I guarantee that you will LOVE this homemade caramel corn recipe. It will become a tradition in your family. You will pass the caramel corn recipe down to your children, your grandchildren. Yes, it’s that good. Darin’s aunt and uncle make this gourmet caramel corn every Christmas. Auntie Di cut the recipe out 40 years ago from The Toronto Star Weekly. It’s one of the treats that we look forward to most around the holidays.

If you are looking for a scrumptious DIY wedding favor – read on! I am not only sharing the homemade caramel corn recipe – but tomorrow I’ll be offering up a tutorial on how to make your favors look extra lovely – along with freebie labels to go with your homemade caramel corn.

Honestly, your guests will think they’ve died and gone to heaven when they pop these gourmet goodies into their mouths. Beware: if you are making this for your wedding, store in a cool (not cold), dry place that is out of the way. You don’t want these in your range of vision. Otherwise there won’t be any left for your guests!

A glass chapel in the woods? Can you believe how beautiful it is? Breathtaking. That’s what it is. Imagine getting married here? Where is it, you ask?

This gorgeous glass chapel is at Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs, Arkansas. The wedding was shot by Becker.

Dale and Chris got married this past August in a little town called Moclips on the Washington Coast. Their beach wedding had only 35 guests – and lots of DIY touches. Thanks to Mosca Photo for the lovely photos!

When I hear the word ‘corsage’ I’m instantly transported back in time to the high school prom I didn’t attend. The smell of carnation and baby’s breath fills my nostrils, along with a hint of rose. And then I am reminded of elderly ladies in church.

The corsage does not have a sexy image.

But corsages ain’t what they used to be.

Although fresh flowers are still an option, many creative brides and grooms are turning the corsage on it’s head – using everything from felt and ribbon, to berries, leaves and acorns.

Here are a couple of DIY corsage ideas that I thought were fun!

Planet Mithi made ribbon brooches instead of traditional corsages for the members of her wedding party, and also for her immediate family.

She writes:

“The photo frames are little dollhouse frames that I spray-painted white. The whole thing is stuck/sewn to a backing piece of felt onto which I attached a safety pin. Fairly straight forward you would think – but it took a long time: sourcing the right colours and combinations of ribbons; doing all the sewing – especially sewing all the names on; sourcing all the photographs; and just in general putting it all together.”

But Planet Mithi says it was worth the effort.

“I am SO happy with these,” she says, adding that she is going to frame some of them.

Mark Montano’s The Big-Ass Book of Craftscreated an Urban DIY Corsage that’s worn around the wrist and made of recycled materials.

Get the full instructions on how to make an Urban DIY Corsage over here.

And then there is always Martha who offers some lovely DIY corsage ideas in her book Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration. I bought this book a few months ago, and it’s a must-have for anyone with a penchant for DIY. There are oodles of craft projects that can be incorporated into your wedding.

Adina, 29 & Whitman, 29

Los Angeles, California

Wedding Date: March 31, 2009 (10 year anniversary from their first kiss)

Number of Guests: 3

Wedding Cost: $7,000 (includes rings, dress, suit, officiant, flowers)

Wedding Ceremony Location: Silverlake, Los Angeles at bride’s great-grandmother’s garden

Wedding Reception Location: The SmogShoppe, Culver City on June 27, 2009

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Whitman and I have been together for so long, it was as if we were already married.  We wanted to have a private ceremony because we wanted to keep it simple and intimate.  Having too many people around would be distracting to both of us and we wouldn’t be able to enjoy ourselves.