Elena Rodarte, Author at Wedding Favorites

Crafting Holiday Magic: DIY Hot Cocoa Gift Box

Elena Rodarte • November 30, 2023

As the holiday season wraps us in its festive embrace, what better way to spread joy than with heartfelt DIY gifts? This year, elevate your gifting game with our enchanting DIY Hot Cocoa Gift ideas. From regular cocoa mix to a custom cocoa lover delight, this creation is sure to warm hearts and create lasting memories. This Custom Hot Cocoa Gift Box is the perfect holiday gift idea for friends, family, coworkers, and more!

Imagine the delight of unwrapping a homemade hot cocoa experience. Created with love and creativity, this DIY Hot Cocoa Gift Box Kit is totally customizable and will warm the hearts of whoever you give it to! You can include items like a premium cocoa mix, fluffy marshmallows, and a sprinkle of holiday magic. Pair it with a custom mug or a festive ribbon for an extra-special touch. Let’s get started!

Things you will need:

Kraft Gift Box

Snowman Jars

Hot Cocoa Mix

Mini Marshmallows

Snowflake Ornament

Sprinkles (optional)

Additional Sweets (optional)

Ribbon (optional)

Putting It Together

To create this gift, you’ll first need to get your Kraft Boxes customized on our site! We recommend putting the recipient’s name on the clear lid, but you can also do fun words like “Merry”, “Cocoa”, or “Jolly”. Make sure to also order the Snowman Jars and other fun holiday accessories like our Snowflake Ornament, Snowman Mug, Merry Mug, Holiday Apron, or more from our Holiday Collection! Grab your favorite hot chocolate mix and sweets from your local grocery store like Walmart or Target.

Once you receive your items you can begin by assembling your Snowman Jars. The glass favor jars will come separate from the snowman stickers. All you need to do is attach the self-stick snowman labels to the jar. Once done you can fill the Snowman Candy Jars with hot cocoa powder and mini marshmallows. (We recommend using a small funnel for the hot chocolate mix.) You can fill each with a mixture of the two or keep them in separate jars.

Finishing Touches

Now that you have your jars filled, you’re ready to start assembling the boxes! Grab your kraft box and place your filled snowman jars inside. You can place as many jars as fits, or just put a few and fill the rest of the box with additional sweets and holiday treats. Our favorites are chocolate stirring spoons, assorted sprinkles, and holiday cookies. You can also fill it with other gifts that you think your recipient will love like gift cards, money, or other small gifts!

Ready for Gifting

When you’re done filling the box, all that’s left to do is gift it! You can add a custom tag, label, card, or ribbon to go with it. Pair it with one of our custom mugs for a complete hot chocolate kit! Our Snowman Mugs are a favorite for the little ones and our Glass Mug are perfect for a coffee lover. These personal touches show you care and will make the gift extra memorable. Now you’re ready to sleigh the holiday season!

Happy Gifting!

Custom Hand Sanitizer Favors – Perfect Blend of Safety & Fun

Elena Rodarte • September 28, 2023

Looking for a party favor that’s photo-ready and practical? These hand sanitizer favors are the ideal choice! Unlike some party favors that might end up forgotten, custom sanitizers are practical and can be used daily. Not only will it keep your guests germ-free throughout your celebration, but it will have you at ease knowing everyone’s health is prioritized. Whether you’ve envisioned a themed gathering or prefer a minimalist approach, we have custom hand sanitizer favors to best align with your aesthetic!

Floral Garden Hand Sanitizer

To start, our floral garden sanitizer has label styles designed to capture the essence of vintage bliss! Alongside rustic color options, your custom text is presented in a script and bold font to honor a precious date of celebration or a heartfelt expression.

Tropical Hand Sanitizer

If you are stirring up a new summer fun memory, we also have design options to elevate your tropical bash! You can add a personalized touch to your beach festivities with our tropical label options. Choose from our 1 oz or 2 oz bottle sizes.

Personalized Hand Sanitizer Spray

Alternatively, these elegant glass hand sanitizer spray bottles adorned with a gold lid are perfect for those seeking a touch of refinement and style. You can make it uniquely yours with our clear custom text labels!

Hand Sanitizer Spray

Additionally, if your preference leans towards minimalism, you have the option to leave these spray bottles blank. The glass bottles can stand on their own as an elegant favor. Cheers to keeping it simple!

Custom hand sanitizers are more than just a trend; they’re a practical, thoughtful, and versatile party favor choice that can elevate your event to the next level. These tokens of appreciation express your gratitude for their presence in joining you. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor affair, these hand sanitizers will accompany your guests as they continue to do the same in your upcoming milestones! If these hand sanitizers were a part of your special occasion, we’d love to see them! Tag us @weddingfavorites

A Unique Wedding Day Task For Your Bridesmaids: Instagram Story Takeover

Elena Rodarte • July 20, 2023

Lauren Giraldo and her husband walking down the street in a white dress, performing their wedding day task.

Weddings can be a whirlwind of tasks and responsibilities that are necessary to make the day perfect. When you’re busy getting ready to walk down the aisle, it’s easy to forget to capture the candid and goofy moments with your loved ones. While professional photographers and videographers ensure magazine-worthy shots, they might miss the real chaos and shenanigans that happen behind the scenes. A fun way to capture those candid moments on your wedding day is to have your bridesmaids do an Instagram Story Takeover!

Recently, we saw Instagram Influencer, @laurengiraldo, completely hand over her Instagram account to one of her besties during her wedding! Throughout the day, her friends uploaded lighthearted pictures and videos. Everyone following Lauren, including family members that couldn’t attend, were able to still feel like they were there. Plus, the Instagram story takeover was a unique way to capture the days events that gave the bride and groom a different perspective to remember their big day.

Wedding Day Task: Maid of Media

Ready to make your wedding day unforgettable on Insta?📸 First, pick a friend who is Instagram-savy and appoint them as your Maid of Media. They’ll be in charge of capturing behind-the-scenes content of the entire wedding weekend. Creating stories on Instagram is simple, so there are really no instructions needed! Just give them a heads-up if there are certain things that are off-limits and to ask guests for permission before sharing candid snaps. All that’s left to do is log them into your Instagram account and let them post away. You’ll feel like a real IG Influencer knowing that your special day is virtually being shared to all your loved ones, whether they’re there in person or cheering you on from afar!

Take inspiration from @laurengiraldo, who had her best friends handle her Instagram Stories throughout her destination wedding in Columbia. Everyone following Lauren, including loved ones that couldn’t attend, watched her getting ready in the bridal suite with her bridesmaids, applying her wedding day accessories, and eventually celebrating her new title as Mrs. Lago. The content was full of smiles, cheering, and joyous tears that, by the end, had everyone reaching for a tissue.

Pro Tips for Instagram Stories:

To help your friends with the Wedding Day Instagram Takeover, we’ve put together a few social media tips that you can share with your Maid Of Media.

Start the takeover by letting your followers know that you’ll be handing over the phone to your Maid of Media for an IG takeover. Show it with a video story for a personal touch!
Use one hashtag that encapsulates the day throughout your stories.
ex: #________isgettingmarried, #mrandmrs________, #________inlove, etc.
Have your bridesmaids film the day before (or days leading up to) the wedding. Capture videos and pictures of everyone arriving and any fun pre-wedding events like the welcome lunch or rehearsal dinner.
Add a countdown button 12hrs before on Instragram stories to notify the audience when the wedding starts!
Instagram lets you save your stories in a special bubble called “Highlights” on your profile. You can save all your wedding day stories there so people can continue to enjoy the content even after the 24-hour stories disappear!
Pass the phone to each bridesmaid and ask which part of the day they are looking forward to the most.
Have the bridal party and guests take a selfie video and leave a surprise message for the bride & groom.
Try utilizing captions, polls, stickers, and gifs, to spice up your stories and engage with your followers.

Let The Instagram Party Begin

There you have it! Planning an Instagram Story Takeover for your wedding is the ultimate recipe for fun and unforgettable memories! Let your bridesmaids work their magic, capturing all the candid craziness and heartwarming moments. Your special day will be an Insta-hit, and your friends and family, near or far, can join in on the special day.

So, go ahead and snap, post, and celebrate like never before. It’s time to make your wedding an epic story worth sharing! Make sure to tag @weddingfavorites so we can “be there” with you too.

DIY Coffee Ice Cubes

Elena Rodarte • June 01, 2022

With summer just around the corner, there is no better way to treat yourself, than with an iced coffee! One of our favorite hacks to keep your caffeinated drink cold is by making coffee ice cubes. This recipe is perfect for the on-the-go bride ready to take on wedding duties! With just a couple of simple steps, you can avoid the dreaded watered-down iced coffee or lattes. If you are a coffee lover, this is a must-try trick.

Here’s What You Need:

Custom Iced Coffee Glass

Ice Cube Tray

Favorite Cold Brew

Making Iced Coffee Cubes

These coffee ice cubes couldn’t be easier! First, fill an ice tray with a cold brew of your choice.

Cover the tray and freeze until solid, about 5 hours or overnight.

Once frozen, add the coffee cubes to your glass. Pour your coffee over them and add your favorite creamer or syrup.

*Watch us make them here!*
Use code: **COFFEE15** for 15% OFF Your Entire Order.
Code expires 6/13/2022 @ 11:59 PM PST.

There you have it, no more watered-down iced coffees! Once you’ve mastered these ice cubes, the possibilities are endless. Needing an extra kick of energy? Try these ice cubes with espresso and add them into chai tea to create a dirty chai latte or even blend them into your favorite chocolate beverage for a tasty frozen mocha. If you aren’t a big fan of coffee, these ice cubes work great with iced tea too!

Don’t forget to tag us in your pics if you try this out! We would love to see all of the tasty creations you make.

Outside the Box Bridesmaid Proposal

Elena Rodarte • March 28, 2022

There’s nothing we love more than seeing bridesmaid proposals come to life! Although our signature gift boxes are the perfect way to ask your future bride squad, sometimes it’s fun to switch it up. We came up with a few unique ideas to pop the question without using traditional gift boxes. If that’s what you’re looking for, get ready for inspo because here are our top “out of the gift box” bridesmaid proposal ideas.

Makeup Bags

Fill up our Personalized Makeup Bags with practical gifts your girls will love! Some goodies to consider including are our Heart Ring Dish, Compact Mirror, Lip Balm, Babe Hair Pin, & Proposal Card. Our proposal bags are a fun and cute way to ask your girls and they can easily carry it in their purse creating the perfect on-the-go bag.

Beach Towel

Planning on proposing to your girls in the summer? We got you covered! This proposal contains all their favorite summertime essentials. All you have to do is fold up our Round Tie Dye Towel, secure it with a ribbon, add a custom tag, and top it off with our Hand Sanitizer Bottle and Heart Sunglasses. The best part is they can use all these gifts for the bachelorette party!

Drink Pouches

Personalized Drink Pouches are one of our best-selling summer gifts! Not only are they a must-have at the bachelorette party, but turning them into a bridesmaid proposal is just as fun! Fill them with our Cateye Sunnies, Lip Balm, Hand Sanitizer, & Beaded Bracelet for a cute & compact way to ask your girls.

Fringe Purses

A boho way to pop the big question! Add some fringe to your bridesmaid proposals by asking your girls with a gift they will love. Fill our Fringe Purses up with our Cat Eye Sunglasses, Compact Mirrors, Monogram Bracelets, and Bridesmaid Cards to create a cute and fun way to ask your girls to be apart of your big day.

Babe Slippers

If you’re looking to gift your girls something cozy, this gift idea is perfect! Ask your girls to be a part of your I Do Crew with our Babe Slippers, Pajama Shorts, Sleep Mask, Heart Sunglasses, Bridal Candle, Heart Matches, Bride Tribe Lip Balm, and Diamond Pen. How could they say no to this comfy gift?

Clear Tumblers

Surprise your girls with a proposal full of practical gifts! Our Monogram Tumblers make the perfect everyday cup, and now they can be used as a fun and creative way to pop the big question. Some items we included inside are our Tie Dye Sleep Mask, Floral Bridesmaid Card, Babe Bracelet, & Bride Tribe Lip Balm.

Share how you propose to your bridesmaids on our Instagram! Just tag @weddingfavorites!

Holiday Gifts For Your Bridesmaids

Elena Rodarte • November 23, 2021

Surprise your bridesmaids with a special gift for the holidays! Whether you’re looking to spoil your best gals or want to ask them to be in your wedding party, we have personalized gifts just for them!

– Jute Beach Bags

– Babe Slippers

– Monogram Beanie

– Pattern Sleep Shirt

– Monogram Tumbler

– Personalized Candle Jar

– Personalized Snowflake Ornament

– More Holiday Gift Ideas

Happy Gifting!

Boho Bridal Shower Idea

Elena Rodarte • September 20, 2021

We love all things boho-inspired & our bride Adriana did not disappoint with her bridal shower decor! We were so honored that she incorporated our pieces on her special day, especially since she’s been with us since her bridesmaid proposals. Now, we’re sharing a closer look of her backyard bridal shower to give you some decoration inspo!

Theme & Decor

A rustic wooden backdrop that included an “Almost Mrs.” sign, created by @_mikbydesign, was the first thing guests saw when entering. It made the perfect photo-op for guests to take pictures with the bride-to-be. In addition, the bridal shower incorporated warm neutral tones, unique textures, and mixed florals paired with cushions and balloons to tie the theme together. Throughout the event, subtle signage adorned the entrance, gift table, and mimosa bar.

Seating & Florals

Guests were able to enjoy each other’s company while being seated around a long white table decorated with rustic decor. Starting off, the decorative plates and beautiful floral arrangements by @prettylilthingslb, made the perfect table setting for the special occasion. A mixture of fresh and dried flower arrangements, which sat along the table, further enhanced the boho decorations. Ultimately, our favorite touch was the large wicker chair at the head of the table for the bride-to-be. It was a gorgeous addition to the shower, and very on-trend for the theme.

Drinks & Food

Bridal showers aren’t complete without the sweet treats! Adriana had such a yummy dessert table that had a little something for everyone. From donuts to mini-tiramisus, @riassweetsandcatering stole the show with their intricate desserts. They even made a personalized charcuterie board that spelled out “Future Mrs Alvarez” in cheese! All the desserts were displayed on various wooden boards surrounded by eucalyptus stems which complimented the boho theme. Together with the hors-d’oeuvres was a Bubbly Bar station where guests could create their own mimosas with a mixture of fruits & juices.

Bride-To-Be OOTD

You can’t forget about the bride! Adriana was wearing a white two-piece outfit with matching heels for a stylish bride-to-be look! She accessorized her look with our Bride Headband and Personalized Veil. In addition, she threw on our Personalized Fringe Jacket with her new last name. She slayed the look, to say the least. 😍

If you decide to incorporate our pieces in your bridal shower, make sure to tag us on Instagram! We love seeing our products in action. Again, congrats to the lovely couple Mr. & Mrs. Alvarez and thank you to Adriana & her photographer @lizztinphoto for letting us feature her bridal shower.

How to Fold Round Towels

Elena Rodarte • August 02, 2021

Start off your summer bachelorette with the cutest Personalized Round Towels for your entire bridal party! Pair them with our Custom Kraft Labels for the perfect welcome favor. It’ll be a memorable and practical gift your girls will never forget.

Our folded Round Towels are our signature look and we’re here to let you in on all the details! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve our rolled towels look.

1. Lay your towel out on a flat surface. Make sure to smooth out any creases.

2. Fold the towel in half making sure that you can still see the print/design of your towel.

3. Fold the towel in half again.

4. Flip your towel over so the fringe side is down.

5. Begin rolling your towel. We suggest going slow to make sure you have a tight roll.

6. Now that you have your rolled towel, you can add your Towel Label.

7. Once applied you can add the rolled towel to the rest of your bachelorette goodies!

This is a simple way to give our towels a super chic look! Make sure to tag us if you try to recreate this look with your towels!

Boho Picnic Idea

Elena Rodarte • July 02, 2021

Picnics are the latest trend for bridal party events and we are HERE FOR IT! We thought a picnic-style welcome lunch would be an adorable way to incorporate this idea for a Bachelorette Party. Here’s how we put together this BEAUTIFUL boho picnic setup.

Picnic Location

Enjoy a breath of fresh air by planning your picnic outdoors! We love the aesthetic of a beach picnic but realized it might be harder to execute. The park would’ve been just as fun, but we opted for an intimate backyard setting. Remember to provide shade if you’re setting up in a sunny location.

Picnic Backdrop

The best part about a picnic is the cute photo opportunities! Since we didn’t have a beach or park picnic, our setup needed a better background for photos. We started by draping a sheet against the wall to create our canvas and added accent pieces to make the background pop. Then we used a floral partition and transformed extra pieces of plywood to create decorative arches. We even found a cute pattern canvas that tied everything all together. Get resourceful and use what you have!

Table Décor

Our favorite part about the picnic was the table! It’s what made the entire setup come to life! We found this adorable outdoor coffee table from Houzz and used it as our base. From there we added round placemats and our Miss to Mrs Wood Sign. Our NEW round signs are the perfect centerpiece for a table set up and we even have a personalized version so you can create your own Custom Wood Sign. We even had a special chair just for the bride-to-be. We’re obsessed with the Rattan Flower Chair from Picnic Imports. Finish it off with some pampa s arrangements for an extra boho-chic look.

Party Favors, Gifts & Place Cards

It’s all about the details when it comes to picnics! We opted to use some personalized gifts that served as party favors for each bridesmaid + a place card to assign seating. On top of the seat cushions, we placed our Personalized Beach Hats and Tie Dye Towels – perfect for the pool/beach. On the table, we used our Personalized Jelly Bags and filled them with Palm Print Tumblers, Dried Palm Fans, Bride Tribe Sunglasses, and Custom Swimsuits. This is also the perfect time to incorporate your bachelorette itinerary. We got ours from A Wild Bloom Printables.

Have Fun!

Once you’re done setting up, you’re ready to have the best bridal party picnic! We love this picnic setup because you can use it for so many different things. Plan a picnic for your bridal shower or kick off your bachelorette weekend with a brunch! The possibilities are endless, but regardless of the event you choose, this boho picnic setup will be truly memorable!

Make sure to tag us on Instagram if you recreate our picnic setup for your bridesmaid proposal, bridal shower, or bachelorette party!

DIY Spray Paint Engagement Balloon

Elena Rodarte • March 30, 2021

Are you ready for the cutest Do It Yourself idea? Our DIY Spray Paint Balloon is the unique touch you need for your engagement photos. It’s a creative spin on our personalized balloon that everyone will be asking about!

Girl holding finished DIY spray paint engagement balloon

This DIY balloon is perfect for those crafty babes that like to add personal touches to their wedding festivities. You can choose your own spray paint colors, ribbon, tassels, & even blow up your balloon as big or small as you wish. No two balloons will turn out the same so you will have an original masterpiece.

Here’s what we used:

Personalized Balloon w/ Decal

Balloon Pump

Spray Paint

Ribbon (or in our case a blank Bridal Sash)

Balloon Tassels

Balloon Stick

Blowing Up Your Balloon

To start, take your clear balloon and inflate it with air. Our balloons can expand up to 24 inches, so don’t be afraid to go big! You can use a balloon pump like we did here, or you can take it to a party store and inflate it with helium. (Caution: we aren’t sure how spray paint will react to helium since we used a regular air pump for this particular project). Once it’s inflated to your desired size, twist the end and tie in a knot to secure it.

Time to Paint

Now that your balloon is filled, it’s time to get your hands a little dirty with some spray paint! (Hopefully before your new manicure 😉). Since this process can get messy, we recommend going outside in an open space to paint. We decided to go for pink and rose gold spray cans, but you can customize your balloon to fit your own engagement theme!

Go ahead and give your cans a good shake and spray your first color directly onto the balloon. For the best results, we suggest spraying from at least a foot away – don’t get too close as we did notice the plastic balloon did warp a little in areas where we got too close with the paint sprayer. This is when you can let your creativity flow and add as much or as little color as you want. Once you are happy with the first color, then spray your second color to create a splotch effect on your balloon until you reach your desired look.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Weddingfavorites Bridal Shop (@weddingfavorites)

Finishing Touches

Now that you are done painting your balloon, set it out to dry for a couple of hours. We recommend tying your balloon to a stick so that the paint does not touch any surrounding surfaces. After your balloon is dry, it’s time to get it photoshoot ready! We decorated the stick attached to the balloon with ribbons and tassels to help create the illusion that it is floating in the air.

For the Go-Getter

If you like the look of the balloon as is, you can stop here, or you can add a personalized decal featuring the new Mrs. Last Name for an added touch. If you need information on how to attach your decal to your balloon, we have a full tutorial with tips and tricks on how to do so here. When attaching your decal, be mindful of the paint on the balloon as some can come off when removing the tape. It’s best to use a little less paint on the area you are applying the decal or it will be very difficult to apply. If some parts of the decal don’t stick completely because of the paint not being tacky enough, you can always use a little glue. 📸

We hope you love this DIY balloon idea. Stay tuned for more!