Tips for the Hottest Trend in Weddings -- Personalized Touches

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(ARA) - "I want it to be 'special.'" That's what you'll hear from most brides when asked what they expect from their wedding.

But, what makes a wedding special? The dress? The cakes? The reception? According to 90 percent of Americans, personalizing a wedding celebration gives it that special touch.

The possibilities for personalization are endless, but respondents to a recent Harris Interactive survey for Masterfoods USA had some definite ideas about the topic. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would use candies that match their wedding colors as favors. The survey also indicated that a significant portion of respondents would use candies as centerpieces (22 percent) and as wedding cake decorations (19 percent).

With candy being a top trend for personalizing portions of weddings, couples can add special touches to their ceremonies, receptions and parties without a lot of expense. And, they can match their wedding colors or brighten a wedding shower or casual affair by using candy such as Colorworks, 21 vibrant colors of M&M'S milk chocolate candies that can be purchased by individual colors. As a matter of fact, one of the main reasons people purchase Colorworks is for weddings, according to Masterfoods USA market research.

Favors

Favors can range from seashells for a beach wedding to Waterford crystal baubles for a more formal affair. From mini pastries to Colorworks, guests will leave with a small taste of the wedding.

To use as a favor, fill white, silver or gold organdy bags with the sweet treat. Use a blend of colors to match the wedding party, such as light and dark purples, or contrasting hues such as dark blue and white. Or sprinkle the candies inside a box with a small picture of the wedding couple in a silver frame to give guests an extra special gift.

Centerpieces

For most people, planning a wedding means a lot of parties ... wedding showers, family parties, the rehearsal dinner, and, of course, the reception. Making these events special often means using colorful candy treats.

Food is a fun and easy way to create the right atmosphere. If the wedding couple loves Mexican food, the rehearsal dinner can be kept light and fun with a Mexican theme. Centerpieces can include cacti plants and piÀatas. Add some festive margarita glasses full of green and yellow beads that the guests can take with them.

Or, if the couple is more formal, make the theme black and white and use tea light candles and silver candy dishes full of black and white M&M's as your centerpieces.

Cakes

Countless receptions have centered on the wedding cake. And, why not? It tells a story about the tone of the wedding ... formal, light-hearted, themed ... and it brings a delicious end to the occasion.

For some special touches, place the cake on an heirloom china cake plate from your family's collection. Or, use the cake cutter the groom's parents used at their wedding. You can also decorate the cake table with family photos or baby photos of the bride and groom.

Then, there's decorating the cake itself. Cakes may be stacked, tiered or flat, and decorations range from flowers to fondant dressing to candy. If you're a flower fanatic, have the baker decorate with seasonal, fresh flowers. If you love architecture, the baker may be able to carefully craft a replica of a Frank Lloyd Wright pattern into the icing using sugarpaste! And, if you love candies, have them dotted along the decorations in the cake in your wedding colors or in pure white. Better yet, have the groom's cake decorated in the groom's favorite sports team's colors using M&M'S Colorworks.

So from silver trinkets to silver M&M'S, be creative with every aspect of your wedding day to make it even sweeter.

Available online at www.colorworks.com/bridal, by calling (888) COLOR88, and at specialty retail outlets.

Courtesy of ARA Content