Scented Weddings
Holiday touches for your wedding
By Natalie Tsang
November 23, 2011
I think that November and December weddings are full of festive cheer. Don't you? This blog post is about how to work in your favorite seasonal scents and flavors into your wedding ceremony and reception.
Cinnamon
Ah cinnamon. Michael Ondaatje'sThe Cinnamon Peeler is one of my favorite love poems. The smell of cinnamon can be loud and strong, but it can also be subtle and lyrical. It's a smell that can linger half noticed, while adding warmth and depth. The red color of cinnamon candies reminds me of kisses. Can you imagine apple in the autumn without cinnamon?
While cinnamon scented candles might be a bit overpowering, cinnamon dusted desserts or beverages are a well-appreciated finish to a cold crisp day. The color of cinnamon as an accent is also warm and slightly exotic. Long ago, cinnamon was a precious spice brought to Europe by ship or by caravan. It traveled along the Silk Road and while the bark might be tropical, ground cinnamon reminds me of sand and long journeys.
What better way to commemorate all you've been to together then with a touch of cinnamon?
Caramel
I love caramel. At its most basic form, it's just a sweetener heated over to a point close to but not yet burning. It's a childhood favorite, served with apples, on ice cream, in countless other easy desserts and snacks. At its height, its sweet, salty, with a slight bitterness or smokiness. It's complicated. It's sticky, it's delicious, and it ranges from a mahogany colored glass to a buttery, golden brown sauce.
My favorite trait about caramel is that it's playful and flexible. It can be the star of the show like in a creme caramel, or a sweet undercurrent like a spoonful in your coffee. Think about introducing this to your guests as a dessert, drink, or favor as a chewy candy or brittle. Instead of a wedding cake, consider a croquembouche, and impressive tower of cream puff carefully held in place with caramel.
Peppermint
While caramel soothes and cinnamon titillates, peppermint rejuvenates and refreshes. Medical reports have shown that peppermint improves recall and is used to treat insomnia; and peppermint has been used for hundreds of years as a medicinal herb. I love the bright clean flavor. While you might think about using peppermint as a palate cleanser after dinner, a small shoot of this hardy plant also makes a good favor. Or a few packets of tea.
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