Enjoy Local Favors at Your East End Wedding
A discerning East End couple needs something distinctly local to give as wedding favors. Before entering into wedded bliss, local brides-to-be look to East End purveyors for cookies, jellies, jams, honey, chocolate and potato chips to use as wedding favors and welcome bags. Long gone are the days when one would walk out of the wedding reception with a ceramic tchotchke enclosed in white netting with pastel eggs inside. Today’s brides are looking for more distinctive gifts to bestow on their wedding guests, and they are finding them all over the East End.
Since 1980, Tate’s Bake Shop in Southampton has been enchanting customers with founder Kathleen King’s incomparable cookies. “We do a lot of [wedding favors] now,” says marketing director Jamie Kohl. “With 15 flavors and minimal packaging; the bride can really customize the order.” Now an internationally known brand, Tate’s is in the process of evolving while still maintaining its home-baked roots. “Since being bought by a private sector company, we are launching a whole evolution, but not a revolution,” says Kohl. “We want to expand our product line and update our look, but Kathleen is still very much involved and most of our products are still made by hand.” Visit Tate’s storefront at 43 North Sea Road in Southampton or head to tatesbakeshop.com for more information.
Specializing in luscious condiments, Southold’s A Taste of The North Fork also offers wedding day goodies. “The products from The Taste of The North Fork are mostly locally grown and prepared with the utmost respect for quality,” says Manager GP Lane. Attention to detail is important. Lane does the wedding favor packaging himself. Brides-to-be can purchase 2.5 ounce jams and jellies as favors. Strawberry rhubarb, raspberry and North Fork white and red wine jellies are among the favorite varieties. Visit A Taste of the North Fork at 2885 Peconic Lane in Southold or call GP Lane at 631-758-8760 for personalized service.
What could be more East End than a tribute to Long Island potatoes at your wedding? Third generation potato farming couple Martin and Carol Sider started North Fork Potato Chips in 2004. Couples are flocking to this company for wedding favors and chips to toss into welcome bags. “We have a story, we are potato farmers and we try to impart that in everything we do,” says Carol Sider. “We try to do things in a unique way and accommodate the bride in whatever capacity she desires. We have seven types of chips but the brides like to match the packaging with their color scheme. Whatever she wants!” Visit northforkchips.com or call Carol at 631-734-2243 for additional information.
Give your guests homemade cookies that look just like the groom, or like the bride’s bouquet—or even like the venue—with cookies by Eat Something Cute. This growing business, based in Center Moriches, customizes scrumptious cookies perfect for your special day. They have a knack for brilliantly executing images that the customer requests them to design. Email [email protected] or visit their website at eatsomethingcute.com to place an order.
Another notable source of wedding favors includes artisanal chocolatiers Hampton Chocolate Factory (HamptonChocolateFactory.com), or find organic and rustic themed wedding favors at Organic Harvest in East Marion (theorganicharvest.com). Visit Greenport’s Vines and Branches for olive oils and vinegars (vinesandbranches.net). There is an East End wedding favor for every taste and style.
Flattering your guests’ taste buds is always a good thing, and you will undoubtedly have succeeded if you toss any of these elegant, appetizing snacks their way.