The sweet sap is a flowin’ here in the sugarbushes of Ontario, Canada, which means there is no better time to discuss the merits of mighty maple syrup.

Not only is maple syrup fantastic on pancakes, waffles and perfect for baked goods – it also happens to make the perfect wedding favor!

Before we give you heaps of favor inspiration, let’s learn a little about this delightful treat:

• Did you know that it takes between 20 and 50 litres of sap (depending on its concentration) to make one litre of syrup? No wonder it’s pricier than pancake syrup!
• It takes 30-40 years before a maple is ready to be tapped. Each tree can support between one and three taps, depending on its trunk diameter. The average maple tree will produce 35 to 50 litres of sap per season.
• Maples can continue to be tapped for sap until they are over 100 years old.

Now for some eye candy! Love these for a rustic wedding:

Your guests will snatch these up in a hurry!

Fabulous display, don’t you think?

You can’t go wrong with maple sugar.

Why not make your own maple walnut fudge? Recipe here.

Photo One: Andrew Mark; Photo Two: Weddingbells; Photo Three: Brides of Oklahoma; Photo Four: 100LayerCake ; Photo Five: Timber Loge Wedding Blog; Photo Six: Intimate Weddings

Chances are, if your groom is like most guys, his experience with tuxedos is pretty limited. Maybe he’s worn one once or twice – or maybe a handful of times, but his tuxedo etiquette skills are pretty limited. And yours? You’re probably not far behind.

With a plethora of formal wear fashion information constantly being thrown in your face, from red carpet reporters, to television commercials and magazine ads, to the new style fads emerging each and every day – you and your hubby-to-be can be left scratching your heads. What kind of tuxedos will work for your wedding day, you wonder.

Have no fear! Today we’re all about tuxedo etiquette 101!

First, it is necessary to decide the theme and style of your wedding.  Are you having a formal evening affair?  A daytime, country-chic or vintage wedding?  A garden soiree?  A summer or festive outdoor event?  The answer to those questions will help dictate what your man and his wedding party will don on the big day.

If your wedding is extremely formal and you are requesting it be a Black Tie event, tuxedos are a must.  Black Tie is a formal dress code that consists of the traditional tuxedo package including a black dinner jacket and matching trousers, a white formal shirt, a black bow tie, a cummerbund or  black Windsor if preferred, and black formal shoes.  In warmer months or tropical climates, a white dinner jacket may be substituted and the cummerbund is the preferred waist covering.

At a Black Tie Optional wedding, a tuxedo or dinner jacket may be worn, but is not required.  Proper dressy attire such as a tuxedo or a suit (not a sport coat), is necessary for your groom and his party.  Colored vests and ties are a great way to coordinate the groomsmen’s attire with the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Recently, more couples are opting for fun and simple weddings with a touch of elegance, rather than the formal and traditional weddings of the previous generation.   For these types of daytime, contemporary, less formal, summer or destination weddings, you have a little more leniency when it comes to the formal wear.  Cutaways, morning coats, different colored tuxedos, jacketless tuxedos, light colored suits, or even linen pants paired with white shirts are all fair game.

For more tuxedo etiquette information, or to rent any of these formal wear styles for your wedding day, visit Jos A. Bank.

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Deciding on a seating plan for your wedding reception is never an easy task. But if you’re looking for a more stress-free option for your seating and a chance to spend a quiet, intimate moment at dinner with your husband then a “sweetheart table” may be for you.

A sweetheart table allows for the bride and groom to sit at their own private table facing the guests. This lets them see all of the action and be in close proximity to the wedding party and family while spending an extra little moment alone.

You can also get creative and express your personality as a couple in how you decorate your table; you can make it match your theme or use it to make a completely separate statement. The table should be placed in clear view, for example, on or near the dance floor, stage or cake table. Some brides choose to have the table elevated or under its own canopy to make sure they shine in the spotlight, while others who don’t to be the centre of attention opt for something more subtle.

This couple chose to have their sweetheart table elevated above their guests in a tree for their rustic wedding:

Deciding whether or not to have a head table or sweetheart table can be a delicate choice. Some couples prefer spending the meal with their wedding party by their side and being able to talk to friends and family. For a more intimate set up, why not have just the Maid of Honour and Best Man sit with you and let the rest of the wedding party sit with their significant others and friends?

No matter what your seating situation, you may still want your guests to know that your seats are specially reserved. Try a “Mr. and Mrs.” sign or garland with a sweet “Just Married” message.

Photo One:Frolic Storytelling; Photo Two: blog.ryanpricephoto.com; Photo Three: thefoundblog.com; Photo Four: thefoundblog.com; Photo Five: thefoundblog.com; Photo Six: kellysweet.com; Photo Seven: ryanrayphoto.com; Photo Eight: iamchasingbaby.com; Photo Nine: bellethemagazine.com; Photo Ten: stonecrandall.com; Photo Eleven: stonecrandall.com; Photo Twelve: jennifereileen.com; Photo Thirteen; jennifereileen.com; Photo Fourteen: josevillablog.com; Photo Fifteen: heartloveweddings.com; Photo Sixteen: blog.theflowerlab.com

Candy coated cashews. Is there a more perfect edible DIY wedding favor?

Whip up a big batch in no time and serve them up in jars, cello bags or paper cones. Just be careful: they are highly addictive! You’ve been warned:)

If you don’t like cashews (is that even possible?) you could use pecans or walnuts.

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Dump mixture into a Ziploc bag. Set aside.

Place egg whites and vanilla in a small bowl and whisk until frothy. I used a stick blender.

 

Pour cashews into egg mixture.

 

Stir nuts until evenly coated.

 

Dump cashews into bag containing sugar mixture.

 

Shake until nuts are coated.

 

Spoon cashews onto a greased baking sheet. (Make sure you grease it well or the nuts will stick!)

 

Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

 

Once the nuts have cooled, place them in tins, jars or bags and give out as favors at your wedding! Perfection!

 

Booking any major vacation can be stressful, but booking your honeymoon can be even more stressful because it’s the beginning of your new life together. To book the honeymoon of your dreams with the least amount of stress, follow these seven tips provided by Andrew Marino, CEO of HoneymoonPixie.com, an industry leader in providing honeymoon gift registries for engaged couples:

1. Relax Your Expectations: Don’t get so caught up in the pomp and circumstance of the honeymoon that you forget why you’re on it – to spend time together as a newlywed couple. You’ll have many more vacations to come, so don’t put so much pressure on your honeymoon that you forget to enjoy it.

2. Plan Ahead: Be sure to research up-to-date resources (always check the date of online articles and copyright of travel guides) and give yourself at least six months to plan the honeymoon of your dreams, even if that means taking it a couple of months after your wedding.

3. Use a Honeymoon Registry: If money is a concern for your honeymoon, or if you just prefer a memorable honeymoon experience to a kitchen full of unused appliances, set up a honeymoon registry. This type of registry will allow your guests to purchase honeymoon upgrades and activities for you as wedding gifts. View these sample registries for inspiration!

4. Broadcast your status: It’s tempting to do all online bookings, but you can actually get more help and better deals when you call directly. Tell the employee that you’re speaking with that you’ll be on your honeymoon and you might even get some upgrades or discounts.

5. Talk with a travel agent: Talking with a travel agent doesn’t mean you’re obligated to use one. However, if you even think you’ll want help planning your honeymoon, call a few travel agents who specialize in honeymoons to see how they might be able to help you. You might be surprised and decide to use travel agent services to take some of the planning load off you and your fiancé.

6. Check out honeymoon-planning timelines: Honeymoon planning timelines can help you know what and when to book for your honeymoon. These timelines are particularly helpful if you’ve never planned a major vacation. Contact HoneymoonPixie.comfor a free copy of their detailed honeymoon planning timeline.

7. Set a careful budget: The number one cause of honeymoon-related stress is money. Don’t rack up credit card debt to go on a honeymoon. Budget carefully, shop for deals, and be sure to track your budget every time you spend money for your honeymoon. A cruise or an all-inclusive resort provides all your lodging, meals, and entertainment at a fixed price, making it easier to budget your expenditures.

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