Cymbidium orchids in assorted colors are tucked into handmade paper cones, then affixed by ribbon to a board covered in pink linen to create a garden of floral favors. Each blossom is anchored in a tiny vial of water to ensure that it will bloom for a full week.
A cluster of potted zinnias adds charm to the table at a country or casual wedding. A sign next to the display asks guests to "Please pick one." The theme that inspires the favor continues at each place setting: Seeds packaged in glassine bags are attached to each of the tented place cards with yellow twine that is inserted through two small punched holes, then tied in a bow.
Lush floral centerpiece blooms double as favors when you provide guests with waterproof bags to take flowers home in. Have cellophane ones custom-printed with a message asking guests to pick a few flowers. Set them out with twist ties to cinch bags closed, and at party's end your guests can carry on (and carry off) a bit of the celebration.
Boxes topped with flowers make a beautiful centerpiece; a table number is embroidered onto ribbon encircling the largest box. Inside, the stems sit in water bottles stabilized by crumpled paper. Favor boxes, which contain nonpareils, double as place cards.
Give guests sprightly bouquets of their own: Choose arrangements of 'Ping Pong' mums, chamomile, and lady's mantle (or other blooms to fit your color scheme). The flowers are held in small plastic floral tubes filled with water. Cones of decorative green paper hide the tubes.
Perfect as a centerpiece for the party or as individual guest favors (perhaps at a shower), stunning orchids emerge from terra-cotta pots painted white and arranged on saucers; a butterfly-shaped tag on a thin wire holder hovers over each plant.
Painted metal buckets brimming with blooms call to mind a French flower market. But these bunches, wrapped in colored waxed tissue paper, are not for sale; they're meant to be given as wedding favors. Display them near a doorway or throughout a reception hall on tiered metal stands painted to match the buckets. At day's end, post a card inviting guests to pick a bunch.
Demure and delicate, African violets are pretty little packages and, with minimal effort, can make a dazzling display. Simply slip the potted plants into panettone molds, cluster on three-tiered plate stands or let stand solo, and tuck a handwritten note inside.
Hexagonal favor boxes wrapped with colored satin ribbons make a bold statement when arranged on a table to form graphic, flowerlike designs. Stash little treats such as a few Jordan almonds inside, and let guests pluck one from the field.
Give petite flowers a larger presence by arranging them in the form of a heart. With this centerpiece there are enough blooms for every guest to take a cluster or two home. To ensure that the design stands out, use short, small vessels, such as eggcups. We combined a vibrant collection of ranunculuses with all-white details. Candles placed inside the heart will showcase the flowers into the evening.
