Vintage tea tins are not only lovely to display in your home, they’re perfect for wedding centerpieces. Here are a few photos of vintage tea tin centerpieces to get you inspired:

These round vintage cans also look adorable!

I also love the idea of making candles with vintage tea tins.

And I’m diggin’ these handmade lanterns made with vintage tea tins. You can find out how to make them here.

Photo One: Celebrations; Photo Two: Bijou Kaleidoscope; Photo Three: Bijou Kaleidoscope; Photo Four: MarthaStewart.com; Photo Five: BVweddings.com; Photo Six: Marvelous Kiddo; Photo Seven: Bijou Kaleidoscope; Photo Eight: JunkMarketStyle

You want an outdoor summer wedding. It might be hot. Really hot. How will you guests keep their cool?

There are several ways to keep your guests from melting in the heat.

Wedding fans are  practical and pretty for an outdoor ceremony. I love the idea of DIY program fans, but there are other alternatives.

Wanderluster over at Rambling Renovators headed out to her local Chinatown and purchased sandalwood fans for her August wedding. She wrapped the ends with wrapping paper from Paper Source and attached coordinating ribbons.

After the ceremony, the guests headed over to the cocktail area and were greeted by servers with cold “oshibori”, which are wet towels you often see in Japanese restaurants. Wanderluster bought the oshibori from The Oshibori Company in what she describes as a “a yummy peach mango scent.”

“It was a great way to help our guests freshen up after sitting in the sun!” she writes.

Another way to keep your guests cool is to offer cold water or other beverages like lemonade at the entrance area where the ceremony will be taking place.

If you have elderly guests and your region is prone to extreme heat, make sure that there is seating in a shaded area during the ceremony. The last thing you want is a bad case of heat stroke at your wedding!

Photo One: Natalie Moser; Photo Two, Three, Four: Rambling Renovators; Photo Five: Getmarried.com

McKenzie, 33 & Jeremy, 36

San Diego, CA

Wedding Date: August 15, 2009

Number of Guests: 75

Wedding Cost: $35,000 – $45,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Ocean View Villas, San Diego, CA

Wedding Reception Location:Ocean View Villas, San Diego, CA

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

It was a bad year for the economy, so many friends and family could not make it! But, honestly, it was all about the space and the view. It’s a smaller space, so we didn’t end up inviting that many people! We found the location online while we were living in Japan about 3 years ago and we planned everything from there!

My husband and I made an army of these cream cheese penguins for New Year’s Eve. (I found the recipe over at allrecipes.com – an awesome site for party appetizer ideas.) Not only are they adorable, olive-lovers will find them delish!

These would be perfect for a party or a wedding shower. Your guests will think you have some serious culinary talent:)

Ingredients

18 jumbo black olives, pitted

1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened (I used herb and garlic cream cheese)

18 small black olives

1 carrot (if you don’t like carrots, try cheddar cheese for the feet)

Directions

Cut a curved slit from top to bottom, lengthwise, into the side of the olive. Cut another curved slit (curve going the opposite way as the first one)  beside the first slit, leaving 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch  gap in the center of the curve. This is where you will insert cream cheese.

Love freebies? Check out these free save the date templates.

A sweet dessert buffet themed  save the date template from Inspired Bride.

Free calendar save the date templates from Wedding Chicks.

Free printable save-the date airmail theme from Ruffled.

Free printable Giving Tree Save the Date template.