By Arianna Jordan

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.

SHOP WEDDING FAVORS HERE