StyleSchool

I've always loved candles, but run into the same dilemma: I refuse to light them! They’re just too pretty to burn into a mound of wax. If you’re like me, consider your problem solved. Agraria’s Petite Crystal Cane Candles ($35; agrariahome.com) are just as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside.

We love the idea of using them to illuminate a long reception table. They’re an instantly modern accent to centerpieces and the clean scents won’t spoil the taste of the food. Once the reception winds down, pop on the silver lids and let guests take them home for hours more burning pleasure.

The California-based fragrance company has a candle for every color palette: Lavender & Rosemary for purple weddings, Lemon Verbena for yellow, and mission fig would be stunning at a Napa valley wedding. Our office favorite is the Golden Pomegranate for its sweet, fruity scent.

Whatever candle your choose, don’t feel bummed by keeping it lit all day. Once the wax is gone, you’re left with a pretty crystal jar (which is more than you can say for a lot of other candles).

With less and less cash to spare, more and more brides are looking for creative ways to save. Ladies, rejoice: I’ve found your solution.

Oriental Trading has been around for years and they’re a great resource when planning a wedding. There are great items for your ceremony and reception, and the favors (even all of the personalized ones) are only a fraction of the price you’d pay elsewhere. A set of personalized champagne flutes are $13! A total steal!

Another fave from Oriental Trading? Their destination wedding selection, including reception decorations and favor packaing. Scoop up a bunch of these products—like this seashell wedding book—to dress up your locale at a fraction of the cost.

—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor

Absinthe is back. The century-old liqueur, once banned in the U.S. for it’s rumored hallucination potency, has resurfaced without the phantasm effects. The anise tasting spirit is making a splash at New York hotspots like the Kobe Club and Waverly Inn, and has started appearing at weddings and events as well, says celeb party planner David Stark, who is getting a ton of request for Absinthe bars for affairs he is organizing.

So, why not add a little oh la la to your reception by augmenting the usual champagne fountain with one designed to serve absinthe ($47, drinklucid.com). The art deco-inspired vessels dispense ice water and are used to prepare a glass of the "green fairy" in the traditional French manner: pour the liqueur into a glass, rest a flat, slotted spoon, on which you’ve placed a single sugar cube, across the rim of the glass and slowly drip cold water over the cube so that the sugar melts into the glass.

Cheers!

—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant