Party Favors

Fortunately, my mil is a great baker and candy maker! She handmade 3 kinds of truffles for us and I just bought some cute little boxes on Amazon to hold them’

I’ve been working on a personalize cook book. Every guest has submitted a recipe and I’ve made a special page for each of them in the book. Additionally I’m giving playing cards with our photo on them and a bottle opener. They will all be at their seats and the DJ will remind them to take their gifts. Also, the kiddos have coloring pages.
We also have a candy bar with bags to go, so we purchased some bags for people to put their stuff in.
Oh! And the women in the family each get a wedding decorative flower. On their chair it tells them which one is theirs

I made paper fans out of strips of paper the kids in the wedding colored. I then wrote the wedding date on them. I have 2 gold buckets and a gold basket that I'm going to display them in.

We are doing dollar scratch off lottery tickets with a penny in an envelope. One will be at each place setting.

Our escort cards will be on skeleton keys that are also bottle openers. Our 'theme' is antique so these went well with that and happened to double as bottle openers people can take home.

I'm also doing koozies. I looooove koozies. I get one everywhere we go. So we definitely have to do that.

I'm giving everyone a gourmet chocolate bar to have with after-dinner coffee. I was thinking of getting a few different flavors so I wasn't sure if I should put one on each plate and let them swap if they don't like it, or put a few in the middle of the table to choose from...? I'm not a fan of putting them all on a separate table somewhere.

View Quoted Comment

Oh my gosh, that sounds SUPER yummy!! Could you send me the recipe?

I may steal your idea, if you don't mind. We're doing an apple cider donut wall for our fall wedding, plus handpicked apples in our welcome bags, so this would be a lovely little touch.

View Quoted Comment

Of course! Apple cider donuts are delicious, mmmmm I miss fall!

I get about 64 pieces (approx 1”x1”) from this recipe.

Ingredients:

4 cups apple cider (boiled over medium-high heat until reduced to about ½ cup, I usually boil a whole gallon and refrigerate it until I’m ready to make caramels and measure out what I need)

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup light corn syrup

2 cups granulated sugar

6 tbsp unsalted butter

½ tsp salt

1 tsp apple pie spice OR ½ tsp cinnamon AND ¼ tsp ground ginger AND ¼ tsp nutmeg or allspice

Directions:

1. Combine heavy cream, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and reduced cider in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over high heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar dissolves.

2. Reduce to medium-high heat and continue cooking approximately 20-30 minutes (do not stir) until the mixture reaches 250F on a candy thermometer (I have made it successfully using a meat thermometer and infrared thermometer as well before I bought a candy thermometer).

3. While the caramel is cooking, spray 8”x8” pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment long enough to overhang the sides of the pan so you can lift the set caramels out to cut.

4. Once the caramel reaches 250F, remove from heat and add salt and spices. Stir well and carefully pour into the prepared pan.

5. The caramels should rest at least 12 hours at room temperature before being cut. Cut wax paper into 5” squares (or purchase candy wrappers) to wrap individually. I typically cut the caramels into 1" squares, though they are kind of a mouthful for my kids who don't believe in taking bites of candy!

Note: you can also add some flaked coarse sea salt if you like salted caramels.

We are doing mini pies and honestly haven't thought much about the display but they'll be on their own table with a cute sign.

View Quoted Comment

That is such a cute idea!

View Quoted Comment

Thanks! We are having a "mini" wedding (AKA 30 minute reception and a 3 hour ceremony) but people are flying in or driving in from all over the country, so I wanted to give them something special!

Hey Amanda! What did you decide to do for favors? Are you looking for more inspiration?

View Quoted Comment

Can I get this recipe!! I love all things apple cider!