re: Wedding Favor Ideas - Homemade Strawberry Jam!

I have ALWAYS loved this idea and was planning to do this for our wedding (except with raspberries from our back yard). I was even going to but "How Sweet it Is" on the home made tag (go ahead and steel that idea... I'm not using it). However the more and more I thought about it, the more daunting the task seemed to become. For all you brides out there who want to do this, just make sure you have plenty of TIME and ENERGY to get it done, and that you've got someone there who really knows what they are doing. Also, make sure that you make a batch in advance and TASTE it to make sure it turns out alright.

Personally, I don't have the time, or anyone around with the right equipment or knowledge for this to be feasible, but for those of you under different circumstances and with more ambition, more power to you, and you will surely have favors that will be remembered by your friends and family.  

Posted by csartini    Saturday, March 07, 2009 1:44 PM

re: Wedding Favor Ideas - Homemade Strawberry Jam!

I make oodles of jam and jelly every year from the peaches and grapes in my mom's yard. While making this year's batches, I got the idea of putting them in smaller jars (like 2-4 oz instead of 8), and giving them out as favors.  I figure, I'd be doing it anyway, so why not, right?  I'm getting married in October and the fruit ripens here in August or September, so I'd be dong them at least a month in advance, which leaves the month leading up to the wedding freed up for other DIY projects.  The fruit's free, so that's a bonus, so my only cost is the little jars, which I can find for about $.50 on the internet, and the pectin and sugar. which are cheap enough.  My dad looked at me like I had two heads when I told him my idea, so I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who had this idea.  If anyone is thinking of doing this, and you haven't ever canned anything before, make sure to do your research.  Canning is easier than you'd think it is, but it can also be very dangerous if you don't do it right (think 200 guests with food poisoning).  With that said, though, if you take the appropriate precautions, and do your homework on learning how to can (check with your local university extension office), it really isn't that scary.  Good luck!

Posted by RMGates    Thursday, March 12, 2009 4:21 PM

re: Wedding Favor Ideas - Homemade Strawberry Jam!

Ooh, I'm so doing this! My mom already likes to can homemade jellies and jams and our wedding is going to be an afternoon in the park... perfect! I'm going to look for cool vintage fabric for the tops. And I'm already stamping our invites myself! So the stamps are already here. This is such a great idea.

Posted by jessicaleekaufman    Friday, March 13, 2009 7:01 AM