Farmer’s Markets are chock full of great wedding goodies. Do your research by visiting area farmers’ markets as often as possible leading up to your wedding to stake out what you may like. Here is a short list of the amazing items you can find:

• Handmade Gourmet Candies: These make great favors. Check out our customizable containers to put them in.
• Wedding Bouquets: It is definitely important to know what’s in season for this one! However, you can pay as little as $5-20 for a bouquet of fresh, colorful, gorgeous flowers.  Wrap the stems of the bouquets with ribbon, securing with pearl-finished straight pins (less than $5 a pack at craft stores) and you have a professional looking piece. Try to buy flowers the day of the wedding, no more than two before. Store in cool water with a crushed aspirin to keep them fresh.
• Buy a few hollyhocks and tie them with a colorful ribbon for a simple, elegant centerpiece.
• For a more standout centerpiece, place larger bouquets in our Signature Vase. Guests can sign them and you have a beautiful set of memories to display for years to come!
• Fresh Food for the Reception: This takes work, but you can buy and slice fresh fruits, vegetables, and local, gourmet cheeses and breads for the cocktail hour of your reception. Make sure if your event is catered that this is okay with them. Alternatively, you can request that your caterer use local food as much as possible. You can even ask them to put it in your contract.
• Art: Some artist choose to display their handmade jewelry or paintings at farmers’ markets. You can get unique, beautiful wedding party gifts this way! Some artists are even willing to personalize their work for you to commemorate the occasion.

 These are the most common farmers’ market items, but check out your local one for even more! They vary in size, product, and price, but you should be able to find at least one way to incorporate a taste of home into your wedding. Make sure you know what’s in season in your area at the time of your wedding. For instance, don’t expect the strawberries you found June to be there in late August. Also, be sure to ask any vendors you particularly like whether or not they will be there when you come back. If you do the footwork, and have amazing people around you help make it happen, your wedding can be an amazing way to support your local community.

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger