Would like honest answers about wedding favours...?

Question

I'm looking for answers from the viewpoint of the guests... how many of you actually WANT a 'wedding favour'?

How many of you actually keep them, and how many of you throw them out or relegate them to the junk drawer?

I'm trying to find out if they are actually worth all the effort and expense many brides put into them.

Answer 1

I think they are a waste of money personally. I didnt have any. I cut out a few things I feel are a waste of money and I had an open bar instead. most wedding favours turn out to be something you can eat anyways and people eat it quick and toss it. most people dont want something with you name on it anyways after the wedding. save the time and money and spend it on something else.

Answer 2

There is no answer that fits everyone. Questions to ask yourself:

-Are favours really important to YOU?
-Will you be able to spend a lot of money on them?
-Is there anything your guests really *need* and/or that would be appropriate for everyone there (i.e. people do not need a corkscrew if they don't drink...).

If you do not have a lot of money to spend, and can't think of anything people can actually use, then edible favours are great. If you need to save money, you can even bake each guest a personalized cupcake/cookie. Little bags of candy tied with ribbon and/or fortune cookies are popular.

To be honest, many guests DON'T want another cheap wedding favour sitting around. In my personal opinion, many brides are simply throwing away time and money by giving out cheap favors that many either leave or throw out. I have been to weddings where 70% of the guests left their personalized "trinkets" on the table and never took them home. Pens are the exception.

If you are able to afford a really "nice" gift, like necklaces (imitations of your wedding day necklace) or roses for the women, and a bottle of wine for the men, then by all means, do it.

Otherwise, I would not put money into anything other than edible gifts. Most guests appreciate chocolates, candy, etc.

I was once given seeds to plant a tree as a wedding favor. While the "watch our love grow" concept is sweet, I neither have a yard nor greenthumb.

I plan on giving personalized Christmas Ornaments (we have a Dec. wedding), and making a donation to a charity on behalf of each guest (the charity will give you placecards).

Another idea if you're short on cash is to make personalized CD's of music that was played at your wedding. This may or may not appeal to most guests, but a less than $1 per favor, it won't break the bank.

Answer 3

I'm getting married in May (we're having about 150 guests; formal NJ wedding) and we are giving our guests small bottles of our favorite Spumonte (Sparkling Wine). I made personalized labels on my computer with our new monogram along with a "Thank you" saying and our wedding date. Everyone I showed them to, so far, has loved them. I'm sure they'll be a big hit. For the "kiddie table" I'm going to give out coloring books and crayons (the kids are all under 6). Most of the crystal/lenox trinkets that I have recieved as favours usually break or get misplaced. I'm really not a trinket person and would really reather not have that stuff in my house (too easy to collect clutter and dust).

Most weddings that I've been a guest at have provided: small bottles of wine, CDs, candies, water bottles, trinkets, etc. One cute idea I remember: I went to a wedding that had a candy bar set up at the end of the night, so on the way out, guests filled a persoanlized box with an assortment of their favorite childhood candies (bazooka gum, tootsie rolls, peanut butter cups, etc). I thought it was cute and creative.

I don't think the favour needs to cost a lot of money, but I do think you should provide something as a "Thank You" for your guests. I wouldn't mind if I went to a wedding that didn't have favours, but I would definitely think it was kind of cheap.

Answer 4

I bought picture frames and put our engagement article in them. That is what I will be giving out next month because I have been to many weddings and I have used the matches, ate the chocolate,lost the pins,the seeds didn't grow and I still have the pictures on the mantle. I found mine on E-bay from E-favormart. They are listed as place card holder but they hold a business card printed with picture and date perfectlly.I got 100 for 60.00 sihipping included,and the business card paper is only like 10.00 for a pack of 250. So it worked out around $1 a guest plus the leftovers I can give to friends and family that didn't make it later.

Answer 5

Wedding favors are given to guests as mementos for attending the wedding. If money is tight, these can be eliminated. I personally want a wedding favor, and I most appreciate the ones that are practical too--measuring spoons, picture frames, book markers, CD's, etc. I also enjoy the edible favors, such as chocolate, candy, or a cookie. In place of wedding favors, you can also make a donation to a worthy cause. The organization will give you things to put on the table for the guests to read that you made the donation in place of the favors.

Answer 6

Unless there is something you want to give your guests from your heart, don't spend the money. A wedding is not supposed to be about material things, or to be a "production", it's a religious ceremony and the beginning of your life together. I know it's difficult to keep perspective in the middle of all the stress, but trust me, after the wedding it will look very different to you. Skip the favors and spend good times with your family & friends instead.

Answer 7

Being a Conference and Banqueting Supervisor, I find most couples have wedding favors. Perhaps you could do something a little different. i.e. A pen with your marriage date on it. You can buy them in bulk they work out very cheaply.The other option is a small photo frame for them to use for a picture of you as the Bride and Groom to commemorate your wedding day.You could give the children a small toy.

Answer 8

One of my friends got married on the beach and kept that them for the wedding, event sent out the invitation in glass bottles with sand, and at the wedding had candles with little shells in them as favors. It was all a great idea and a lot of time and thought went into it but both the invite and the candle are in my hall closet somewhere. My other friend married on a golf course and for favors gave white chocolate golf balls which she had made herself. That was gone before I caught the plane home, but it was a great gift!

Answer 9

I thought the same as you, the amount of wedding favours I bought home with me only to leave on the kitchen windowsill out of politeness until you couldn't find them for dust. On that note I put a single flower stem out for the ladies on their place setting, at least you can put it in some water for a week or so.

Answer 10

If on a tight budget I would say don't really bother with something big and fancy just let them know that they are apprecated for coming. I know that alot of women have a tendancy to keep the wedding favours depending on what they are and cherish that momment they got to witness the joining of 2 people they care for.