15 Years of "Good Things" for Weddings

Featured Fall 2001

In grammar school, you predicted your future mate with the help of a few paper folds; now you know who he is, but that doesn't mean you can't still have fun with cootie catchers, calligraphed once and photocopied for guests to play along, too. Calligraphy, Bernard Maisner, bernard maisner.com. Printing, Intergraphics Litho, 212-631-7565.

Featured Spring 2000

Who says only one lucky lady is meant to catch the bridal bouquet? In this twist on the traditional toss, we gathered nosegays of roses, calla lilies, and ranunculus into one large bouquet and wrapped the stems of each bunch with seam binding secured with a bow. Attached to each bundle is a printed fortune for the receivers that, once caught, spreads nuptial joy far and wide. Seam binding, The Sewing Place, thesewingplace.com.

Featured Winter 2001

Tented place cards have always been a classic, but why not find inventive ways to display name cards -- tucked between the tines of a fork, like this one -- to mark each setting? What's more, many are twice as nice, doubling as takeaway favors guests won't want to turn down.

Featured Spring 1999

Another great place-card idea is this twig stuck into a tuft of moss in a terra-cotta pot.

Featured Spring 2001

And another great and easy idea, like this place card pinned onto an apple.

Featured Summer 2008

Looking for the perfect distraction for pew-bound guests awaiting the "Bridal Chorus"? Branch out beyond typical wedding programs by adding a touch of druid whimsy to them. In "What Tree Did You Fall From?," a Celtic version of astrology, your guests find their birthday's corresponding tree, then see if the personality traits listed match, and let the conversations bloom.

Featured Winter 2008

Put a fresh spin on the cocktail hour with a signature garnish. Straws tied into "love knots" play on tradition and can be used to embellish drinks at your reception. These extra-long, flexible pink ones are a cinch to tie; plus, they match our glasses of sparkling pink lemonade. We'll drink to that! Crazy straws, ForYourParty.com.

Featured Summer/Fall 1997

Brides and grooms rarely get to eat more than a morsel on the big day, but here's a quick fix: Have a box of finger foods (refrigerated, natch) waiting at their hotel. Ours is stocked with caviar, cheese straws, and truffles, but a small bottle of bubbly wouldn't hurt! Similar wood box, J.B. Wood, jbwood.com.

Featured Winter 2000

When coming up with a centerpiece that is both budget-friendly and stunningly simple, think beyond flowers. Instead of decorating reception tables with familiar floral arrangements, construct pyramids of cardboard boxes, wrapped in pretty papers and ribbons, that triple as favors and table numbers. Fill each with cookies or candies, and stack them on a silver compote for an elegant look. Silver twine, Tinsel Trading, tinseltrading.com. Favor boxes, Bellaterra, bellaterra.net.

Featured Summer 2001

What's better than having sweet nothings whispered in your ear? How about tasting an unexpectedly sweet something on your tongue? Give guests a surprising touch of mocha in their after-dinner coffee with the help of some clever chocolate-covered spoons. The best part? You can make these a few days before your party: Just coat the bowl of each spoon with melted semisweet chocolate, and place them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. After all, who doesn't love a little chocolate at the end of the night?

Featured Winter 2000

Putting more thought into your wedding doesn't necessarily mean putting more money into it, as these quirky (not to mention easy-to-put-together) escort cards prove. Just hang rows of alphabetically arranged calligraphed envelopes by their unsealed flaps along a standard clothesline, with a note inside each telling revelers where they will be seated for the evening's festivities. Secure each envelope with a wooden clothespin and let the fun unfold. Calligraphy, Paperfinger, paperfinger.com.

Featured Fall 1999

Show guests the way to their tables with a sparkling sugared-fruit beacon they won't want to look away from. Here, wintry white compotes are piled with fresh lemons that have been coated in egg whites then rolled in sugar and glitter. For contrast, we tucked in some verdant eucalyptus. In fact, we love sugared fruit so much, we've dusted apples, pears, grapes, and plums, and placed them on cakes, too.

Featured Winter 2006

If you are a bride who wants to infuse your wedding with a bit of retro flair, then go ahead and play to type. Let friends and loved ones put their well-wishes on paper with the recognizable click and clack of an old-fashioned typewriter. You'll find inexpensive vintage machines online or at thrift stores or flea markets; they come in colors to go with any palette. After the wedding, roll the sheet into a scroll and keep it as a memento, then go back and read it whenever nostalgia strikes.

Featured Winter/Spring 1997

There's nothing wrong with wearing your heart on your sleeve -- or, in this case, hanging it in a doorway on your wedding day to symbolize your enduring love. To make this heart-shaped cluster of gardenias and stephanotis, the first "Good Thing" we ever published, simply purchase heart-shaped floral foam from a floral-supply store (make sure to water it), then insert the stem of each flower (any firm, flat bloom like carnations will do) into the foam, as close together as possible.

Featured Winter/Spring 1997

"Good Things" may be our trademark, but "Personalize It" is our mantra. One way to do that? Print the bride's and groom's names and the date of your wedding on a few rolls of custom ribbon. The uses for it are endless. Trim each of your boutonnieres and corsages with a length of it. You can also use it to embellish wrapped gifts for bridesmaids or to keep programs bound together. Or why not hang it from your bouquet as your something blue? Whatever you choose, it will make a statement that's as timeless as you are. Similar personalized ribbon, Name Maker, namemaker.com.

Featured Winter 2006

Offer a tiered treat your guests won't be expecting. We stacked sugar cookies to resemble wedding cakes. Each cookie is spread with royal icing; once the frosting sets, small dabs of icing secure the tower. Top with a sugar flower and serve individually for a dessert that takes the cake. Cookies, Eleni's, elenis.com.

Featured Winter 2001

Like the paper-lace valentines you used to pass out in class, the next three images inspire romance. Reinvent them by creating envelope liners out of folded square doilies, like the photo shown at left.

Featured Winter 2001

Or wrap votives in the paper to cast a warm glow over your reception.

Featured Spring 2009

Or use a metallic marker to pen a stately place card set against paper lace. It's darlingly adult, not lovey-dovey. Similar doilies, The Royal Store, theroyalstore.com.