Having a rustic wedding? These adorable DIY favor bags are a cinch to make and they’re perfect for brides who don’t sew. These bags don’t require a sewing machine, or even a needle and thread.

Most of the fabrics we used were second-hand finds from local thrift shops, making the bags extremely economical. Fill them with goodies such as handmade caramels or chocolates – and you’ve got the perfect wedding favor!

Easy No-Sew Fabric Favor Bags Tutorial (Bags measure 8″H x 4″W)

Materials

• Cotton fabrics of your choice
• 3/8″ Fusible Tape (We used Heat’n Bond Hem Iron-On Adhesive)
• Pinking Shears
• Pencil or chalk
• Ruler
• iron

Starting along the straight edge of your fabric, fold your fabric so that the good side is on the inside.  The fold will be the bottom of your bag. It should measure 8 1/4″ H from the fold to the edge.  Measure 5″ where the top of your bag will be and draw a line with pencil or chalk; draw another line along the side as shown in photo.  If you are making several bags, keep measuring across your fabric.

Use pinking shears to cut the top portion of the fabric. If you used a pencil to create your lines, be sure to cut off the line.

Use scissors to cut the sides.

Now that your bags are cut out, press each bottom corner (right sides together). This is where you will start your fusible tape; pressing the corners ensures you won’t have any gaps at the bottom corner of the bags.

Open fabric, showing fabric right side up. Starting at the bottom where you just pressed, lay your fusible tape along both sides of the fabric, close to the edge but not over. (You don’t want your iron to touch the tape.)

Read the instructions on the fusible tape; it will tell you which side down to place the tape. Fold fabric and press each side according to the the directions on the package. We pressed the bag on both sides to ensure a good bond.

Turn your bags right side out. Poke out corners using a pencil or a ruler.

Iron seams.

Voila!

Use ribbon to tie the bag, or rip a piece of mismatched fabric to use as a tie. Fill with goodies!

For a more rustic look, use different vintage fabrics for each bag.

Organization is key to wedding planning. After all, guests should be aware of what’s going on, but not too aware if things go awry. A wedding program is a good starting point to keep your guests entertained, happy and informed throughout the ceremony.

Programs are an extension of your wedding stationery and a keepsake of your special day. A basic wedding program can include your names, wedding date, location, order of events and names of the wedding party (including officiants and parents). Depending on the type of ceremony, you can include the names of readings, poems or songs and even an explanation of parts of the ceremony. Programs are a great way to elaborate on rituals and traditions that your guests might not be familiar with.

You can also add directions to your reception, audience requests or why you chose the specific location or venue.

Feel free to add as much or as little detail as you like. Some thoughtful additions include the story of how you met; your engagement story; how you know the wedding party and what they mean to you; thank-you notes and tributes to loved ones. If you have many people to thank, a program is a great way to mention everyone – just in case you forget during the speeches.

There are lots of neat ideas to package all of that necessary information. For a warm, summer day, why not fashion your programs into fans for guests to keep cool? (Learn how to make them here and here.)

You can have your ushers hand out programs before the ceremony or have programs displayed in boxes, trays or on a table like this one:

You can make the program a traditional folding booklet or use fabric, kraft paper or cards of your choosing. These burlap programs are gorgeous! (Get the DIY here.)

You can incorporate your artistic abilities and show your creative side with hand drawn pictures and even cartoons, depending on how simple, humorous or romantic you would like it to look and sound.

You can have the programs made along with your custom wedding stationery or you can make your own programs. (Make sure you double check the spelling of everyone’s names and titles before you send them off to the printer!)

Programs should represent your style and story. If you enjoy writing, why not use programs as a way to elaborate on the important details of your wedding day? Knowing the back story will build interest for your guests – creating excitement for your guests.

Photo one: stephanielaursen.com; Photo two: stephanielaursen.com; Photo three: junkaholique.com; Photo four: junkaholique.com; Photo five: junkaholique.com; Photo six: justinwrightphoto.com; Photo seven: carolinetran.net; Photo eight: melissabaum.com; Photo nine: melissabaum.com; Photo ten:Intimate Weddings: Photo eleven: lilia.com; Photo twelve: Intimate Weddings: Photo thirteen: justinwrightphoto.com; Photo fourteen: justinwrightphoto.com.

Now more than ever, couples are jet setting to paradise to tie the knot on unspoiled sandy beaches. Along with walking barefoot toward your beloved, the perks of destination weddings are endless, yet some are still hesitant to fly south for their celebrations. Before you rule out your dream beach wedding, check out our lists of myths and put your worries to rest.

Myth: They are all the same!

Reality: Destination weddings have evolved far from their cookie-cutter formula of yesteryear. At Iberostar’s resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, you receive your own wedding planner to help navigate the details through packages or à la carte options. Iberostar offers a variety of hotel options to satisfying different clientele interests and budgets, all within the same complex that the wedding will be held.

Myth: Travel research takes too much time!

Reality: Travel companies such as Apple Vacations relieve you of tedious hours spent online searching for savings. With more than 40 years of vacation planning experience under their belt, their agents are able to bring the deals to you.

Myth: I have to organize travel for my guests!

Reality: Surprisingly, organizing wedding travel can be easy. You and your guests will love the convenience of Apple Vacation’s Group-Ease Program, which makes booking groups of ten or more passengers a breeze! All your guests can book individually and still save using your group’s promotional code. Plus, your guests will love the added convenience of having their vacation all-inclusive!

Myth: Too expensive!

Reality: Destination weddings at all-inclusive resorts are generally more affordable than traditional weddings at home. IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts offers a tier of wedding packages ranging from just $999 to $2,499.

Myth: I won’t receive individual attention!

Reality: While many resort chains focus more on the cash than the couple, you’re guaranteed to be top priority at Iberostar’s luxurious locales, as they only book one wedding per day to ensure that your wedding is their priority.

Myth: What about gifts?

Reality: Registering for additions to your honeymoon itinerary is an increasing trend and getting married in an exotic destination lets you start cashing in on wedding gifts that very night. Check out Apple’s online honeymoon registry and register through Apple Vacations for memorable Iberostar activities such as swimming with dolphins and romantic dinners on the beach or indulgent add-ons like celebratory Champagne and massages in the luxurious spa.

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Looking for a creative way to display your Instagram photos? Maybe you have heaps of Instagram photos from your wedding on your computer. Why not make photo blocks out of them?

You could even use photos of you and your sweetheart and display them at your wedding.

I  have mine displayed on my fireplace mantle. I plan to make a bunch as gifts. So fun!

Here’s how to make them:

You will need:

• Square wooden blocks. Mine are approximately 4.5cm x 4.5cm. I purchased mine second-hand at Value Village. You can also buy them on Etsy.
• Mod Podge
• Judikins Diamond Glaze
• Acrylic Paint
• Glue (Use one that is suited to photo paper)
• paint brushes
• Corner Punch, Rounder(optional)
• Photo paper

Size your photos to 2 x 2 inches and print them on photo paper. Cut out each photo.

Use a corner punch to round the corners of your photo if you like this look.

Adhere your photo to the block using photo-friendly glue.

Using acrylic paint, paint the edges of the block.

Using the dry brush technique (this requires removing most of the paint off of your brush), apply paint to edges of photo.

Let dry. Coat photo with Mod Podge.

Once Mod Podge is dry, apply a couple of drops of Diamond Glaze to the photo. Use a paint brush to coat the photo, as well as the edges. This will give a nice, glossy finish to your photo block.

Let dry. That’s it!

If there is any place that epitomizes romance and love it’s Paris, France. With its stunning architecture, old-world charm, history and elegant style, Paris is a dream destination for many couples.

When

No matter what your style, Kimberley Petyt author of the forthcoming book The Paris Wedding and owner of parisian events, says Paris is a beautiful place for a wedding, especially in early spring.

“Everything is in flower, the city is waking up , the days are getting longer and it’s just a really beautiful time to be in Paris,” she says. “Whether your style is soft and romantic or more hip and downtown, there’s a Paris wedding location for you, from private chapels to galleries to quiet gardens.”

How

Although it may sound dreamy, getting married in Paris might not be the fairytale you imagine. There are quite a few legal requirements and it takes more than a simple phone call to the French embassy.

The process takes some organization and documentation on your part. You will need: to have have lived in France (near the proposed wedding location) for a minimum of 40 consecutive days; two pieces of identification that proved you lived there, such as a lease, utility bill or French social security card; required documents presented to the city hall where you plan to get married, and information on your witnesses. (Go here for the entire list.)

Petyt says many of her clients have a civil ceremony in their home country then a symbolic ceremony in Paris to cut down on the paper work.

Where

In terms of picking a spot for a Paris wedding, The Eiffel Tower may seem like the quintessential icon, as well a Notre Dame Cathedral, but because they are public national monuments they are not often rented out for private occasions. You will, of course, be able to take breathtaking photos near these landmarks; however, a wedding on top of the Eiffel Tower or inside a historical cathedral may not be in the cards. There are many beautiful spots in Paris to choose from that aren’t crowd-filled monuments.

You will have to decide what type of ceremony you would like to have in Paris.

A civil ceremony–legally binding–usually takes place at town hall and is performed by the mayor or legal representative. You can have the civil ceremony in France or your home country. Keep in mind that France is a traditional Catholic country and many parishes are rather traditional and rooted in their communities. A symbolic ceremony is a symbolic renewal of vows after an official civil or Catholic ceremony.

To be married in a Catholic church in France you need: a letter from your home parish priest and Bishop, Baptism and Confirmation certificates and a marriage certificate from your civil ceremony.

Petyt suggests planning  3-4 months in advance for a small elopement and 6 months to a year for a larger wedding.

A small Paris wedding with less than 20 people can cost less than an extravagant at-home wedding, but trying to make it happen for less than $1,000 is a little unrealistic. Additional costs and taxes you may not find in North America may creep up as well. Petyt says the fees for the paper work cost up to 350 euros not including taxes and social charges.

Don’t let the process discourage you. Your consulate–and wedding planner–are there to help you through each step of the way. Weddings take a bit of work no matter where you go, so if your heart is set on Paris, by all means, go for it!

These couples did:

Jammie and David

Bobby and Lindsey

Jessica and Timothy

 Tiffany and Brian

 Arteida and Barry

Genesis and Kevin

 Blair and Judson

Photo One: Genesis and Kevin’s real wedding in Paris photographed by Amy and Stuart Photography; Photo Two: intimateweddings.com; PhotoThree: oneandonlyparisphotography.com; Photo Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten: intimateweddings.com