Banana Bread Mason Jar Wedding Favors

If you love this recipe, be sure to Yum it here: Yum

I love making banana bread. I buy ripened bananas all the time for the sole purpose of making banana bread with them. My recipe is incredible. Yes, I'm tooting my own horn, but is it delicious ... and fool proof. That's the best part. No matter how many times I've made it, I've never messed it up.

And finally, it hit me. Banana bread would make a delicious homemade wedding favor. And since it's nearly impossible to mess up, you wouldn't have to worry about feeding something sub-par to your guests.

Banana Bread Mason Jar Wedding Favors

What You'll Need:

• 1 2/3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• 3 1/2 very ripe bananas
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• Large mixing bowl with non-slip bottom
• Mixer
• Potato masher
• Spoon
• 24 4oz. mason jars
• Baking sheet

What You'll Do:

Preheat your oven to 350-degrees. Wash and dry your mason jars.

Beat your sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl with a non-slip bottom for ten minutes. If you put a stand mixer on your wedding registry, now would be a good time to use that. Personally, I use a hand mixer ... because a stand mixer is one of the very few things that was never purchased off of our registry.

Also, I really suggest a bowl with a non-slip bottom if you're using a hand mixer. It will stay on your counter and you don't have to worry about it flying onto the floor if your mixing gets a little rough.

Drop in olive oil, bananas, and vanilla. I break my bananas in half before dropping them in. Then, mash with a potato masher until it's all completely combined and there aren't any banana chunks.

Dump in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and chocolate chips. Stir until everything is incorporated. I use the potato masher for this step too because it's already dirty and I hate cleaning more things than I have to.

Spoon the mixture into mason jars until they're about 2/3 of the way filled. If any drips on the sides, wipe it with a paper towel because it will burn.

Put all your mason jars on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes (give or take, based on your oven). They will be brown on the outside when they're done. Not a light brown, but a good, rich brown. Give credit to the chocolate chips for a bit of a richer color.

Let them cool, then put the tops on and add a thank you tag. I used stickers because it was easier than dealing with paper tags and twine. This recipe makes about 24 mini mason jars. You can make more batches based on how many wedding favors you need. 

I wouldn't make these too far before your wedding because you do want them to be fresh when your guests eat them. I usually store banana bread in our fridge and it stays good. I would say we've had it up to ten days before, but it usually gets eaten a lot quicker.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Would you make these banana bread mason jar wedding favors?

Top Five Wedding Registry Items For Movie Lovers

Our summer has been filled with projecting gigantic movies on our garage (either the wall if we want to watch inside or the door if we want to sit outside). It's been so much fun. We set up chairs, make popcorn, and stream.

It's the best.

If you like movies, definitely incorporate them into your wedding registry. You can add anything you want, so skip the pans and add a projector.

Top Five Wedding Registry Items For Movie Lovers

1. Home Theater Projector
2. Home Theater Sound System
3. Streaming Service
4. Popcorn Machine
5. Movie Theater Decor

Home Theater Projector

1. Home Theater Projector 
A home theater projector is absolutely my top choice right now. You can project movies on an empty wall in your home, on the outside of your home, wherever there's space. You can make the movie the size of the space, so it's basically theater size. We have an Acer home theater projector, if you're curious, but you can register for any brand you prefer.

Actually, small aside: Today is the anniversary of the day Pete and I met. So, to surprise me, Pete set up the projector and streamed a YouTube video of my favorite band playing a live show on the day the band's sophomore album was released -- back in 2005! It was like being at a real concert. I sang so loud. Then, we picked various songs, played them on YouTube, and had a dance party in the garage -- at 12:15am. It was such a special thing to do. So yes, definitely, get a projector. Now.

Home Theater Sound System

2. Home Theater Sound System
Who can watch a movie at low volume? No one I know. To get the full effect, a home theater sound system is a great idea. An even better idea is to register for it! Speakers are better than spatulas (especially if you already have spatulas).

Streaming Service

3. Streaming Service
When you're planning a wedding, you have to cut out any extras -- and that could mean cancelling your cable or movie streaming service! If you had to, you can always add it to your registry. We stream quite a bit, so the investment is definitely worth it for us.

I know a lot of people who swear by the Roku, and, with over 300,000 movies available to stream, I see why.

Popcorn Machine

4. Popcorn Machine
I can't watch a movie without popcorn. It's just not the same. Pete loves "real" popcorn, though, so I make it from popcorn kernels in the pressure cooker. If you want something a little less hands on, register for a popcorn machine. You'll have fresh popcorn any time you want, in just a little more time than microwave popcorn.

Movie Theater Decor

5. Movie Theater Decor
If you love movies, you probably want to decorate with some fun movie theater decor. Personally, I'm loving these Dancing Snacks tin signs. You can go with movie theater throw pillow covers, movie posters, a movie roll accent table, and more. There is a bunch of movie theater decor to pick from, so you have a great selection for your home.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Which of these wedding registry items for movie lovers is your favorite?

DIY Paper Towel Roll Mini Top Hats

I had an empty paper towel roll and a vision to turn it into mini top hats. Oh. My. Gosh. They came out even more adorable than I ever could have anticipated. You need to make them. Now. Right now. Just unroll your paper towels. Spill milk all over the kitchen and wipe it up. Whatever you have to do to get your hands on an empty paper towel roll, do it. Then make these.

Paper Towel Roll Mini Top Hats

What You'll Need:

• Empty paper towel roll
• Black spray paint
• Black card stock
• Colored card stock
• Glue
• Paper trimmer
• Ruler 
• Pencil
• Scrap paper
• Scissors or X-Acto knife

What You'll Do:

Set down a piece of scrap paper, then spray paint the paper towel tube black. Wait about five minutes and give it a second coat. I do this in the woods behind our house so that if I accidentally spray too much the smell goes into the air, not into our home.

Measure your paper towel tube and make markings to split the tube into five pieces. My tube was 11 inches, so I made four of then 2.25-inches and the fifth was 2-inches.

Using scissors or an X-Acto knife, cut along the pencil marks. I wouldn't suggest folding the tube to cut it because you don't want that crease. Instead, carefully score around the tube, then cut deep enough to get a blade of your scissor in and cut around. Or just use an X-Acto knife. If I had one handy, I think that would have been easier.

If your cuts are a little jagged, cut off any "hangings" with your scissors.

Take your pieces back outside and give them another coat of spray paint. That will remove any discoloration (or, really, gaps that formed when the paint fell off from cutting).

Make a circle on the black card stock that's the size of your paper towel roll. Cut it out.

Measure and cut a large circle from your black card stock. I eyeballed mine, but if you're looking for measurements, mine is 2.5-inches in diameter.

Measure and cut a smaller circle from your colored card stock. I eyeballed this one too, but it's about 1 and 7/8ths of an inch.

Cut a small strip of the colored card stock. Mine was .25-inch by five inches. 

Now that all our components are cut, it's time to assemble.

Glue around one of the tube's edges and affix the first circle you cut (the one that's the same size as the tube). Let it dry. We'll be calling this the "closed" end from now on and the opposite side of the tube is the "open" end.

Glue the colored strip of paper around the "open" end of your paper towel tube. Let it dry.

Glue the colored circle down in the center of the large black circle. Let it dry.

Don't worry that mine isn't solid. I had a different idea originally for this (I thought I might slide it over the tube so I needed a hole, but I decided against that).

Glue around the "open" end of the tube and affix it to the blue circle. Allow the whole thing to dry overnight and you've got mini cardboard top hats. 

BRIDAL BABBLE: What would you use these paper towel roll mini top hats for?

DIY Two Less Fish In The Sea Wedding Favor

Not too long ago, I posted a very cute Two Less Fish In The Sea DIY project so you and your fiance could eat Swedish Fish from adorable cups.

I loved that project ... and that DIY meant that I had a huge bad of Swedish Fish that I would dip into all the time. As I was chewing on one, it hit me: There's a great wedding favor tutorial here. So, this DIY Two Less Fish In The Sea wedding favor was born.

DIY Two Less Fish In The Sea Wedding Favor 

What You'll Need:

• Paper trimmer
• Swedish Fish
• Sandwich bags
• Tape (or personalized favor tags)
• Two Less Fish In The Sea printable (see below) printed on white card stock

What You'll Do:

Print the printable and cut it into four pieces. It is formatted to fit an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, so your rectangles will be 4.25x5.

Slide the printable into the sandwich bag and toss in two Swedish Fish.

I used the Swedish Fish out of the bulk bag for two reasons. First, it's what I had on hand. Second, I didn't want anything in the way of the wording on the printable. If you don't care about that, you might want to use the individually-wrapped Swedish Fish. They're a little bigger too, so they take up more room in your favor.

Tape the bag closed. Fold down any excess bag and tape that down as well.

If you don't want to use tape, this is a good place to use any personalized favor tags you may have ordered.

Now, about that printable:

All you need to do is right click the image above and save it to your computer. Then, print it out when you need it (and make sure you have blue ink for the waves!) and you're good to go.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Would you make this two less fish in the sea wedding favor?

DIY "She Got Her Rock" Rock Candy Favor

I'm a big fan of a good pun. If you've been around here for a while, I'm sure you've noticed.

Last weekend, we were at a wedding with a candy bar. So of course, while my parents were slowly saying their goodbyes, I went over to check it out. There was rock candy, so I grabbed one for each of us. And, as soon as I grabbed it, a pun popped into my head. So, sorry to my mom and dad, but no rock candy for them. I needed it as a prop for this post. Their loss is your gain.

DIY "She Got Her Rock" Rock Candy Favor

What You Need:

• Rock candy
• Bakers twine
• Card stock
• Glue
• Paper trimmer
• Free printable (see below)

What You'll Do:

Using a paper trimmer, cut the free printable into diamonds. They end up being 1-inch squares.

Use the paper trimmer again, this time to cut the card stock into diamonds. You'll want them to be 1.5-inch squares so that they can fit nicely behind the printable.

Glue the printable onto the colored piece of card stock. Allow it to dry.

Cut a piece of bakers twine and glue it to the back of the card stock. If you're unsure about the glue, you could always tape it down. Tie it around the rock candy.

That's it. You can display these or put one at each person's seat at a bridal shower or engagement party. They're super cute and tasty too.

Now, about that printable:

It is formatted to fit an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, so you're able to print this at home. All you need to do is save it to your computer and print it out when you need it.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Would you make this rock candy favor for an engagement party or a bridal shower?

Did YOU get your rock?
Ask your friends to be your bridesmaids with our DIY: Will You Be My Bridesmaid? Rings.

Why You Need To Invite Your Parents' Friends To Your Wedding

Here's a scenario I'm sure you've found yourself in: Your parents (or your fiance's parents) have added their friends to your wedding guest list.

It happens. It has happened in every wedding I've ever known of, so it probably happened at yours. A neighbor, a coworker, a friend who you may only know of in passing, ends up on the list. And you struggle with the idea of sending that person an invitation with a plus one and then paying for their plates. I know, in theory it doesn't seem like that big of a crisis, but when you have to cross off some people on your list to make room for people you hardly know, it seems so daunting.

But here's the thing: Your parents know them and this is who your parents are choosing to celebrate with.

Oh, of course, they're going to celebrate with you, and your family, and your new in-laws, and new family ... but your parents want their friends there too. They're happy and excited to see their little girl getting married and want to celebrate with people who will be happy and excited for them.

That's the truth of it, really. It's a big day for your parents too. They raised a child to be proud of, someone who is taking the next step in life. For parents, it's a big deal. All eyes will be on you and your new spouse because it is your day after all. But, in part, it's your parents' day too. And they want to be happy with people who will be happy for them.

And you have to respect that.

It's hard and can be a battle, but it's not one worth fighting. If you really want a band at your wedding but your mom prefers a DJ, fight that. If you want an outdoor ceremony but your fiance's mom wants a church ceremony, fight that too. But if your future father-in-law has a couple coworkers he wants to invite, just send the invitations. There's a good chance they won't come and you'll be off the hook anyway. But, there's also a good chance of a lot of tension during the wedding planning if you don't invite them.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Are your parents adding their friends to your wedding guest list?

Engagement Picture Tips

So, you did it. The love of your life asked, you said yes, and now you're engaged. Congratulations. It's the happiest time of your life and you want to encapsulate it in pictures.

Way back in the day, people actually sent out engagement announcements. It was a way to tell relatives near and far that you were, in fact, going to get married. And a photo helped to show them just who was being added to the family. Now, with Facebook and FaceTime, keeping in touch with distant relatives is much easier so people don't send engagement announcements now. They do, however, still take engagement pictures. These are mostly for you and not for anyone else to ever see (unless you post them in an album on Facebook), but you still want them to be perfect.

Of course yours will be. You stopped on this blog post to get engagement picture tips. You're better off than a lot of other people. Trust me.

Engagement Picture Tips

Choose a location.
You need a setting that isn't too busy but, at the same time, isn't boring. The focus needs to be on you and your fiance, but you also don't want to pose in front of a cream wall for twenty photos.

Pick a location that has some meaning to you as a couple or to your wedding. We took ours at the beach because we had recently moved to the beach together (far from our families) and we knew that we were going to have a beach reception so it was a good way to introduce our guests to our theme (since we used an engagement picture as the photo for our save the date cards).

Engagement picture location ideas:

• Local nature park
• Downtown in your city
• The beach
• A playground
• The riverwalk
• A baseball stadium
• An amusement park
• The place where you got engaged/had your first date
• Somewhere outdoors doing something you love (rock climbing, ghost hunting, etc.)
• Somewhere indoors doing something you love (reading books at the library, cooking, etc.)

Choose your attire.
You really want neutral solids in your photos. You don't want some ratty t-shirt with a band's name on the front, and you want to stay away from really busy patterns that won't photograph well.

Also, be very mindful of necklines. I know, it sounds like a silly thing to be concerned with, but it's actually something photographers tell models when they're going for head shots. You want a very clean neckline, nothing flopping around taking away from your face. A shirt with a collar that doesn't stay down will be super distracting in photos.

Choose a theme.
Some people go all out with their engagement pictures. These are the ones who dress up like zombies and get featured on Reddit and Buzzfeed. Most engagement photos are a lot less involved. You can stage an entire winter wonderland photo shoot with a cute blanket and cups of hot chocolate in your hands (preferably in this pair of Does This Ring Make Me Look Engaged and I Put A Ring On It mugs) and it will be just as adorable (although it won't get you on the front of Yahoo news).

Many photographers will have props for other photo shoots that you might be able to use and incorporate into your theme. If you are both teachers, for example, you can ask if your photographer does back to school mini sessions. If he or she does, they are usually taken with a bunch of props -- books, apples, old fashioned desks, etc. You can use them in your engagement photos (then again in a few years from now when you have a kid who goes to school).

Engagement picture theme ideas:

• Winter wonderland (shoot in the snow, a ski lodge, etc.)
• Falling in love (go to a park that is filled with fall foliage)
• Spring fling (shoot where everything is new and green)
• Summer fun (series at the beach or pool)
• Sightseeing (what a cute way to show off your town)
• Recreate your favorite movie
• Photograph your favorite activity (ghost hunting, bar hopping, whatever)
• The perfect pair (take photos of you with pears, Mickey and Minnie dolls, your parents' photos, etc.)

Choose the right photographer.
We have a huge post on how to choose your wedding photographer that you can read here. Taking engagement photos is a good way to test out your wedding photographer and also get comfortable with them. That way you will feel so great about them on your wedding day and you will have better photos.

Capture your personalities.
Your engagement photos are a great way to show off your engagement ring, but it is also such a good way to show off your love too. If you and your fiancé are playful, let that show in your photos. You don't have to be stiff and formal. This is such a happy time in your life; let your engagement photos reflect that.

BRIDAL BABBLE: What is your favorite engagement picture location idea?

DIY Checkered Flag Escort Cards #RaceDayRelief

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RaceDayRelief #CollectiveBias

When I was at our wedding, the banquet manager told me he could get me anything. He was great when I asked him for crab cakes, but he couldn't pull through when I asked him for Advil. With my feet sore from spending all day in high heels, combined with a headache from not eating and sleeping right the week before our wedding, I was left needing Advil.

Ever since, I make sure to always pack Advil when I go to a wedding in case the bride needs it. There's nothing that should stop her from enjoying every minute of her game day. Plus, Advil Film Coated is fast acting, so she can be back on the dance floor, ready to lead the conga line in no time.

Game day, race day ... if you're a sports fan, you probably want to incorporate that into your wedding in some way. If you're a racing fan, this post has you covered.

I made these super cute DIY checkered flag escort cards. There's a free printable for them at the end of the post, so all you need to do is save it and print it for your wedding.

DIY Checkered Flag Escort Cards

What You'll Need:

• Paper trimmer
• Pen
• Free printable

What You'll Do:

Print out our free printable (below). There are six escort cards per page and you'll need one per RSVP card.

Using the paper trimmer, cut out each escort card.

Write the names of your guests and their table number on the cards. Single people get their own; couples share an escort card.

Fold the cards in half and arrange them alphabetically at your welcome table so your guests will able to figure out where they are supposed to sit.

After race day, drivers and their cars need a bit of help to recover. After your race day (aka your wedding), you'll need help to recover too. Use fast acting Advil Film-Coated for headaches, muscle aches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, back pain, and aches and pains associated with the common cold.

You can pick up a bottle of 80 count Advil Film Coated at your local Walmart, where you may be picking up other wedding items anyway. Be sure to print out this coupon for $3 off 40ct+ Advil Film Coated before you go so you can save. And then, of course, invite Advil to your wedding!

Now, about that free printable:

It is formatted to fit an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, so you're able to print this at home. Just right-click the image, save it to your computer, and print it when you're ready. I would suggest card stock over typical printer paper so that these stand up all night. You could also make some checkered flag table numbers to add to your centerpieces to tie the theme together.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Would you make these DIY checkered flag escort cards?

10 Vineyard Wedding Invitation Ideas

I absolutely love the idea of a vineyard wedding. My friend's friend had one once and the save the date was a cork coaster. Ever since then, I thought it was such a great theme. A vineyard wedding means you'll definitely have great wine to serve. Plus, you can get away with just wine. That definitely cuts down on your bar tab. And favors are so easy. Go with wine glasses and your guests can actually use their favors immediately at your wedding. Brilliant.

If you're planning a vineyard wedding, you want to set the theme with your vineyard wedding invitations. Think wine glasses, vines, crimson ... basically anything from our list below.

10 Vineyard Wedding Invitation Ideas

1. Cheers Contrast Party Invitations
2. Vineyard Wedding II Invitations
3. Sealed With Love Wedding Invitations
4. Little Wine Charmers Wedding Invitations
5. Vineyard Invitation Kit
6. Intricate Vines Wedding Invitations
7. Modern Vineyard Wedding Invitations
8. St. Helena Wedding Invitations
9. Charming Cask Wedding Invitations
10. Tuscany Wedding Invitations

If you're unsure about your wedding invitations, samples can help. Get eight samples from Wedding Paper Divas.

BRIDAL BABBLE: Which of these vineyard wedding invitation ideas goes best with your wedding?