Detroit Area Wedding Guide
Wedding Favors
Guide to Wedding Favors
Wedding favors are the thank you gifts presented to the guests for joining the happy couple in celebrating their wedding day. While wedding favors are not absolutely necessary, it would not be tactful to expect people to come to a wedding bearing gifts and offer nothing in return. And yes, some may say that you have offered the guests a meal and refreshments but the truth is, most people attending a wedding expect a favor of some kind.
When to Order Favors
Ordering favors will depend on the type of favor and the time involved in making it. For personalized or engraved favors, the manufacturer or engraving company will have a specific lead-time. Although, you will have many important decisions to make when planning your wedding, try to at least decide whether you will need something that requires special handling or something that you can purchase very easily. Then you can inquire about the lead-time required and act accordingly.
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Furthermore, if you have decided to make your own wedding favors, be sure to prepare in advance. Purchase your supplies early and schedule actual times to sit down and work on the favors. If others in the family are capable of making the favors as well, set up specific times for everyone to get together or determine how many each person can make and give the date for which the favors should be completed. Do not leave the date until the last minute and have a backup plan in case you run short of time.
How Much to Spend on Favors
Wedding favors do not need to be expensive. Beautiful picture frames, candles and accessory supplies can be purchased at the discount or dollar store. Wedding supply companies offer favors in volume, sometimes keeping the price below the dollar mark per favor. The amount spent is obviously what you can afford but if you have chosen a specific favor and it is a must, then the total wedding budget will be adjusted to accommodate the favors.
Who Receives a Favor
Sometimes favors are given one to a couple or family and sometimes each person attending the reception receives a favor.
If you are giving an item that is engraved and a home only requires one, then a couple would only receive one. Likewise, if children are present, they may not receive one of their own. An example of this type of favor is a desk clock or picture frame. One per household is the norm.
If you are offering edible favors such as candy or hot chocolate, everyone should receive the favor.
If you have a specific seating plan with place cards at the table, you will know what guest is sitting where. This will be helpful in cases where you have chosen an overly expensive favor. It is not necessary to give a favor to the guests of your guests so if you know your cousin is bringing a guest, only the cousin would receive the favor.
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What to Choose for Favors
This is probably the most difficult part of the "favor decision". Here are a few guidelines in helping you choose.
Eliminate what you do NOT want. If you adamant, you do not like those little lace bags of mints, then do not bother looking at anything resembling that type of favor.
Eliminate things that are completely beyond your price point.
Decide whether you want to make the favors, order custom-made favors or buy ready-made from the store.
Decide whether the item itself should be engraved or whether personalized tags will be fine instead.
Choose appropriate favors. Do not choose items that have vulgar or funny sayings that might offend some guests. If you choose alcohol such as mini bottles of wine, remember that not all people appreciate alcohol and also, some guests will be underage. Be sure to offer sparkling juices or bottles of water as well and the guests will choose themselves which bottle they prefer. This scenario, however, is a little tricky in trying to determine the quantity to order. You may end up with too much of something and not enough of another.
Decide whether you prefer a religious favor, a favor personalized with your picture, a functional favor that can be used or a collector item type favor.
How to Present the Favors
There are several ways in which the bride and groom can present the favors to the guests at the reception.
If everyone is receiving the same favor and every guest each should receive the favor, then they can be set up before hand at each place setting on the table.
In the case where the guest will choose between favors as with bottles of water and alcohol, the favors can be set up on a special table. The guests would then choose the appropriate favor.
The bride and groom may use the favor-giving as an opportunity to personally thank the guests for participating in the joyous occasion. By going table to table, the couple may speak to everyone briefly.
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