Wedding Favors

Most brides today wish they could go out and buy anything and everything they want for their wedding and reception, but unfortunately most know that they need to stay within a certain budget. Because of that, many brides wonder the appropriate amount to spend on every item and accessory, including their wedding favors. How much is too much, and how little is too little? Having a budget is a good idea and even commendable, but no one wants to come across as cheap or tacky. So what is a good amount to spend on your wedding favors, and how can you get “the most bang for your buck,” so to speak?

Obviously the answer as to an appropriate amount for wedding favors will be different for every bride and every wedding. The one thing to keep in mind regarding your budget and your particular wedding is that your favors should be appropriate for the occasion itself; a more upscale wedding should have more elegant wedding favors, whereas a more casual wedding would offer more affordable and perhaps fun favors. If you have a wedding that includes a designer gown that everyone knows cost you thousands, held in a very old cathedral with a reception at a fancy country club, your guests may very well be offended or insulted by cheap plastic trinkets. On the other hand, fancy silver candlesticks may seem somewhat out of place at your barefoot beach wedding.

The size of your invitation list will also affect the budget for your wedding favors. Obviously the more people you have, the more those favors will cost you. If you absolute must have hundreds at your wedding, you may need to be a bit more modest when it comes to your wedding favors.

Your best bet for deciding the appropriate amount for wedding favors is to start with your budget overall, and once you’ve figured your dress, the catering, deejay, hall rental, and everything else, see how much that leaves you for favors. If the budget is somewhat skimpy at this point, you might want to see where you can make adjustments. Talk to your caterer about some options such as serving one less side dish, or see if you can cut back a little on decorations.

In any event, always plan on spending at least one dollar per favor; while you may not actually purchase wedding favors that are a dollar each, if you multiply that by how many guests you have, you then have you budget for favors overall. Two hundred guests equal two hundred dollars for favors; you can probably make something at home for that much. Assembling bags of chocolates or personalized candy bar wrappers that you wrap yourself are both good choices.

And if you have the budget for it, you might even consider gift bags with an assortment of wedding favors. Each favor might be somewhat modest, but if you wrap them individually in beautiful wrapping paper and then nestle them in tissue paper in the gift bag, your guest will feel like they’re getting a handful of gifts to take home with them.

But whatever your budget for wedding favors, make sure they reflect the fact that you put some time and effort into choosing them as a way of expressing your appreciation to your guests for participating in your special day.



By: Linda Ellison

Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide. Visit www.FavorsAndWraps.com to read more about the latest trends in wedding favors.

Wedding Favor Ideas for Themed Weddings

There are numerous wedding favor ideas for those with themed weddings. Whether you choose a beach theme, an all white theme, or an Asian theme the options you have for wedding favors are almost limitless.

There are many resources that offer wedding favor ideas and wedding supplies, such as bridal sites like americanbridal.com, which offers everything from wedding favors to wedding gifts and everything in between. Here are some popular wedding favor ideas for common themed weddings that may come in handy when deciding which wedding favors to purchase, how they might match your theme, and where you might find them.

Candle wedding favors

Candle Wedding favors are popular because they go with any themed wedding. They come in so many colors, styles and sizes that they are in high demand as easy, appreciated wedding favors. They are usually less expensive than many other wedding favor options, and this also increases their demand.

Wine wedding favors

Wine wedding favors are always an excellent ides, ad work well with most themed weddings. They work for other seasons and themes as well, and may range from personalized corkscrews to charms, small goblets, coasters, bottle stoppers, and more.

Edible wedding favors

Edible wedding favors can be some of the most fun because they go with any wedding theme and come in such varieties as chocolate bars, small coffee bags, truffles, candies, mints, honey, and numerous other edible wedding favors. They can all be personalized with custom wrappers or boxes with the bride and groom’s names, wedding, date, thanks, etc.

Practical wedding favors

Ideal for any wedding, practical wedding favors usually entail something that the guests can take home and use after the wedding and the reception. They are excellent for wedding themes in all categories. This includes everything from bottle stoppers and corkscrews to elegant little coffee scoopers and miniature bath salts and soaps. Personalized wedding favors

Beach wedding favors

Beach wedding favors include many options, from candle sets in blue, sand, and white, and beach themed coasters to shell trinkets and polished, engraved rocks or mints. You can personalize most wedding favor ideas for beach themed weddings, and there are many wedding sites that cater especially to those with beach themed weddings.

Asian wedding favors

Asian wedding favors come in all the options above and more. Incense, Asian brocade wallets and coin purses, special gourmet fortune cookies, his & hers chopsticks, place card holders, and mints are only a few wedding favor ideas for Asian themed weddings. They can all be personalized by the bride and groom.

Pink wedding favors

If you have a pink or white themed wedding, pink wedding favors are available in many options, from potpourri and candles to personalized luggage tags and small French soaps. They are appropriate for any wedding theme that allows for pink colors.

Flower and garden favors

Flower and garden favors are great for any themed wedding, but are ideal for both spring and summer. They can include anything from vases and floral candles to flower seeds, bookmarks, and custom place holders.



By: Abigail Newsom

Abigail Newsom writes for the American Bridal. Please visit for more helpful information on Beach wedding favors and on Candle wedding favors.

celebration just wouldn’t be complete without giving the guests a wedding favor to take home so that they will remember the event. Giving your guests a bad favor choice would be worse than giving no favor at all. We have all been to weddings where we were given a wedding favor that we just didn’t know what to do with. When you think of a bad favor choice, think of any favor that you, yourself, would immediately be tossed into the trash can. If the wedding favor is one that you really wouldn’t want to receive, don’t give it to your wedding guests. Today, there are many, many wedding favors available that are unique, yet practical too. You want your guests to use or at least keep the wedding favors your give them. Starting with that thought in mind, let’s take a look at the many favor options available to choose from.

Practical wedding favors are favors that your guests will definitely be able to use in their homes, offices, or even purses and cars. A great example of a favor that fits this category is a bottle stopper. Bottle stopper wedding favors are available in so many elegant styles and themes and can be used for wine, liquor or other bottles. Another great example of a practical wedding favor would be a coaster set. If the coaster set is neutral such as white or in a design that can be used at certain times of the year such as a fall design that can be used at Thanksgiving, you can be assured your guests will happily accept this gift. Tape measures, bottle openers, key chains and bookmarks are all perfect examples of other practical wedding favor choices.

Another popular choice to consider would be candle wedding favors. Of all the party favors available, candle favors has the most to offer in the way of colors, designs, themes, and styles. This favor also can decorate the guest tables around the floral centerpiece adding another elegant dimension to the d?r. Spring wedding? Select a beautiful butterfly candle favor. Summer wedding? Choose from mini lanterns with a tea light candle inside or adorable flip flop candles would be a fantastic choice.

Edible wedding favors are not only fun, but easy to put together too. Who doesn’t love to receive a gift that they can eat? You can purchase mint tins that may be personalized to match the theme of the wedding then fill them with matching candies or other fun items. Having a beach wedding? Select a mint tin personalized with a palm tree in colors to match your wedding colors. Fill the tins with fun little candy like Skittles or Starburst that are available in tropical flavors. Will your wedding be held in December or January? Then fill the favor bags or tins with peppermint colors in red and white or green and white to match the season. Wedding favors you can eat always go over very well with the guests that receive them. Another great idea to consider is to place an assortment of loose candy in bowls next to the favor bags with silver candy servers. Your guests can create their own edible wedding favor. This will be fun for your guests plus save you time too.

The best way to select a wedding favor is to choose something that you, yourself would like to receive.



By: Denise Sanger

Denise Sanger is the owner of several wedding planning websites including http://buyweddingfavorsonline.com . Buy Wedding Favors Online carries a diverse catalog of elegant, yet affordable wedding favors and bridal shower favors.

Wedding favors has been widely known for its purpose during a wedding. Each year, manufacturers create different varieties of styles and designs for favors to incorporate in today’s wedding fashion trend. But have you ever wondered where favors came from? I bet couples don’t give too much attention to this question, but anyway let’s just review the history of wedding favors.

Since ancient time, wedding favors have been a part of wedding tradition and etiquette and widely practiced worldwide. From different range of cultures, giving favors during weddings symbolizes good luck from the wedded couple. The practice is believed to have started when a couple gave away biscuits, fruits and nuts for their guests to eat while the ceremony is ongoing. This tradition was then adapted by early European upper society who are wealthy enough to give elegant gifts to their guests such as silks, scarves and incense.

Traditional wedding favors before are somewhat similar with wedding favors today. Keepsakes before come in many forms, shapes and sizes as well. Popular keepsakes they give are figurines, magnets, bottle openers and more. However, mostly the choices are with accordance to the couple’s desire. Some couples want simple gifts to give like candles or elaborate ones like small gift boxes. Gift boxes are called bomboniere by Italians while the French called it bonbonniere, these boxes are usually filled with confectionery delicacies like sugar cubes which are highly valued and quite expensive that time. These gift boxes were not made from ordinary boxes alone, rather they are mostly made from porcelain, crystals or covered with precious stones. Giving bonbonniere wasn’t strictly for wedding celebration alone. They can also be given during other occasions like birthdays, baptism and the like.

Why are wedding favors popular? Because these can make special gifts to give for family members, guests and wedding participants like bridesmaids, groomsmen and more. These may be distributed by the bride and groom during the rehearsal dinner or before the wedding, with sentiment of thanks for assistance they have provided to make the celebration a memorable day.

The tradition of providing gifts for guests is a gesture of gratitude for sharing the time where the couple will start to have their new life together. Today, the gifts given to wedding guests are popularly known as wedding favors and are very basic accessories in any type of wedding. A choice of wedding favors may vary according to the culture, wealth, theme and desires of the couple. Selection of today’s trend for wedding favors are abundant, from a simple place card holder to expensive vintage wine favors. And not to forget one of the hottest and favorite wedding trend nowadays, the personalized wedding favors.

Like the wedding favors given to all guests, there are immeasurable options for special gifts. Typically they may be made specialized to a higher dollar amount and may be engraved with names or monogram of wedding attendees at the party. For formal or traditional weddings, there are personalized wedding favors like personalized coaster wedding favors, candle wedding favors, wine favors etc., while non-formal gifts are ideal for unusual weddings like beach themed or destination weddings.



By: Janet R.


Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics including weddings. If you’re looking for the perfect wedding gift, visit the website Americanbridal.com and browse their collection. Get unique wedding favors to make your wedding extra special!

With all of the celebration surrounding your wedding, it is easy to get a little sidetracked. Choosing your favorite flowers, favorite songs and favorite foods can create a self centered mindset. When it comes time to choose the wedding favors it is time to shift your mindset to the guests. Many brides strive to find that perfect “something” that will be both impressive and memorable. This can be a tall order, but choosing a unique and different wedding favor helps to ensure that your guests will remember your wedding day for some time to come. So, how to choose wedding favors that will make you stand out?

Coordinate with your theme - One way to pick wedding favors that stand out is to choose something which ties in with your wedding theme. If you are hosting a spring wedding, consider flower bulbs; a winter affair? Holiday ornaments. By complementing your theme and choosing a gift that goes along with the wedding, you show creativity, thoughtfulness and a sense of style. The favors can even serve as part of your reception decorations or table centerpieces.

Shop early; do not wait until the last minute – If you put off shopping for favors until right before your wedding, you may be disappointed with what you find. Finding the perfect favor is just as important as choosing the right flowers or food, and you should allocate time to find exactly what you want. By starting early, you will also leave yourself enough time to personalize your favors if that is an available option. Some favor ideas require assembly, so be sure to leave enough time (or get enough help!) to have all the favors ready by your wedding day.

Consider all your options - It is not so much what you choose as how the item is finished and presented. For example, you may want the most unusual and fantastic wedding favor ever, but with a budget that really can only afford “mints”, you might have to get creative. Do not take any option off the table. Chocolates, mints and other edibles can be great favors especially if you dress them up in colorful gift boxes or sheer gift bags with ribbons and personalized tags. It is easy to get sidetracked when you are planning a wedding. With so many things to concentrate on, the perfect favor may be far down on your list. But you can find special and personal wedding favors in all price ranges if you take the time to look.

Ask for advice - With all of the planning and stress surrounding a wedding, it can be difficult to make any decisions, let alone a good decision. In fact, you may be tired of being constantly asked to make choices about every detail of the wedding. Because it is easy to be overwhelmed by the decision making process, it makes sense to solicit advice. Whether you ask your fiancé, your mom, your bridesmaids, or a trusted wedding consultant, seek out an opinion on the wedding favors that you are considering. After you have looked at so many choices, it may be hard to remain objective when determining what is actually a special or unique idea versus what is just another trinket. Once you have narrowed down your list of potential favors, ask someone you trust to help make the final decision.

Set a realistic budget – When you finally find something that you love, and want to give as your wedding favor, it is important that you make sure it fits into your budget. The price of these wedding favors adds up quickly depending on how many people you are expecting. Set a total dollar amount before you begin shopping for wedding favors, and divide that number by the number of favors you plan to buy. Be sure to subtract on any charges for personalization, taxes and shipping from your total budget, or you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you place your final order. This lets you know how much you can spend on each favor. Once you have this number, stick to it. It is difficult to do when you see the perfect gift, and it is only 75 cents more than your set price. But multiply that 75 cents by 250 guests and you will see how quickly you can blow your budget. Once you have determined what your maximum price per favor is, do not shop outside of that price range.

The last step, finally, is to relax. Shopping for the perfect wedding favors can be extremely stressful. Of course we want the people we care about to like what we give them, it is human nature. But in the big picture, the wedding favors are only one part of a special day. Do not let a tight budget or other set back keep you from enjoying your wedding day. You can stand out with personalized wedding favors no matter your budget.



By: Arianna Jordan

Arianna Jordan writes about topics pertaining to weddings and other family events. Ms. Jordan offers suggestions for ways to make an event standout such as offering personalized wedding favors.