Pine trees, branches, and boughs are perfect details to add to a winter wedding. As with any detail, it should be just that, a small touch that you can add throughout the decor of your wedding to add a festive and warm feeling.

Pine detailing in bouquets and boutonnieres are subtle ways to tie together this look.

Pine incorporated into centerpieces can be beautiful as well. I love different kinds of pine used as accents in the arrangements.

You can also make centerpieces just by using branches of pine too. Adding candles makes a centerpiece like this look more complete.

Pine boughs are another simple design that can add more of a festive feel to your space.

I absolutely love the idea of small pine branches being used as escort cards. If you’re getting married in a forested area these would be free and easy to find. Making nice tags to attach can make this a vintage inspired or more modern look.

You could use pine as a wreath to dress up your wedding favors.

Pine tree saplings are a wonderful favor idea too. I love this idea! (Tree Beginnings, one of our sponsors, sells tree saplings here.) They’re a favor your guests will actually keep after your wedding and your guests will have a reminder of your special day each time they look at their tree growing.

Pine decor can be tied through to your paper products as well. These pine stamps would be great for DIY wedding invites and/or signage too.

You can see that there are lots of different ways to be creative with pine decor for your wedding. Getting married around the holidays makes pine boughs, wreaths, tress and trimmings all widely available and more affordable than in other seasons. Pine elements are a great detail to add to whatever style of wedding you’re already having to show the season and add festive tones to your decor.

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Rebekah is a freelance writer and wedding stylist and designer, she owns the company A & B Creative. She splits her time designing between California and Oregon, read her blog.

I hunted high and low for a maple walnut fudge recipe – and this one is fantastic. The key to making this maple walnut fudge extra awesome, is to use fresh walnuts. I bought a big honking bag of walnuts at Costco and I keep them in my fridge. They are, hands down, the best walnuts I’ve tasted. They really make this fudge delish!

Unlike the easy homemade fudge favors recipe, this recipe might be a wee bit tricky for first time fudge makers – but please, don’t let this put you off from making it. Just make sure you have an accurate candy thermometer and don’t get too impatient with the process.

This fudge would be a perfect addition to a fudge station at your wedding. Or simply cut into squares and place inside a favor box. This recipe yields 36 squares or 1 1/4 pounds of fudge.

Ingredients for Maple Walnut Fudge

4 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup genuine maple syrup

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups of miniature marshmallows

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (you could also use pecans)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gather your ingredients.

Line pans with waxed paper.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, maple syrup, milk and mini marshmallows.

Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally until a candy or digital thermometer reaches 225-235 degrees F. (I took mine off the heat at 225 degrees) or until it forms a soft ball when a little of the mixture is dropped into cold water.

Remove from heat. Let cool to 115 degrees F. Add nuts and vanilla extract. Mix at medium speed with an electric mixer until the mixture loses its gloss and starts to harden around the edges of the saucepan. Knowing exactly when to stop mixing is the trickiest part of the process. If you wait too long  the mixture will be too difficult to pour.

Pour mixture into lined baking pans.

Place in fridge for two hours. Remove from pan and cut as desired.

Happy Holidays from all of us at IW!

Photo: Our dog Rosie, January 2011. Look at all that snow!!

Honoring loved ones who have passed away is an important wedding day detail for many couples. Whether its a display of photographs, candles or the written word, many couples find it essential to remember friends and family who are deceased.

If you’re getting married outdoors, making a memorial by hanging photos of your loved ones on a tree lets guests also view and pay tribute to them.

You could also attach photos to a clothesline near the guest book where each guest will have a moment to view photos of those who couldn’t be there that day.

Another option is having a table with a small sign where you write something special about your loved ones.

Making a note in your wedding program about your loved ones is another sweet way to honor them.

You can represent your missing loved ones in your attire as well. Locket boutonnieres are so sweet and are an amazing keepsake for after the wedding as well.

Brides can incorporate photo charms into their bouquets too, another cherished keepsake item.

If you’re having a destination or beach wedding I love the idea of putting a flower lei into the sea in remembrance of a loved one. The sign is especially touching. If you are going to put leis into the ocean please make sure you remove the string so that fish do not get caught in them.

If you want to be more symbolic in your remembrance, you could always incorporate some of your loved ones’ favorite flowers, foods, or songs. Knowing that an important friend or family member can’t be there to share your special day with you is heartbreaking, but when you honor them in your own way you’re including them and making sure that they are with you in spirit.

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Rebekah is a wedding and event stylist and designer and owns the company A & B Creative. Read her blog.

My mother-in-law emailed me this easy homemade fudge recipe a few days ago, and given that fudge makes a delightful Christmas gift (not to mention, wedding favor!), I gave it a whirl. Super yum! And honestly, if you can melt chocolate, you can make this fudge. You don’t even need a candy thermometer.

If you are giving these as DIY favors, simply place two or three pieces inside a favor box, wrap with a ribbon or baker’s twine and add a thank-you tag. (If you love this, check out our Candy Cane Fudge and Maple Walnut Fudge.)

Ingredients for Easy Homemade Fudge

• 1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1.5 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• Dash salt
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Gather your ingredients.

Line pans with waxed paper.

If you are adding walnuts, chop or pound into smallish chunks.

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt.

Remove from heat; stir in nuts (if you are adding them) and vanilla.

Spread evenly into wax-paper-lined pans.

Place in fridge for two hours or until firm. Cut in slabs or squares. Place inside favor boxes.