Local Etsy Vendor Summer Shopping Spree!!!

I was just featured in the Charleston City Paper for my wedding decor. This is a great resource for finding local Charleston Etsy Vendors. There is something for everyone from jewelry to handmade wedding dresses.  I personally know a few of these people so be sure to check it out!!!

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/a-local-etsy-summer-shopping-spree/Content?oid=4656329

Ordering and Calculating Wedding Napkins

I get questions and guesses from my customers all the time on how many napkins they REALLY need for their wedding reception. This is a complex question that takes more than a little guess work. Too few napkins and your guests are left high and dry. Too many napkins and you're using them in your kitchen well after the honeymoon. So how do you find the right number? 


Cocktail Napkins:

Cocktail napkins are used for serving drinks, hors d'oeuvres and desserts. These are the most used napkins at a wedding so they require a little more planning than the other sizes.

• If you are having a cocktail hour or having one before a sit down meal you will need 2-3 cocktail napkins per guest per hour. Don't skimp on napkins if the hors d'oeuvres will be served by waiters since they will pass one out for each plate. Once guests eat the drinking should slow at least temporarily so plan maybe 1-2 per hour during those times. If your guests will be dancing the night away you can still plan on 1-2 napkins. You can pretty much count on 1-2 napkins per hour after the main meal is served. 
• You can save yourself money by putting the cocktail napkins on the bar but ask the bartender not to automatically give them one unless the guest wants it. Many guests don't require a napkin for each drink especially if you are passing out koozies too. 
• Cocktail napkins are also great for the cake table! The cake being served with cocktail napkins will save you money! Your guests don't need a huge napkin for a cupcake or a small sliver so why give them one?
• Here is an example wedding with a cocktail hour, a sit down dinner and 3 hours of mingling and dancing for 100 guests.
• ( cocktail hour) 2 napkins x 1 hour x 100 guests = 200 napkins
• (sit down dinner) 1 napkin x 1 hour x 100 guests = 100 napkins 
• (mingling and dancing) 1 napkins x  3 hours x 100 guests = 300 napkins
• (cake) 1 napkin x 100 guests = 100 napkins
• This results in cocktail 700 napkins! That's a lot, so here are my suggestions for getting a more manageable number.
• Don't hand out a napkin with each drink. This should cut back on the number of napkins in half needed for the bar if your guests come up to the bar themselves. If you have waiters you should still hand them out. 
• Realize that not all guests are going to want cake. You can reasonably guess only 60-75% of guests will actually eat it. You can factor that in when providing napkins at the cake table. 
• If you use my napkin saving tips a wedding for 100 guests goes from 700 cocktail napkins to 460!

Dinner/Luncheon Napkins

Luncheon napkins are typically served with lighter meals and cake. Dinner napkins are served with a heavy sit down dinner or buffet. If you are serving super messy foods like BBQ or lobsters at your reception you will probably need at least 2 napkins per guests. If you are having something more involved like an oyster roast or crawfish boil you will need at least 3 large napkins per person! You can use luncheon napkins if you are looking to save money. They aren't that much smaller than dinner napkins and are a reasonable size for any guests. 

Hand Towels

Hand towels are typically used in the bathroom or powder room at your wedding. These can be plain or personalized as the rest of your napkins. They are much larger and expensive. If you want to dress up the bathroom they're a great way to do it. If you're looking to save money they are the first thing to skimp on. Recycled hand towels work just as well and for a fraction of the cost ;)

If you are looking for personalized napkins like those shown above you can visit my regular website HandmadeNapkins.com or my Etsy site www.CharlestonCharms.Etsy.com. I would love to answer any questions you might have about ordering.

New Nautical Wedding Napkins!

My newest creations involve some really amazing vintage looking nautical stamps. I am so excited about these napkins. I think they turned out fun and elegant with just the right touch of preppy. Every Charlestonian knows that is the key to success ;) 

Personalized Anchor Napkins with Couple's initials 

These napkins feature a vintage looking anchor and rope in the center flanked by the couple's initials. These are the ultimate nautical napkins. Anchors are a symbol of stability and strength even in the worst storms. What could be a better symbol for a lasting marriage? The last name initial can be added below the anchor. If you wanted them for a baby shower or birthday a 3 initial monogram can be placed under the anchor instead. This napkin is shown in light burlap with black ink. 

Personalized Crab Napkins with Couple's Initials

These napkins feature a vintage drawing of a crab flanked with the couple's initials on either side. These would be wonderful for a lowcountry boil or a crab boil! Seafood lovers DELIGHT! 

Personalized Conch Shell Napkins with Couple's Initials

These would be a wonderful addition to any beach wedding. Weather your wedding is here or abroad these napkins can go anywhere. Featuring a conch shell flanked by the couple's initials on either side. 

I can personalize any of my designs. If you would like to add initials, names, or a wedding date I can work with you to make these napkins perfect for your event. Just email me at CharlestonCharms@gmail.com. I typically answer immediately. You can checkout these or any of my designs at www.handmadenapkins.com or www.charlestoncharms.etsy.com

The New Burlap Brown Napkins Have Arrived along with Butter Yellow!

I am now offering two new colored napkins! This is great news since my previous supplier recently discontinued many popular colors including Burlap Brown, Coral, and Mint. I am really excited to introduce the new burlap brown which is a more accurate match to burlap fabric. I am using it for many of my example pictures and it looks great with any color combination! It is a light brownish tan instead of the previous mocha brown color. Oh and did I mention that it is made of recycled kraft paper? Yep, so it's more environmentally friendly too!

Light Yellow napkins are huge for me! I previously only had bright yellow options in Mimosa and School Bus which I wasn't a big fan of. This buttery color is so pretty and soft like lemon meringue. Yum! Even better news is these two colors are 3-ply instead of 2 which means more bang for your buck.

 You can check these new listings out on my Etsy shop: http://www.CharlestonCharms.etsy.com

or my awesome new website: http://www.HandmadeNapkins.com

Set Up Your Own Rustic Candy Buffet...

Wedding Candy Buffets are a great idea for a wedding favor! Popular for years the candy buffet is constantly evolving to suit. They are cheap and easy to set up with a little planning and effort. There are a few important things to consider when planning your rustic candy buffet...

http://indulgy.com/post/HE6eXTyRM1/rustic-buffet-table

• How much candy do you need? To figure this out you'll need to know how many people have confirmed or at least a rough estimate. You can use this simple equation to figure out how much candy you'll need for your buffet.
• The number of guests x 3, divided by 16 = pounds of candy required. 
• So that's( # guests x 3) / 16 = lbs candy
•  For example you have 200 guests coming... That's 200*3=600, 600/16= 37.5 lbs
• You also need to figure in what demographic most of your guests are in. How many of the guests are elderly or diabetic? Are you going to have a ton of kids there? Are the guests going to be so drunk by the end of the night they won't even notice the buffet table? These are all serious questions that could make the amount of candy needed go down pretty rapidly. I would personally go by this equation if the guests are pretty evenly distributed age-wise. If its mostly older adults maybe go a little light on the candy.  

• What should you use to display the candy? There really is no need to go crazy with the containers the candy is placed in. A few interesting apothecary jars and the rest simple glass bowls do more than a bunch of crazy shapes. Remember the focus is on the candy. There will be enough going on with the different colors that you don't need to add much more. 
• Here are some ideas for an interesting layout.
• Use different height jars and bowls. Having your candy displayed at different levels lets everything be seen at once. If there isn't enough height difference you can add cardboard boxes under the tablecloth as risers. If you have a really cool old suitcase, wooden crate or log slab you can use those on top of the tablecloth to add to the rustic appeal!
• Use all one color or texture container if you have multicolored candy. If you have a rainbow of color going on with the candy you don't need it in the container too! Using all clear glass, milkglass, or mercury glass are all great accent pieces that won't take away from the focus. You can display a bunch of different glass pieces if all your candy is the same color however.
• Labels are a great way to tell your guests what they're getting! Many websites offer great free printable patterns for labels. You can buy some from craft stores or even get some from Etsy. 

• Use a variety of candy and don't focus on only one color! You should never have only one color for a wedding. This goes for flowers, napkins and candy. Since you are using multiple brands and varieties you won't be able to match everything exactly to that color swatch in your hand. Try some of these tips to make your candy table look great.
• Pick at least 2-3 colors to focus on. Even if your wedding is mostly coral you need an accent color to go with it. So try coral, light blue, and light yellow. Accent colors allow more variety, better matching, and more flavors! If you only choose black everything will be licorice which not many guests will be happy with. 
• Go for a shade like all blues, or yellows. This will make finding candy in those colors easier.
• Try not to only go with one type of candy. Yes gummies and suckers are the brightest but also look for candy with matching wrappers. Offer chocolate as well as fruit flavored types. 

• What will your guests take their favor home in? The bag they carry their candy in can be the most personalized item on the whole table! Hand stamped paper bags, burlap drawstring bags, vellum bags with a ribbon are all great solutions! You can make them yourself or have an online vendor like me hand make each one with a personal message :) They sky is honestly the limit.
• Here are some pros and cons of the more popular options:
• Paper bags. These are cheap and very easy to personalize. Since they're paper they can be written on, stamped, have a fancy edge cut on them, or even be covered in glitter if that's your thing. They come in usually kraft paper or white. I hand stamp them for my customers in over 140 designs (also available in matching napkins). They can also be closed by a ribbon through a hole punched at the top, a clothes pin or nothing at all. 
• Vellum bags. These clear bags are cheap and easy to use. They can't easily be customized, but a label tied with a ribbon or twine works wonders.
• Drawstring bags. These fabric bags are very versatile depending on which fabric they're made of. The cotton muslin type are the easiest to stamp or embroider. Burlap's rough nature only allows less detailed stamping. They add tons of rustic charm and they can be opened and closed easily! 

If your wedding is taking place outdoors, in a barn, or any semi-rustic place these items would be a great addition. These items are created with touches to make them feel homespun and beautiful like burnt accents, brown paper, stamps, and touches of moss & grapevines. My shop Charleston Charms offers tons of details for your candy buffet and wedding. You can find my products for sale on www.handmadenapkins.com or www.CharlestonCharms.Etsy.com.

Grapevine Candy Buffet Jars

Mason Jar Candy Buffet Paper Bags 

Drawstring Bags 

Muslin

Burlap

Rustic Wooden Clothes Pins 

Handmade Seaglass Candy

Sassafras

Sweet Tea 

Personalize your Pie!

Dessert tables are becoming more and more trendy with weddings. Instead of one big cake people are offering their guests more options. Some offer a variety of pies, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. Others offer just a bunch of different flavors of the same item. Whichever you choose be sure to let your guests know what they are! Nothing is worse than not knowing what something is and having to ask other people in line if they know. Give your cakes some credit! Using little labels or banners with the name or flavors prevents confusion and speeds up the line. Plus if you have Grandma's famous apple pie or Mrs. Black's Blueberry cake you can give them credit for their creation. The adorable banners I've created are totally customizable  and go with any color scheme. They come in a variety of shapes and if you prefer a color I can accommodate that as well. Each is on a sturdy bamboo fork that can be placed on any type of soft dessert or fruit. Just let me know what style and words you want on them.

*They come in sets of 10

The start of wedding season planning...

I've recently had a rush of sale due to so many engagements over the Holidays, and to celebrate I am offering discounts on some of my best sellers! I am now offering a group of five grapevine candle holders, and six personalized oyster knives at a discount.  These grouped listings are great for weddings and will save you more than buying each individually. Be sure to check them out today :)