there are a select few of you for sure, but I think that those who are not chocolate lovers are surely in the minority. If you aren’t a lover of the confection, then maybe a visit to Lilly Handmade Chocolates will change your mind. My recent visit took me to the store of Amanda & Joshua Montague, where Amanda treated us to come of her delectables… so delicious! Enjoy this little tour of her shop that I enjoyed on my recent trip to Cleveland.

The outside of Lilly Handmade Chocolates is cute, and Amanda is there to greet you as you come in the store. I love it when shop owners are easily accessible to their patrons.

How cute … don’t worry, the chocolates are not within easy reach for licking.

Such temptations …

This is what we got to sample. The dark chocolate had sugared flower petals on the top … so delicious! The other was sweet and crunchy. I really enjoyed what Amanda picked for us to sample.

For those who are wondering, yes she does ship, and yes she does wedding favors!

Amanda has a “Life is Sweet” tattoo … and the box of chocolates mimics those she makes.

Special thanks goes out again to Positively Cleveland for a wonderful experience in Cleveland, and if you are ever there, be sure to visit Lilly Handmade Chocolates. PS. guys… these chocolates would be a fantastic idea to have delivered to your sweetie for Valentine’s Day!

Don’t forget that our early registration for Bliss, a fine wedding fair ends on Valentine’s Day, too! Click HERE to check it out… it’s such a wonderful event for Central VA brides.

For the first 12 days of December, I am reposting my personal favorite photography postings. There are just so many that deserve attention once again … and these postings are not only getting attention, but they are getting a prize. That’s right! On December 13th, voting will begin to determine the best posting of 2011.

The photographer who submitted the winning posting will receive a $50 gift certificate to Gerald’s in Wyndhurst (what a great way to take a break and have a nice meal out during the holidays!). The couple featured in the winning posting will receive a $50 gift certificate to Charley’s in Lynchburg and also a $25 gift card to Starbucks … what a great date night!

So, whether you vote for the couple that speaks most to you and has that special spark, you root for the couple that has the most creativity or you even choose your favorite based on whose photography most aligns with your personal style, take a moment each day to look at the postings so that you can help us determine Hill City Bride’s winning couple and photographer.

I chose this wedding because it had so many unique elements, and it seems like it was a celebration where the guests (and bride and groom!) were really able to relax and just have fun! Without further due, here is today’s favorite:

I love it when a wedding incorporates fun! It makes for such a memorable time for the guests when everyone gets to just relax and let their hair down after the ceremony. Jonathan and Samuelle had a “Family Reunion” type of theme for their reception … what an appropriate theme when everyone is traveling far and wide to come together and celebrate!

This wedding was near Fredericksburg and was captured by Sabrena Deal of S Carter Studios. I love the flair for fun in these images. The bride even gave crab picking lessons at the reception, and guests were donned with t-shirts to change into so they would not get messy … how thoughtful! Attendees were also able to have the use of canoes to explore the river at their leisure. To cap off some of the fun, the guests were given playing cards as favors, and the bride and groom joined in to play some high stake games.

I love the fact that Jonathan and Samuelle were so attainable to and real with their wedding guests at their August wedding. Famous Dave’s BBQ and Rita’s even helped to cater the event. Enjoy this fun set of photos!

Thank you again, Sabrena, for sharing these with us. If you would like to take a peek at S Carter Studios‘ blog posting on this wedding, just click here.

I found these little cuties on a site called Mint Design Blog, and they are a perfect way to present tiny bundles of birdseed for throwing on the couple as they exit in wedded bliss. Just follow the link to get full instructions on how to construct these small bags along with a download for the tags … so cute! Just click HERE to go straight to Mint‘s original posting.