A perfect blend

June — that magical time of long days and late sunsets, lush foliage and blooming spirits — has long been one of the most popular months of the year for weddings. For those of you with weddings to plan, why not make your day more memorable with a theme? And what theme could be more memorable than coffee?

Well, some things obviously: ceremonies performed in underwater cages surrounded by sharks, wedding parties painted green decked out in Shrek costumes, even stark naked, or couples strapped to the wings of planes for their I Do's are hard to top. Coffee is the sensible choice and a doddle to arrange by comparison.

Interest is definitely on the rise. Examples online of people who have pulled off coffee-themed weddings with elegance and flair is impressive. Ideas abound on Pinterest and Etsy. What's noticeable right away is how decorative coffee beans are and how variously they can be put to use: such as this bean laden, ring-bearing basket [pictured], which is so attractive it almost isn't peculiar.

What also isn't odd is a coffee bar — something all wedding receptions need to both fuel the festivities and contain the overly festive. Although servers and brewers that accommodate large events are often supplied by caterers or the venue itself [see here for what these options tend to look like], more intimate gatherings can incline to the imaginative and set tables in lovely ways with banners, condiment trays, servers, novelty mugs and/or disposable cups with DIY customized sleeves [see below].

Coffee-themed weddings or coffee-elevated weddings have become something of a thing with the rise of the budget-conscious DIY movement and the availability of resources via content-sharing online communities. Third Wave coffee culture with its emphasis on artisanal craft is also driving enthusiasm and, as you might expect, coffee industry professionals, who happen to fall in love with one another, are more likely to see the beloved beverage as matchmaker and one deserving of pride of place at their nuptials.

A case in point would be Drew Moody, founder of A Table in the Corner of the Cafe, who celebrated a love of the brew with his industry partner Ashley at their "the whole wedding was coffee-themed" event, complete with table cloths made from burlap (the sacks coffee beans are stored and transported in), antique brewers and hand grinders found at flea markets used as flower vases, bean-filled candle holders as table centerpieces and beans as wedding favours. Drew's blog on "Planning Your Coffee Themed Wedding" bounces with suggestions for amping up the coffee aspect of your big day, including links to other blogs for making coffee-themed invitations and ways to use burlap at your own wedding.

Just as coffee varieties are bountiful, so are suggestions for coffee-themed creativity: such as adding chalkboards with personalized messages and vintage coffee tins and cards for a coffeehouse vibe, mismatched mugs arranged artfully as a photo booth backdrop, liquor-like coffee shots and more [see: 14 Buzz-Worthy Wedding Ideas for Coffee Lovers and 7 Things Every Wedding Coffee Bar Needs to Have]. In fact, coffee as a style element is adorable! This inspiration for pour-over lovers [pictured] is both a clever and cute setup for a small ceremony [see here for pour-over specific cones, servers and kettles]. And of course many of these suggestions can be recycled for birthdays, housewarmings and celebrations of all sorts — including bridal showers and bachelor parties.

For food ideas, stop by the Green Beanery store and cafe at Bathurst and Bloor. Along with a range of coffee beverages, we serve cappuccino tartufo and crepes with coffee ice-cream. Continue to Pinterest and Yummly to browse recipes for similarly themed desserts and mocktails.

Although we don't offer a catering service as yet, we may be able to assist your event with an espresso/cappuccino station. Contact us directly with details of your requirements.

We do carry a small stash of stale beans that can be purchased for use as decoration. Do not go this route for wedding favours for your guests though! For that, you will need quality, fresh beans. Contact us here for suggestions.

Not that far along yet? For product recommendations that pop the question for you, see Marriage Proposal Ideas for Coffee Lovers.

As if we'd forget the music! Joe's Playlist is a collection of coffee-themed songs, so extensive it required its own blog: continue to Joe's Playlist.