Cool Autumn Candles and Do-It-Yourself Favor Ideas for Fall
Sorry, I just can't. Not yet.
It's not that I have anything against winter. In fact, it's a toss up between that and fall for my favorite season.
It's just that most of the oaks and maples are still ever-so briefly tricked out in green. And I always had a pet peeve about people — read: massive mega-mart stores — that started hawking Halloween in July, and whatnot. (Granted, all those mellowcremes do stay good for a couple of decades or two.)
So let's chat up a few ideas for fall, considering some cute little niches inside the larger world of autumn wedding favors.
Fall Candle Wedding Favors
You can buy candle favors for any time of year, from Easter to Christmas and everything in between. But when it comes down to it, Fall is the real candle season. Do we feel a strange urge to pile up branches and logs and sit around a roaring bonfire— or least the chimenea — for St. Patricks Day? No, we do not.
Take a quiet moment, and see if that pyromaniac urge isn't building in you already. Of course it is. Right along with that compulsion to wear thick colored tights with Oxford ankle boots, and those vows to read a 'literary' book and get more serious about cooking.
Now, let's take some specific, popular fall candle favors and see how they fit into your wedding.
Left: "Fall in Love" Leaf Votives. Right: "Fall in Love" Garden Glass Gel Candles.
First of all, I can't speak for men, but we women love candles, as plenty of surveys confirm. Even one adds a special dimension to the moment. Don't believe me? Grab your cutest little votive, fire it up and set it on your desk (assuming, of course, this won't get you blacklisted by Maintenance or set off the sprinklers). Feel the difference? The flickering light instantly adds a little drama, a little magic, a little movement. You start thinking about how you can treat yourself better.
Or try this: plunk down a pillar candle at dinner. Want to get fancier? Take three floating candles and place them in a footed bowl filled with plain old H20. Suddenly, you remember why eating at the table can be more enticing than hunching on the couch in front of Entourage.
Left: "Fall in Love" Tealights, Set of 4 . Right: Autumn Themed Candle Favor.
These are some of our top candle favors. They're cute, inexpensive, and come pre-packaged so you don't have to fuss over presentation. The gel candles look fantastic on the table, especially if you have some source of backlighting (like, more candles!).
Then, the "Fall in Love" leaf votives have an adorable, unusual wax appliqué that helps set them apart. The set of four fall tealight candles are a sweet little set that would look just perfect on a window ledge or coffee table on a cool fall evening. And don't forget that feng shui aspect to candles, with red embodying fire and fame, and orange, wealth and growth!
Do-It-Yourself Fall Wedding Favors
But maybe autumn candles just aren't your thing. In fact, maybe you're one of those freakishly talented brides with a ninja set of DIY chops. Your misson: to give your guests something handmade, totally unique and very personal. The quandary: what, exactly? Naturally, we've got a few ideas.
Left: Clear Favor Cones (Set of 12) . Right: Fall Leaf Cookie Cutter
Roasted Nuts in Clear Cone Bags. So elegant, and sure to charm the socks off your guests, yet simple for any kitchen whiz. We like cinnamon or toffee-coated roasted almonds, but any nut mix you dream up is likely to wow. Pour your creation into clear cone favor bags, and tie with a diaphanous organza ribbon in your colors. Scatter silk leaves around the plates for a grand finale.
Homemade Cherry Cordial in Custom-Labeled Jars. If you got the time, evocative, sensuous cherry cordial is simple to make— it hardly involves more than vodka and fresh berries (try adding some raspberries to your cherries). The result: luxury itself. Pour this sweet elixir into something as fancy as Specialty Bottles' old-style swing top bottle for as little as $1.90 per bottle. Sweet memories!
Homemade Caramels in Designer Wrappers. Someone's mom always made homemade caramels when the leaves began to turn. Remember? They were a revelation, with that incredible aroma of pure butter, and so much softer than those brace-killing slabs at the store. If you're handy enough to pull these off in the kitchen, your guests will be on the receiving end of an increasingly elusive treat.
If you go this route, wrap your cooled, individual caramels in plastic. Then take 3-5 per guest, and wrap them in a gorgeous cylinder made of artisan wrapping paper, or hand-printed fabric. Tie off the ends with a little grosgrain ribbon, and you've got poppers tailor-made for fall ... and favors almost suitable for framing.
Left: Chocolate Brown Mini Cube Boxes . Right: Leaf Trail Ribbon
Fall Cookie Cutters Plus the Family Favorite. Every family has a couple of recipes that they practically hold sacred. Why not honor a mother or grandmother by whipping up a wedding-size batch of a family favorite?
Use a maple leaf cutter to knock out some perfect fall shortbreads, sugar cookies or molasses chews. Place two in a cellophane bag with the family recipe, tie off with ribbon, and add a leaf-shaped cookie cutter — or a pack of customized coffee — for a personal, fetching favor.
Chocolate Brown Boxes Filled with Bar Treats. So many savory sweets say 'fall.' Gift your guests with a rich cinnamon-tinged brownie, a thick slice of gingerbread or an almond-cherry bar of your own design.
But instead of hassling with the guesswork, order a custom cookie-cutter (you can get the exact size you need for only $3.50 extra) that's slightly smaller than a 2 x 2 favor box. 1.75 inches square is perfect. Cut out your creations, dust with confectioners sugar (or edible gold dust ... oh la la! ), wrap in plastic, place in a gorgeous chocolate brown box and finish it off with raffia, leaf ribbon or wired silk leaves.
Tags: 
