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.

My site will discuss exclusive party favors, supplies, bridal shower favors, accessories and personalized wedding decorations that create lasting memories of your special event. I will also have specials on wedding favors plus sections on limosines, scrapbooking to even tupperware.

Love My Wedding Favors

My wife and I remember well the process of picking “favors” for our wedding some 30 years ago now. At the time I never new what wedding favors were untill I saw what Leonie had picked out. So please allow me to explain the term “wedding favors” to those of you who were like me

A “favor” is a small gift for the wedding attendees. It’s an allegedly useful item that’s usually made of glass or metal. (Cheap plastic and light cardboard don’t seem special enough for most..) There is often a beautiful ribbon, or sometimes a candle involved in teh favor and it probably has some inscription to commemorate the event or at least a card on wedding stationery.

“Favor”, “A small gift given to a guest at a party”, is one of the definitions. To my way of thinking, you are not only obligated to your wedding guests on this day of days but you should see the giving of a wedding favor as a sign of you and your new husbands gratitude to your guests for sharing this most memorable day in both your lifes’.

Apparently there are some who see no point to the giving of wedding favors and have said it is done just to avoid embarrassing ourselves in front of the Pope or Martha Stewart or whoever else we invited. Unfortuneatly for these people, and I know they are out there, the thought of “giving” is not in their vocabulary.If showing some form of gratitude to your guests is a bad thing then why are they there for you and your new partner at all? Of the top of my head, I can’t think of any of my friends or family that would judge us by the quality of the wedding favors, but on the other hand they would appreciate the effort we put into showing our gratitude for them being witness to our most splendid of event.

A common theory already judged helpful from talking to my married friends is that you should agree on a price-per-favor that is within your wedding budget and it would be something that you would be happy to recieve for yourself at a friends wedding. As an idea on price you would really have to make up your own minds but in general terms anything from 20 dollars up would be acceptable. Truly the sky is the limit. I suppose it really has to do again with the wedding budget. Luckily there are a plethera of wedding favours to choose from on the market today so finding just the right one should be a snap.

Wedding Favors Ideas

Sending your guests home with a little something to remember the night by is a classy touch to any wedding. And they don’t have to be over priced gifts to make a lasting impression.

The choice really boils down to, “Do I buy my wedding favors or make them?

You are probably finding out that when it comes to the list of things to do for your wedding, you may already be feeling overwhelmed. So why make another chore for yourself with homemade wedding favors? Favors can be easily purchased then all you have to do is personalize them..

Of course, homemade wedding favors do feel more special. Sachets and small tokens are simple to create in an afternoon. You may even decide to enlist the help of the wedding party or make this a special time for you and your partner.

If you’ve ever been to another wedding, you may have already seen an asortment of wedding favors which may have included, small bags of candies or nuts decoratively done, small boxes of chocolate with a nice ribbon or card indicating the the couple and wedding date are very nice favors too.

Many couples have chosen to give personalized wedding favors mentioning the bride and groom like match books, candles with holders, champagne glasses, and even CDs can be inscribed with the wedding date as a way to commemorate the day.

If you want to be unique For the non-traditional bride and groom, you may want to give a little something different. If you have a themed wedding, you can try to give a gift that incorporates that theme.

In any case, as I mentioned earlier, the wedding favors are a great way to commemorate a special day for both the bride and groom and their guests. Thank your relatives and friends for supporting you and loving you enough to be with you on this happiest of days.

 



By: Brian B

Further Researched information About The Importance Of Wedding Favors Now For That Great Vacation Catch A Flight But check on your look at Weight Watchers First

Candles are a popular favor at weddings for several reasons. They are available in all price ranges, most people find them practical, and they come in a wide selection of colors, scents, themes, and designs. Candle wedding favors can also be integrated into the decorations for the reception, which helps to keep costs under control. While candles may seem like a dated favor idea, the many new varieties of candles available, as well as the many ways to personalize them, have given candles a new life as a trendy favor idea.

If you are having trouble choosing what type of favors you want to give out at your wedding, take a look at the many candle favors available and you are sure to find something that you like. Choices range from candles already packaged in gorgeous gift boxes, to candles in pretty organza bags, or you can choose just the candle and then embellish them yourself with ribbons, bows and other adornments (warning: the latter requires a big time commitment on your part!) Following are a few ideas for new exciting wedding favor candles.

Flower candles. If your wedding has a floral theme, or you are just a fan of flowers, candles that are shaped like roses, bouquets or other flowering choices make an attractive favor that will be enjoyed long after your wedding day. There are as many choices in flower-shaped candles as there are types of flowers!

Beverage themed candles. Drink look-alike candles are a cute favor idea. You can find candles in coffee mugs, martini glasses, tea cups, wine glasses, and more. One really cool example is a merlot wine glass gel candle. It looks like a real glass of wine with a rich harvest grape scent, and comes packaged in a classy gift box that can be personalized depending on where you order them from. Some of the wine glasses even come adorned with a charm and satin ribbon.

Travel tin candles. These are small candles, typically in metal tins, that make an inexpensive gift. The metal tins can be personalized with the names of the couple or the wedding date. Candle tins are a nice choice for a variety of reasons; they can be labeled with fun designer prints or pretty much any message you can dream of, so it is easy to find one to go with your wedding theme.

Votive candles. These are the traditional candles in small glass jars; they make a nice favor because they are inexpensive and many people use candles regularly. One really nice idea to commemorate your wedding day is monogrammed votive candles with your choice of initial. These are available in many scents and you can even buy them pre-packaged in a sheer organza bag with ribbons. For an extra touch, add a paper tag with your personalized message.

Gel candles. These are another common type of candle that makes a nice favor. They often have flowers suspended in the gel within a clear glass holder, so you can create a gorgeous glowing garden on your reception tables with these scented candles. Lavender or delicate calla lilies are perfect wedding favor choices.

Regardless of what type of candle you choose to give as favors at your wedding, candles are synonymous with romance. Even if you decide against personalizing the candles, they are an inexpensive and appreciated favor idea.

How to pick candles that go with your wedding

Themes: Many common wedding themes provide you with the opportunity to choose candles that coordinate with that theme. For a beach wedding, choose votive candles decorated with shells or starfish. If your wedding theme is flowers, choose candles shaped like bouquets of roses.

Wedding Party: Wedding favors are gifts that your guests will use to remember your special day. There are a variety of candle shapes that fit into any wedding theme. Small candles shaped like wedding cakes are a delicate favor that will delight your guests. Candles shaped like princess crowns or frogs, symbolizing “Prince Charming”, also make cute favors.

Keepsake candles: There is no reason to stick with a theme. Keepsake candles are excellent gifts for your guests, and may have nothing to do with your wedding theme or color. For example, a cube shaped candle with the Asian symbol for double happiness is a delightful favor that your guests will be able to display in their home for years to come.

Using candles as decorations

If you decide to give candles as wedding favors, these favors may double as your table decorations for the reception. While you will not light the candles that you are giving as gifts, the many beautiful candles that are available are a lovely accent for your tables. Place a single favor at each place setting and a large arrangement in the center of each table, and your table decorations will be complete. Add some lit candles in areas where they will not be knocked over, to bring the look together.

Regardless of what you choose to give as a favor, or how you choose to decorate the reception area, candles are a natural choice for wedding favors. They add romance and classic elegance and are an inexpensive addition. When shopping for favors, take time to review the many types of candles that are available. The artistry and selection is so amazing, you may even have a hard time choosing just one.



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 candle wedding favors.

Weddings these days can really cost a fortune, so you might immediately think of all possible ideas on how to save money on your wedding. Fortunately, there are many ways on how to trim down some of your wedding expenditures. One great idea is to think about cheap wedding favors. However, this doesn’t mean you will be giving out unappealing favors at your wedding, making your special day less memorable. Rather with a bit of creativity, you can definitely have great wedding favors that doesn’t cost you a fortune.

You might not mind of what style of wedding you are having, the important thing is you have the wedding favors for all your guests. Since rarely does someone show up without a gift for the newlyweds, it is in good taste to show your taste by having wedding favors. If you have a large number of guests in your guests list, your wedding favor expenditure can be easily out of control. As a result, many brides and grooms make use of the advantages that are in cheap wedding favors.

It is very important to determine the budget before you start to organize your wedding. Within the planning process of determining your budget, you will wish to decide how much money you are willing to spend on each detail of your wedding celebration. So after you have decided, then you will know whether you want to continue with relatively cheap wedding favors or really cheap wedding favors.

The presentation of wedding favors is also one of the most important thing you need to consider. If your creative enough to make the cheap favors look great, nobody will notice that they were not bought expensively. For instance, tiny candies, mints and chocolates can make affordable edible favors, you can make them look great by placing in small fancy favor boxes. You can find a bunch of small cheap wedding favor fold up boxes, put a few tiny treats in them and with just a bit of touch, you have created fancy and elegant wedding memorabilia at a fraction of cost.

Another great affordable option to keep in mind in having cheap wedding favors is to avoid wedding favors that have a wedding subject to them. For instance, purchasing a small box shaped like a wedding cake will be more expensive than other really adorable cute boxes. Aside from these boxes filled with tiny treats, you may also consider cheap favors like candles and soap. These days, many people are crazy on candles, and therefore, candles are perfect for favors thinking how cheap they can be. You you want, and you have plenty of time left, you can make your own candle or soap favors. There are many craft store that offer DIY soap kits, candle kits and others. You can work with yourself alone, or you can bring together a manpower to have a fun bonding while making homemade wedding favors.

Cheap wedding favors are indeed a great help to save money on your wedding. And if you are really on a tight budget, you can always cut cost on some details of your wedding. Why not give inexpensive bridesmaids gifts to your female attendants, instead of giving luxurious wedding gifts that they will most likely display during special events only? You can do the same idea also when it comes to groomsmen gifts. To have a cheap wedding ideas doesn’t mean compromising what you really have desired for your wedding day. Rather, it’s just a matter of giving extra effort to make the ”cheap idea” look fantastic to make your special day worth to be remembered.



By: Janet R.


Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics including weddings. If you’re looking for inexpensive bridesmaids gifts, visit the website Americanbridal.com and browse their extensive collection. Find discount wedding favors to make your wedding extra special!

Making the decision as to what wedding favors you want to hand out at your wedding can be somewhat difficult for many brides as of course there are literally hundreds and hundreds of options from which to choose. Some brides get overwhelmed very quickly and just purchase the first thing that catches their eye, and then wind up regretting that decision rather quickly as they realize they have something that doesn’t fit their wedding décor and that really doesn’t fit their own personal style.

This is also a good way to spend far too much on wedding favors; it’s so easy to forget about how the cost adds up once you purchase enough favors for all your guests, especially considering tax, shipping charges, and anything else you may need for a beautiful presentation.

So how does a smart bride shop for wedding favors? There are a few simple steps you’ll want to keep in mind before you browse.

For one thing, what is your budget? If you’re having 100 guests and have a budget of $200 for wedding favors then remember that you can’t really spend two dollars per favors as you’ll need to figure in tax, shipping, and any other accessories for your favors such as wrapping paper or ribbon for each one. A $200 budget for 100 guests means about $1.50 per favor. When purchasing anything for your wedding you always want to leave yourself a little “wriggle room.”

Taking your time to browse is also a good idea when shopping for wedding favors. Remember that there are endless options for you; don’t just pick up the first nice candle or coffee packet you see. Give it some thought – what would really express something about you and your fiancée, your hobbies and interests, and your wedding overall? You don’t want to make your wedding favors too personal as they should be something your guests will appreciate, but you can balance these two if you think about it.

For example, if the two of you love to travel and are real “city” people, a small paperweight in the shape of the Eiffel Tower may be appreciated and can be very affordable. Most major museums have little key chains and other tokens that could work well as wedding favors so if you have a favorite museum you both love, go online and see what they may offer.

Or suppose you and your fiancée are very romantic; candle wedding favors are always a romantic choice and just about everyone can use a nice candle for their home or apartment. If you appreciate greenery and gardening, a small potted flowering plant can cost around one dollar and can be appreciate by just about anyone for their home or office. By giving some thought to your own personality and that of your fiancée, you can make a good choice by way of wedding favors that really express those personalities.

And when you’re shopping for wedding favors, don’t rule out something unique and original, and something you find at any retail store. If a beautiful set of note cards catch your eye, who says they can’t work as wedding favors? You can even mix and match designs if they coordinate – different flowers, different autumn designs, and so on.

Make sure your wedding favors work well with your reception’s theme and feel as well. If you’re having a very elegant and traditional wedding you might want to steer clear of the fun little trinkets. If you’re having a beach wedding then an autumn-themed favor might not make sense. Remember that many choices for wedding favors are available in a wide variety of options – candles in what look like little sand pails are great for beach weddings, picture frames that are wood rather than silver work better for an autumn wedding, and so on.

By giving some thought and making sure that you set aside some time to really shop and browse, you’ll be sure to choose the right wedding favors for you, the way any smart bride would!

 



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 favors are a customary way to show your appreciation for those who come to your wedding to support you on your special day. Remember, everyone attending the ceremony and reception has taken time out to celebrate the day with you, perhaps traveling and staying in a hotel overnight or for an extended weekend. It is important that you take the time to choose a thoughtful favor as these small gifts double as a “thank you” as well as serve as a lasting memento of your special occasion. Choosing a memorable and personalized wedding favor is one of the most important parts of planning your wedding, and often one of the most overlooked.

There are many choices available in wedding favors. Some wedding favors are designed to go with a particular theme, while others are practical gifts that your guests will use over and over. Whatever you choose, you should pick something that will provide meaning to your guests. With so many different people at a wedding it can be hard to narrow down your choice in wedding favors.

Themed Favors: If your wedding has a theme, it makes sense to carry that theme over into the favors. A beach wedding is one example of this. If you are getting married on the beach, there are many favors that you can choose from. Photo frames and albums decorated with seashells or starfish are a popular choice, as are candles decorated in the same way. For an autumn wedding, you can find cookie cutters shaped like leaves as well as candles in autumn colors. Flowers your thing? Continue the floral theme with candles shaped like roses, or scented in enticing floral scents.

Sweet Treats: Everyone likes an edible favor. It eliminates the problem of what your guest should do with the favor; they savor it and then it is gone. Edible favors are available in a variety of forms. Chocolates, mints, and lollipops can all be personalized with the wedding information on the label for a special favor. Mints are available in small tins or individually wrapped.

Take Home Treats: Chocolates and mints are not the only edibles available as wedding favors. Personalized packets of coffee and tea are a popular choice as well. One edible favor idea you probably have not thought of are mini honey pots with personalized labels and real honey inside. Also margarita and cosmopolitan drink mix packets are an inexpensive and fun option.

Totes: Tote bags make a great choice for a destination wedding. Whether you are headed for the Smokey Mountains or the sea shore, handing out tote bags for wedding favors not only provides your guests with a memory of your special day, but also gives them something in which to carry everything they accumulate on the trip.

Cleaning Gear: Not for the house or car, but for your guests. Shower gels and soaps are a great wedding favor, can be personalized easily, and are both decorative and practical. Tiny soaps in a miniature wooden crate or small plastic bathtubs provide a sweet gift for your guests.

Eco-friendly: Many young people today are concerned about the environment and you do not have to sacrifice conservation when choosing wedding favors. New, green choices include “blooming” bookmarks or ornaments made of all-natural fiber paper containing seeds you can plant; just stick the favor in a pot of dirt and add water! Similarly, seed packets come in attractive, earth-friendly envelopes and can be personalized with a message of your choice.

Bottle stoppers and corkscrews are another popular favor idea that is as useful as they are decorative. These gift items come in heart shapes, butterflies, leaves, fruit, flowers, seashells, and more.

These are just some of the many wedding favors that you can give to your guests. Make sure that you have enough favors on hand for everybody. If you are having a reception with a formal sit down dinner, you can be reasonably sure that your RSVP rate will be fairly accurate. But for a more casual wedding and reception with a somewhat open guest list, it can be a difficult balancing act between having enough favors and having too many. If your favors are not personalized, talk to the sales person where you decide to purchase your favors and determine their return policy. If items are returnable, you can place as many favors as you think you may need, and then return any remainder after the wedding.

No matter what type of wedding favors you choose for your guests, you can be sure that they will notice and appreciate the effort. Whether you choose something that is practical, something they will eat, or something they will pack away with their invitation for future memories, a personal wedding favor is an important part of the wedding celebration.



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.