COFFEE!!!

[blueyes157]

Well, I saw a wonderful idea on one of those MANY wedding shows... using coffee in the centerpieces. We are planning to do a fall wedding, with browns, reds, and oranges. The smell would be heavenly! I also thought using some cranberries too. Each centerpiece a bit different.

Does anyone know where to get coffee in bulk? I searched on the internet, but all the bulk coffee available is expensive brands and the most I have seen is 15lbs. My mom suggested writing to coffee companies. They might have expired beans (I don''t know if beans expire) that they could give us free or cheap and we could pay the shipping.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I love that idea and actually considered it myself. We ended up going with cranberries (cranberries were being harvested that week in new england, so it fit the bill) and they were great. Back in college I used to work in a coffee house and we used to throw out old bags of coffee, so when I was still considering coffee I called local coffee shops to find out if they were throwing out old bags of coffee beans. I didn''t really have that much luck, but just wanted to let you know it could be an option.

 

[blueyes157]

For the cranberries, did you use dried or fresh? I don''t know all that much about cranberries, but are they "mushy" when fresh or are they still firm enough to last for a few days? Do they go bad easily?

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I used fresh. I know you can buy fresh ones and freeze them for a long, long time. Since they were in season this time of year I just bought mine a few days before and they weren''t soft at all. In fact, I still have about 5 bags laying around that haven''t even been in the fridge for a week and they haven''t started going soft. The color was perfect, too, because were were doing deep reds and dark oranges (for fall). I used cranberry satin napkins, champagne-colored satin table cloths, then filled lanterns with the cranberries with candles and had several votive candles on the table. The dark reds in the craberries looked great in the candlelight--much prettier in person than I imagined in my head. I even had dark red hypericum (they look just like cranberries) in my bouquet with deep red roses, mango callas and some other flowers, so we were able to tie in the cranberries in that way, too.

I think the coffee beans would be great, too. You can''t beat the smell of coffee and the rich browns would look great! I''d use a lighter roast so that the beans aren''t so dark they look black. I''ve seen a couple of bouquets with coffee beans in them, though if I remember correctly they aren''t brown.

How many centerpieces are you having? I just looked at coffebeandirect.com and it looks like you can get a 25lb. burlap bag of coffee for a little over $100, which doesnt'' seem too bad. 25 lbs. seems like a lot of coffee, that''s probably more than enough. Plus it would be really easy to do coffee-themed favors--little bags of coffee, mugs, chocolate-dipped espresso beans, something like that. I didn''t do any favors, but I did have welcome bags for everybody and one of the items in the bag was some local coffee which people loved.

Anyway, I''m just rambling. I think either would be great!

 

[blueyes157]

NewEnglandLady you are so helpful. I will deffinitely be checking out that coffee site. Haha 100lbs does seem like a lot! Maybe the guests can throw coffee at us too... haha just kidding!

Thanks again!

 

[Jas12]

Do you know anyone who works/owns a grocery store or big-box store like a walmart? I am sure a lot of places have expired product that they would sell at a reduced cost. I would just go and ask a manager--easier than having something shipped.

I like the idea--it would smell great I think (if the flowers don''t over power it

 

[partyjewels]

This is why I love these boards, I don''t know why I never thought of using coffee beans, but it''s a wonderful idea!! So are cranberries. We''re looking to do simple centerpieces in fall colors (we don''t intend to use any flowers on the tables) and so far all we have are lanterns (that are a BRIGHT BRIGHT orange that need to be repainted or no one will take them home!). The plan was to see if I can find any good looking fake fall leaves (i''m picky so this has been difficult, but i haven''t looked too much yet) and then use some of the little gourds that look like tiny pumpkins. Do you think coffee beans would look ok in laterns with coffee beans under the candles and than the pumpkins around it? I don''t mean to hijack your thread, you''ve just got me all excited with this new idea you''ve put into my head

 

[Gwyn]

Me too, I totally love the idea and with expresso as a color in my wedding it would be perfect!

Ill look around for bulk coffee and get back to you if I find any deals.

How many pounds do you think are needed. If we both, or others, end up going with this idea then another option would be to pay for a larg bag and then split it or something.

 

[partyjewels]

I''m going to check around with local coffee shops, I also like the idea of doing coffee things as favors, and maybe coffee shops would be more likely to give out their old beans if you''re buying fresh product from them as well? My fiances best mans mother (who is like a second mother to my FI and she''s also just plain AWESOME) also happens to have ties with my FAVORITE coffee place, so I''ll start with her I''ll let ya know if I get any good feedback from the places I check!

 

[monarch64]

GREAT idea!!! Aside from buying in bulk, would it be possible to get friends and family to donate any of their unused old beans??? Just a thought...

 

[Harleigh]

I love the coffee beans in centerpieces, but I also would love to see pix of NELady''s cranberries! What a fabulous idea!!!

For the coffee beans, I would look into the local dollar stores...they get tons of that kind of stuff that is expiring soon or has already expired. Also, I don''t know where you are, but I was just at a Big Lots store and they had whole coffee beans of some off-brand. I didn''t even think to look at the price, but if you want, I can check the next time I''m in one.

Have you looked at the warehouse stores like Sam''s Club or Costco? I know they also sell whole bean coffee, but they might be a bit too pricey.

I can''t wait to see what you end up doing!