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Monday, December 8, 2008

Wedding Favors - Ideas, Tips and Trends

No, they're not mandatory, but wedding favors are a great way to thank your guests for sharing in your celebration! They're also a fun little extra to tie in the style of the occasion.

Today, almost anything goes. And just like the rest of the event, wedding favors should reflect the personality of the bride and groom. Not sure where to begin? Browse this wedding favor guide for everything you'll need to know in presenting this wonderful little detail with the utmost of style.

What to Give -

Some of my favorite wedding favor ideas and trends include:

Edible Treats

Everyone loves something to eat, so delight your guests with something sweet or savory. Chocolates, almonds and candies are always popular. Or give a regional favorite from your wedding location: peanuts in Georgia, Vermont maple syrup, or hot salsa in Texas.

Something Homemade

Along those lines, test your culinary skills and make a homemade jam or spread for your guests (package them in festive customized jars!).

Quench their thirst

If your budget allows it, wow your guests with a nice bottle of wine, whether a selection served at the wedding or from a local winery. If you're really ambitious, consider making your own, and stamp it with a personalized label. This is one of my favorite wedding favor ideas, but plan ahead - this must be done at least 3 months in advance.

Entertain Them

Give your guests something that will forever remind them of your wedding day. Nothing brings a person back to a special moment quite like a song. So make a wedding playlist, and feature songs from the ceremony and reception. Getting married in a place known for a great music scene? Feature selections from local artists. Or if the two of you just love music and want to share your tastes with your guests, make a cd of your favorites. Every time they pop it into the player, they'll think of you and what a great time they had at your celebration.

Personalize it

These days, almost any item or trinket can be personalized, so think of something creative that goes along with your wedding theme, and stamp it with your initials or wedding date. You name it; someone can customize it - golf balls, koozies, ornaments, seashells, matchbooks, candles or soaps. You're only limited by your imagination. I've even seen fortune cookies filled with personalized fortunes!

Give something back

Another one of my favorite wedding favor ideas: Some brides are foregoing the traditional favor altogether, instead making a donation to their favorite charity. You can print nice cards that read "in lieu of a favor, a donation has been made to xyz charity." Just be sure your chosen charity is legitimate, and get a receipt for tax purposes.

How and When to Give them -

Wedding Favors are all about presentation. A few m & ms can be the epitome of panache when wrapped in a pretty package. Choose packaging that matches or complements your wedding colors and table decor. Matching ribbons and personalized logo stickers or favor labels always add a nice touch. Depending on the favor you choose to give, the choice of packaging may be obvious. If not, consider these fun options:

Mini Chinese take-out boxes (or any miniature box decorated to reflect your wedding style)

Miniature canvas bags (printed with your monogram or wedding logo!)

A Seashell

Customized bottles or jars

Miniature baskets

Small Julep cups

Mini Terracotta pots

In determining just how and when to present them, you also have some options. Set up a table and display them along with a card that says "Please take one" or "Thank You." (this makes for a lovely photo opp!). Or make your favors part of your table dcor and place one at each place setting. A waiter or coatroom attendant can also hand them out at a designated time. Some couples even add the extra special personal touch of distributing them personally to their guests as they leave the reception. However, due to timing and logistics, this method is best saved for smaller weddings.

What They'll Cost -

Remember, favors are simply a nice gesture to cap off a car insurance comparisons planned and fully considered event. They need not drain your budget. Expect to spend around $1 per guest on the low end, and just like any other element of a wedding, costs can always creep up to suit your wildest imaginations (hmmm - the diamond encrusted Tiffany picture frames sure sound nice).

If budget is a concern, you don't necessarily need to cross favors off of your expense list. Food and candy items are often inexpensive and always popular. Or round up your family or bridesmaids for a fun night of homemade favor-making. Even if you have your heart set on a high-end item, save by giving one gift per couple, placed between their dinner plates and tagged with the couples' names (of course, your single friends will each still receive one). Or get two things for the price of one, and ask your florist to create centerpieces that can be split into tiny bouquets for your guests to take home.

Just like everything else in the wedding planning process, if you would really like to give favors at your wedding, you can always find a way to make it fit within your budget.

Looking for more favor ideas? You can search hundreds of wedding favors in this interactive favors and gifts photo gallery.

This favor budgeting guide provides even more ways to save on wedding favors.

For a complete guide to wedding favors, visit Elegala.com's complete Wedding Favor planning guide.

Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process.

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