Ashtray Ideas

View Quoted Comment Not considering your nonsmokers is inconsiderate to those guests. Last wedding I went to without designated smoking areas, I was coughing for the majority of the wedding. Not to mention I had to throw out my skirt I wore because it was impossible to get the smoke smell out of it after that. Do you really want your wedding dress to smell like cigarette smoke? If you're renting your FS tux or suit, how would they feel about you returning a tux or suit that reeks of cigarette smoke?

As to your question, there is no way to make am ashtray look cute. Period. Just paint it one of your wedding colors and call it a day.

If you provide a detail in your post, others are allowed to comment on that detail, even if it's not your main question. In the future, if you'd like to avoid people commenting on extra details, try only including the details you'd like to receive feedback on.

For example, if you had simply said you're having a backyard wedding, have smokers on your guest list, and are in need of cute ashtray ideas, you would have just gotten ashtray ideas. Since you provided all the extra details about you not liking the idea of having a separate smoking area and possibly placing the ashtrays so that guests who want to smoke will be encouraged to smoke around non-smoking guests, you're going to get feedback regarding your idea to not place the ashtrays in a designated smoking area, too. It's no different than when a poster asks for venues that will allow self catering because they are having a hard time finding one...of course they're going to get feedback about how self catering is a bad plan and why many venues don't allow it, and not necessarily responses that list venues that might allow self catering. The feedback is relevant to the details provided.

View Quoted Comment All of that is perfectly fine. I posted details in hopes to avoid all the advice to have a designated smoking area. I was hoping that if it was known that I have made the decision and have reasons behind it, then we could focus on the actual question at hand. Regardless, opinions are great, until they start getting rude. This forum is designed to help and share with others. Notice how I did not reply negatively to any opinions posted.. until I felt it was more than just an opinion and more so a rude comment. It's unnecessary. If people don't have anything helpful to say on a discussion, they should move along to the next one.
For everyone who has been giving helpful ideas or advice: thank you!

People are way too quick to call something rude when it is not at all. It just doesn't happen to validate your opinion.

View Quoted Comment Except those of us giving feedback on your choice to compromise the health and well-being of your non-smoking guests do believe we are being helpful (to your non-smoking guests) by offering you a viewpoint that you seem to not have considered. Your choice to encourage your smoking guests to intermingle while they smoke so they don't miss out on anything will simultaneously affect your non-smoking guests' ability to participate. They will have to leave the area, or possibly even leave your event shortly after it begins. Whereas you could choose to put the ashtrays in a designated area to accommodate your smoking guests so they do not have to leave entirely to smoke, and your non-smoking guests won't have to go home because they can't find a spa e that is smoke-free.

Again, if you provide the detail, we can comment on it.

Ugh so much smoking hatred in this thread. The OP is right, it’s unnecessary for people to proclaim their indignation when she was asking for specific ideas. As a smoker I appreciate when someone planning a wedding I’m attending thinks about accommodating me, especially a non-smoker! And yes by the end of the night those designated smoking areas are packed, and there’s that many fewer guests enjoying the reception you spent so much time to plan! If there are a lot of smokers among your guests I’m sure you’re already aware of those friends and family members that don’t want to/can’t be around them, and can arrange seating accordingly. Now as far as suggestions go, I’ve used large clam shells as ashtrays for events and they look super cute, and cheap enough to just toss at the end of the night. Another idea would be short glass votives with colored sand, which could look cute even on the tables where they go unused. I’ve seen some online diy tutorials for making this kind of thing out of cut glass wine or beer bottles, so with a little time you could get it done very cheaply. Lastly, good for you for accommodating YOUR guests on YOUR wedding day! Don’t listen to the haters!

View Quoted Comment Thanks for your inspiration! These ideas are super cute!! ♡

I've been to family functions where a big (#10) can has been available as an ashtray. We've also used flower pots. If nothing else, paint the outside of the extra paint cans a specific color so that smokers can be directed to them. It's not unusual for smokers to know you congregate AWAY from the majority of party goers.

View Quoted Comment

I love your response to this, girl. Also an ex-smoker who sees things from both sides

View Quoted Comment

I disagree with your concern about the OP's fiancé's potentially rented suit. My FH smokes, has worn a rented suit, smoked in it, and returned it no problem. I'm sure each rental place is different, but I would assume that the vast majority of them are used to this happening to their products.

Maybe something like one of these and add your own personal touches?

OP, what about pregnant women who attend your ceremony? There is absolutely no way of knowing if everyone on your guest list is pregnant or not pregnant, this is just one reason why you need designated areas, not just out in the open like that for everyone.

Are you inviting children? I definitely would not want my children around all of that smoke for several hours.