10 Great Ideas For Those Leftover Mason Jars From Your Wedding

Last week's blog offered 10 ways to cleverly use mason jars at your wedding at our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville. Unless you choose to give them away as favors to guests, you are going to end up with a lot of mason jars after the wedding to take home. 

You could try to resell them to another bride planning a rustic wedding of her own, but there are plenty of great things you can do with the jars you decide to keep. Country Jewell has a few of those ideas for you here today.  

1. Snack Holders
Line your kitchen counter or cabinets with jars full of small snack items. It makes a pretty display in your kitchen and your snacks can be grabbed quickly when you get the munchies. These jars work perfectly for holding treats for your pets too. 

Mason jars also work well for packing lunch items. Salads can be layered in a way so that the dressing doesn't soak everything else before you eat it. At lunchtime, all you have to do is shake it up and pour it out onto a plate, or you can even eat it right out of the jar. As long as the lid has a good, tight seal, it makes a great soup container too. 

2. Gift Jars
There are lots of gift-giving opportunities throughout the year, so having a stash of mason jars for "gift boxes" is be a good thing. You can give away mini "spas" in a jar by filling it with nail polish, emery boards, lotions, bath gels, etc... They are perfect for filling with tasty treats too, and no one can resist getting food as a gift! There are also lots of tutorials online for filling mason jars with the dry ingredients for a recipe, all layered in an attractive way with the recipe tied to the lid.    

3. Herb Garden
These handy jars are nice containers to line your kitchen window with also. Fill them with a bit of dirt and plant your favorite herbs inside. Then you will have fresh herbs for cooking anytime that you need them. 

4. Kitchen Containers
Foods like pasta and rice often come in a bag that is not resealable. Any leftover dried goods that you have can be stored nicely in mason jars. Baking ingredients, such as flour and sugar, can be kept in these jars too. You know how those Parmesan cheese containers from the store have a lid with holes you can shake the cheese out of? That same lid fits most mason jars perfectly! 

5. Baking "Pans"
Glass can go into an oven, which means filling a mason jar with cake batter, bread dough, or muffin mix will result in fresh and hot treats you can serve straight out of their baking container. We have even seen some recipes that allow you to bake a wonderful single-serving pie in them. 

6. Desk Containers
Getting out of the kitchen and into other rooms in your home, mason jars are excellent at containing all sorts of household items. You can leave them plain so that the things inside are clearly visible, or you can get crafty and decorate them with paint, ribbons, or lace. On your desk, long items like pens, pencils, and scissors can be stored in an open jar, and smaller things such as paper clips, staples, and thumbtacks can be contained by adding the lid.  

7. Bathroom Containers
Just like on your desk, there are lots of things in the bathroom that can be kept neatly in a mason jar. Q-tips, cotton balls, makeup sponges, brushes, combs, bath salts... all sorts of things! 

8. Liquid Dispensers
The next time that you empty a shampoo or lotion bottle with a pump on top, save it. You can find lots of fairly easy tutorials online that instruct you on how to add a pump to the lid of a mason jar. Once that is done, you will have a reusable dispenser for soaps, lotions, and more. 

9. Waterproof Containers
If you like to go camping, use your jars to store matches so that they stay nice and dry. They are also great for keeping the scents from aromatic foods locked away so that animals aren't tempted to visit and examine what you're eating. 

10. Vases or Candle Holders 
You can also use your leftover mason jars all around your home in the same ways you used them at your wedding, filling them with candles or fresh flowers. As an added bonus, every time that you see one in a room, it will remind you of your very special wedding day!

We love seeing all of the creative things that people do with mason jars at our rustic wedding and event venue in Tennessee. If you've come up with some cool things to do with the extra mason jars after your own wedding at Country Jewell, we'd love to see those too. We bet you've got a few more great ideas that we didn't even think of. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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10 Ways to Cleverly Use Mason Jars at Your Wedding

If you are in the process of planning a rustic wedding in Tennessee, it is very likely that mason jars are on your shopping list. They are a staple for rustic wedding decor, and the perfect item to use for a variety of different ideas. Country Jewell has seen this done successfully in many different ways. Here are 10 that you may want to use for your own wedding. 

1. Flower Vases
This is probably the most common use for mason jars at weddings. They make excellent vases for holding floral arrangments for reception table centerpieces. You can also place a few empty ones on the head table to hold the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets during the reception. 

2. Candle Holders
Another item commonly used inside mason jars for centerpieces is candles. They contain the wax from melting votives nicely, and you can also put water inside them for floating candles. If you're into DIY candle-making, mason jars can be filled with wicks and wax in your wedding colors, making the entire item the candle rather than just a candle holder.   

3. Aisle Decorations
Mason jars can also be filled with flowers or flameless candles and placed on the ground on either side of the aisle that the bride will be walking down. If you wrap a pretty ribbon or string around the top, these decorations can also be hung from shepherd's hooks or the outside of the chairs on either side of the aisle.  

4. Drink Glasses
There is no better cup to drink out of at a rustic wedding than a mason jar! It fits the theme beautifully and can hold quite a bit of the beverage of your choice. Many today even come with handles attached specifically for this purpose!  

5. Escort Cards 
Go one step further and put guests' names and table numbers on the mason jar drink glasses. When they get to the reception, they will be able to easily find their seat and grab a drink on the way. 

6. Utensil Holders
Another thing that can fit neatly inside a mason jar is most of each guest's place setting. Put a pretty napkin inside, then place the utensils, straw, and anything else they may need for dinner inside too. They can be placed on a table at the beginning of the buffet line for guests to pick up.   

7. Place Cards
You can also place the utensil-holding mason jars at each place setting. Then, all you have to do is add the guest's name that will be sitting there and you instantly have your place cards taken care of! They fill out the decor on the reception tables too, meaning your centerpieces can be simpler yet the table will look full and beautiful. 

8. Dessert
You can cook baked goods directly inside mason jars like cakes and pies, meaning you won't need extra plates on the dessert table. They are also wonderful for holding non-baked desserts that can be layered and could even double as ice cream sundae bowls.  

9. Wedding Party Gifts 
Mason jars can be used as pretty containers for thoughtful items that your wedding party can use. For the ladies, you can make a "spa in a jar" by filling it with sample-sized lotion bottles, face masks or creams, nail polish, emery boards, etc... For the gentleman, possibly things they may need before the ceremony like gum, mints, snacks, and items like that, or single-serving bottles of their favorite booze and mini cans of soda or other mixers. 

10. Favors
These incredible jars can also be used to hold favors for your wedding guests to take home with them. Attach a note thanking them for joining you on this special day and fill the jar with candies, homemade treats, or the ingredients and a recipe for your favorite cookies. 

Those are just a few very simple ideas for ways that you can incorporate mason jars into your decor at our scenic wedding venue near Knoxville. Next week we'll have some great ideas for what you can do with all of those mason jar decorations after your Country Jewell wedding too! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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Show Your Dad Some Love on Your Wedding Day

Even though Father’s Day only comes around once a year, we know you love and cherish your father the other 364 days just as much. Why not go the extra mile on your wedding day to make sure your dad feels that love and appreciation? After all, he is the man who loved you first! Before walking with him down the aisle at our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville, remind your father of the V.I.P. he is. Here are a few sweet gestures for you to use for your wedding here at Country Jewell.

New Twist on the Father/Daughter Dance
The father/daughter dance is a sweet, sentimental tradition in which most brides partake during their wedding reception. Why not choreograph a special routine for when that time comes? Getting together for dance rehearsals with your dad will not only give you a break from the often hectic wedding planning, but it will also mean the world to your father to get to spend a little extra time with you.

Design a Special Boutonniere
Try reaching out to your florist to design a unique boutonniere for your dad. Since all the men in the bridal party typically have the same boutonniere, it will be special for the father of the bride to stand out. Plus, it will let your dad know that you put some extra time into thinking of him.

First Look – With Dad
On your special day, it's a safe bet that your dad will get emotional when he sees you all dressed up and ready to walk down the aisle – whether he shows it or not! Have your photographer capture that special moment when your father sees your wedding dress for the first time. His reaction will be priceless, and you’ll have the memory captured for years to come.

Mark His Reception Seat
On your wedding day, your dad will proudly wear the title “Father of the Bride.” It’s common to have special signs made for the reception to mark the chairs of the bride and groom, but your parents have special titles that they hold in high regard as well. Mark your father’s seat with a sign or something even more personal, such as a photo of the two of you from your childhood or a sentimental gift.

For Fathers Who Have Passed
Many brides’ fathers can’t be with them on their wedding day. It’s still nice on this special day to honor your father’s memory in some way. Some brides choose to place a photograph in a seat reserved for the father of the bride where he would have been sitting. There are also more personal ways to remember your dad, such as playing his favorite song at the reception or placing his favorite ball cap on his chair. Anything that is a symbol or your memories of him will be meaningful.

Though your wedding most likely won’t be held on Father’s Day, there are many ways to make him feel special on your big day here at Country Jewell. Remember, the man walking you down the aisle is just as important as the one you’re walking towards. Try out some of these sweet gestures at your own wedding at our scenic wedding venue near Knoxville, or we bet you can even come up with a few more of your own! Either way, take the time to thank your father for all he’s done leading up to your wedding day.

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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9 Fun Ideas For How To Exit Your Wedding In Style

After a long, successful, wonderful wedding day, you can plan one last fun surprise for your guests with a creative wedding exit to wrap up the celebration. Leave everyone with a final "WOW" moment when you exit our rustic wedding barn near Knoxville once the party starts winding down. 

Rice was the traditional item to toss at the bride and groom as they exited the church. This act was meant to be a symbol of showering the couple with abundance and fertility. People stopped doing this due to reports about the uncooked rice being harmful to birds that ate the pieces left on the ground. The good news is, that is just a rumor and birds are not harmed this way. 

Still, if you don't like the idea of rice stuck in your hair, bouquet, and folds of your beautiful bridal gown, there are plenty of creative alternatives to this tradition. Some of these ideas are perfect for your walk down the aisle after the ceremony, others are ideal for your reception exit, and some work equally well for both. Always check with your venue first to make sure the following ideas go along with their rules. 

Rice Alternatives
There are a lot of great things that your wedding guests can shower you with instead of rice. Colorful rose petals will look beautiful in photos and smell wonderful as they are thrown. Confetti provides another colorful exit, and confetti poppers make it easy to pass out and toss. There are biodegradable confetti options available too that means any pieces left on the ground after cleanup will be eco-friendly.  

Themed Items
This definitely makes for a very unique exit. Pull ideas either from your wedding theme, your occupations, or your favorite things. If one of you is a pilot or you will be leaving on a plane immediately after the reception, paper airplanes would be cool to have your guests fly over your heads. For big sports fans, let your guests shake pom poms in your wedding colors as you make your exit. Mini beach balls could be colorful, fun, and perfect for a summer wedding. 

Ribbon Wands
Ribbon wands are an excellent way to enjoy a colorful wedding exit, but without a lot of stuff on the ground to be cleaned up once you're gone. Long, colorful streamers are fastened to the end of a stick. Small bells can also be added so there is a delicate ringing while the wands are being waved. 

Bubbles
Thousands of lovely bubbles floating all around the two of you as you walk through the line of wedding guests bidding you farewell provides for some very dreamy photos. Also, since the bubbles disappear after they pop, this is another idea with no cleanup needed. 

Sparklers
Sparkler exits provide amazing wedding pictures, but they can be difficult to coordinate. Make sure that you buy the extra-long sparklers so that you have plenty of time to run through the aisle before they burn out. Have a few people in charge of lighting so that it happens quickly, and have buckets of water or sand for your guests to place their used sparklers in afterward. The timing for this type of exit needs to be fairly precise, and if you really want your photographer to get the perfect shot, you may be running through more than once. (It may feel staged, but totally worth it!)  

Candles
If you prefer less sparkle but still love the idea of leaving amidst a romantic glow, guests can line the aisle of your evening exit holding long taper candles. Once again, have a few people lighting them so the preparation for your exit goes quickly and smoothly.  

Glow Sticks
For this, you get bright lights with absolutely no fire involved! Much safer and a lot more colorful. You can pass the glow sticks out early enough for your guests to get some dancing in with them at the reception, and then when it is time for you to make your exit, they can make a runway for you with those glow sticks flashing in the air. 

Sky Lanterns
Flying paper lanterns are a popular way to create a dramatic wedding finale. They create a very ethereal ambiance, but guests will need guidance and teamwork to make them work correctly. If your venue allows these, make sure that your guests have detailed instructions on how to light them and let them go. You and your wedding party might want to do a practice run ahead of time so that you are able to assist others at the wedding.  

A Stylish Ride
You don't have to have things thrown at you or run through an aisle of anything to make a memorable exit. If you have some sort of impressive transportation to whisk you away after the wedding, that can make for an incredible exit too. Rent a classic car, limousine, or maybe even a horse-drawn carriage. If you're looking for something truly unique, a hot air balloon exit would definitely be something your guests will never forget!  

Making a grand exit when you leave our scenic wedding venue in Tennessee is an excellent way to end this special event, keeping the fun going until the very last moment. The natural setting at Country Jewell is a beautiful backdrop for most of the ideas above. Tell us what you have in mind, and we will do our best to make those ideas a reality. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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