Are wedding favours really necessary?

Answer 1

As long as you throw a good party, I don't think they are. We're planning to put the money we'd spend on favors towards a chocolate fountain and coffee bar. Guests will enjoy those much more than a miniature picture frame.

Besides, I've heard a lot of people forget them or don't realize they are for them, and you'd end up with $100 worth of favors left sitting on tables. Total waste of money.

Answer 2

No they aren't necessary. People might notice they are absent but probably won't make a big deal about it. Edibles always go over well and are very cheap with a little work. Perhaps make some homemade cookies and put them in cellophane bags with the recipe you used put on a small card. I had one summer wedding where we made homeade blackberry jam, peach preserves, and apple butter in mason jars. The fruit all came from the garden/farmers marken and It cost less than a dollar each and was a huge hit. Another new trend is charitable donations. You can choose three of your favorite charities and have a bowl for each one. At the end of the night guests choose a charity and put their placecard holders in the bowl and a donation is made to that charity for a certain amount. Say a dollar a guest. Our favor will be free! Since reception pictures all pretty much look the same after an hour or two (heres joe dancing with mary, now mary dancing with bill,.....) we are giving our guests professional portraits. We found this cool rug that we are going to hang as a background and then for an hour or two the photographer is going to take portraits of the guests in front of it. After the wedding we will post the photos on a site like SnapFish and they can print or order copies of it to display in their homes. We will have the rug and pics of all our friends in front of it.

Answer 3

Hell no. Favors are a "fake" tradition recently invented by The Wedding Industy in its neverending campaign to get you to spend, spend, spend! Party favors have been a custom among the very wealthy for centuries, party favors along the lines of precious jewels and other "would cost me a weeks' pay" items. For ordinary folks to imitate this custom on the cheap with a candy bar or plastic photo frame is just plain dumb. Among other "fake" traditions which minions of The Wedding Industry will insist are NECESSARY (if they told you an item was OPTIONAL, you might not buy it) are programs, guest books, custom engraved tableware, elaborate Broadway style processionals with accompanying musical background, attendents that match like a chorus line, rsvp cards, save the date mailings, a ring pillow, ... I could go on and on.

If you want the real scoop on what is "really necessary" then Emily Post or Miss Manners should be your advisors, not Wedding Industry sponsored resources like www.theknot or Modern Bride Magazine. You can be sure that if you read the entire Miss Manners chapter "Marriage for Beginners" and don't see favors mentioned as a necessity, then they are not.

I hope that you consult an etiquette expert and use your wedding budget for a good band, tasty food, convenient and comfortable venue, longer guest list -- something that will actually add to your guests' enjoyment, not on frivolous frippery that no one outside The Wedding Industry cares about.

Answer 4

No. They are not, and truly, most guests view them as a waste. Every wedding I ever attended saw 1/2 or more of them left behind on the tables by guests at the end of the evening.

Answer 5

In the UK they are regarded as a silly thing that just costs more money. You're already feeding these people and giving them a nice day, you don't need to give them a present too.

If you run into trouble and have those around insisting on something get mini bottles of bubbles. They have something, its cheap, and they can blow bubbles over you both as you leave.

Answer 6

Necessary- no. Customary- yes. People expect them, even though more often than not, they are something peope in general don't want. Try to get something cheap, but that people will actually enjoy or use. Little chocolates with your names and the date on it for instance.

Answer 7

No there is no rule saying you have to give them, especially if you are on a very tight budget. Even if you're not on a tight budget, think about whether you should have them. They usually cost a fair bit and some people don't take them home. But it's up to you, if you can think of something people will really like that doesn't cost too much then go for it. People always like getting free stuff.

Answer 8

Not at all, they are a nice "frill" and it's sweet to have a little something to give your guests but they are certainly not a necessity. I have found that ones that are chocolate or food related are better, people tend to not want to collect or keep nick-nacks like mini picture frames etc, it all gathers dust and I know that people just throw them out. Food is much better.

Answer 9

Well to some extent yes, but if you want to include wedding favors, you should look for some alternative to cut cost on these stuff.

I came across a site which advises on making your own wedding favor.

Try this one: http://www.savingforawedding.com/2007/05/07/make-your-own-chocolate-flower-wedding-favors/

Answer 10

No, I've been to many weddings that did not have them. I've also seen many favors left behind on tables when they are provided. I think it is a waste of money.