How To: Tie a Perfect Bow Every Time

Here in the love totes studio, we tie a LOT of bows when we are assembling our client's out of town gift bags. And obviously, they have to look gorgeous every time.

I'm a pretty crafty girl, but until I got into the business of tying bows (wink), I thought it was nearly impossible to tie a Martha-perfect bow without driving myself crazy. Well, here's the secret - it's not! I was totally over thinking it. It does take a little patience, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy peas. Promise!

Okay, here we go - How to make a perfect bow when assembling your DIY welcome bags, gifts or wedding favors:

Step One: Loop your ribbon of choice over the handles of the welcome bag so that both tails lay on the front of the bag.

Step Two: Cross the right tail over the left.

Step Three: Bring the original right tail behind the original left tail, then up through the hole that the two tails have made.

Step Four: Pull tight and (this is important!) take a little time to arrange and straighten your knot so it looks pretty... a nice foundation makes a better house and all that.

Step Five: Make a loop with each tail

Step Six: Cross the left loop over the right loop, then bring down through the hole that the two loops have made (sort of the opposite of what you did with the two tails in Step Three). Again, try to be sure that everything looks pretty - no twists or weirdnesses (yes, on this blog that's a word even though my spell checker says it isn't) that will cause problems later.

Step Seven: Pull tight. I know, it's not perfect yet. This is where the patience comes in.... Spend a little time arranging your bow and it's tails so they look how you want them to. You may need to pull the tails, then re-tighten the loops a couple times until you get there, but it's totally worth it.

For this project, I used a soft, wide satin ribbon, which makes a nice, full bow.  If you are using a stiffer ribbon, like a grosgrain, it's a little trickier, but I promise, if you take the time to do it right, it will be be perfect and it will look like a bow tying pro created those gorgeous welcome totes!

Have fun and good luck! Let me know if anyone out there needs more pointers!

xo

Bridesmaids Gifts

I just came across these adorable totes from Alphabet Bags via London Bride.  They are just perfect for Bridesmaid gifts, no?

I would fill these with a pretty wrap, a little bling and a cute love note telling my girl just how much I heart her.

What will you gift your girls on the big day? Would you ever use one of these totes as a welcome bag for your out of town wedding guests? I kinda heart them enough to add them to our stock! Give me an excuse to do it...!

xo

Love Totes in YOUR city?

Are you a wedding planner, vendor or enthusiast interested in bringing Love Totes to your city?  Send us a little love note today! hello@love-totes.com

Welcoming Guests... To Your Home!

Welcome bags are not only for wedding guests.  Recently my SIL and her husband came to stay for the weekend, and I put together a little welcome basket just for them filled with water bottles, new tooth brushes and tooth paste, floss, lip balm... all the sleepover necessities.

What do you do for your weekend guests? How do you show your guests some love when they come to stay?

Happy weekend!
xo

Our Favorite Love Totes

I'm SO excited about our new line of FAVORITE love totes!


By the Sea

In the City

Or Over the Mountains... which bride are YOU?

DIY Welcome Bags

In my last post, I mentioned that things like welcome bags (not to mention wedding favors, seating charts, and sometimes wedding vows) are "last minute items".  Meaning that they tend to stay at the outer edges of your mental to-do list until the last possible moment... a project to get to later.


To some people that might sound awful.  Who wants to be thinking about affixing labels and tying pretty bows in the week leading up to the wedding?

I however, identify with those of you who might find yourself in that same situation and actually relish it!  Sometimes you need something to focus on during those days/weeks/months (whatever it is for you) leading up to the big day.

I know all about this - needing to focus on something at the last minute was something I clearly needed.  Here's the product of my crazy 3 days prior to my wedding need to craft:

Yup.  That's a linen, covered in feathers.  Each one carefully hand glue gunned on there by me.  Three days before my wedding.  Crazy, I know.

BUT, I do have to say, the only sort of sane thing about this was it was a detail that didn't really matter!  Who would have cared if this never made it's wedding day debut? No. One.  Not even me.  It was a great, calming, creative release in a time where I needed something to do to get away from the craziness.  But it didn't matter if it didn't work out.  It didn't matter if it wasn't perfect.

So - all of you out there that need something, I say go for it!  But don't let it stress you out.  I say:

If you want to hand write your table numbers? Go for it - if it doesn't work out, your caterer is sure to have back ups.

If you want to create packets of lavender buds to toss during the ceremony? Do it!

Want to write a song for your brothers to sing during your first dance?  Don't (seen this one before).  Or, if you do, have a back up plan.

Want to assemble & deliver your own welcome bags?  Don't.  It won't be fun, promise.  Outsource to a friend (or to Love Totes! Yes, that is a shameless plug).

Want to be-dazzle a custom sash for your bridesmaid's dress?  Sure!

I know you fellow crazy crafters are out there - speak up!  What will you be taking on in your pre-wedding craze?  Or am I the only crazy one?

xo

What Should I Put in My Welcome Bags?

I've heard this question a lot.  I know, I know, welcome bags are literally like, the last thing on your mind when planning a wedding.  They (along with other last minute details) tend to be forgotten until the last spare moments before the big day - aka the opposite of a time in life that you want to be adding another project to your plate - trust me, I've been there.

SO, what I think is this: keep it simple.

Simple means something different to everyone, I know, but really a welcome bag can be built on a very simple foundation: Welcome guests with a personalized note, add in a snack or two (Do you have a favorite snack?  Is there a local treat that your out of town guests HAVE to try? Working with a pretty color scheme you can build off of?), don't forget a little morning-after remedy for your guests and wrap it up pretty to coordinate with the rest of your wedding day details.

Now, of course, you can get much fancier than that, but really, I think the key to a great welcome bag is in the design.  The snacks and other goodies are great, but the thing that will really stand out is the details.

Now, for some of my favorite fun things to include in your welcome bags:

Gourmet Pistachio Nuts, Lobster Lollies & Letterpressed Nautical Coasters are adorable (and yummy!) for a summer wedding in New England.

Honestly, who wouldn't love to see a vintage coke bottle in their out of town guest welcome bag upon arrival?

Kinda obsessed with these stripey straws.  Seriously.

How pretty is this? Artisan loose tea leaves, gourmet honey, keep calm and cycle on match box, a custom "merci" welcome note, and a mini care kit (advil, pepto, shout wipes & gum in a cute little muslin bag).  Adore the kraft gable box with blue satin ribbon!

I am also LOVING the water bottles wrapped in ribbon, topped with a stripey straw.  Forget custom water bottle labels!  Way cuter.

What will you add to your welcome bags?  What are your favorite local snacks??

xo