To Favor or Not to Favor…

To Favor or Not to Favor…

August 31st, 2010 @ 6:39 pm by Miss Handbag
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I have been going back and forth on the idea of a wedding favor. The way I see it is that we are not having a traditional wedding, so why should we follow all the traditions of a wedding?

Pros

They can be so cute

Cons

How will I get them there along with everything else?
What would we have as a favor?
Who would actually like/use them?
Is this even in our tiny budget?

I would be really, really upset if I spent all that money to pick them, purchase them, and get them there, only for no one to even notice them or use them. I would probably cry. True story.

I have seen some really cute favors, but none that really fit our theme. Every time I type in “destination wedding favor” things like luggage tags, and little candies come up—nothing really strikes my fancy. I was thinking of buying Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee in bulk and putting a few ounces in little monogrammed bags, but that turned out to be way out of my budget, and not everyone we know drinks coffee.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Then I was thinking of getting Jamaica’s national flower seeds and putting them in little packets for everyone to plant when they return home, but the northeast coast weather is extremely unpredictable, and the flowers will not grow at all here.

National flower

I was also thinking of getting sugar cane and putting it in a little bottle (we are getting married on an old sugar plantation), but what would our guests even do with that?

(source)

I really cant come up with anything unique or exciting enough. So, for now I am going to put this on the back burner. If we don’t come up with anything, then I am not going to worry about it.

Every guest will be receiving an OOT bag in their hotel room with lots of goodies, which in many senses can count as a good and useful favor that will be delivered before the wedding.

Destination wedding brides, did you manage to give out favors on your wedding day? Can you think of any destination wedding favors that are useful and unique?

Tags: favors, jamaica |

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34 Responses to “To Favor or Not to Favor…”

1 2 Last

Member

nbblondie (message) 174 posts, Blushing bee

I think in that case the OOT is more than enough! An extra favor isn’t really necessary.

8/31/10 @ 6:58 pm (reply)

Member

Farfromachildbride (message) 1,006 posts, Bumble bee

So smart of you not to stress about it. Favors are one of those things that are “nice to do” but not at all necessary — esp if you are already providing awesome OOT welcome bags/boxes.

8/31/10 @ 7:03 pm (reply)

Member

Farfromachildbride (message) 1,006 posts, Bumble bee

P.S. As a desination bride, I did provide a favor true to the local area — Savannah Bee Honey. And luckily they came in 3 oz jars that could be included in everybody’s ziplock baggies and carry-on luggage. Something ELSE to think about if you’re going to give anything liquid…

8/31/10 @ 7:04 pm (reply)

Member

fleur99 (message) 37 posts, Newbee

I went through the same thought process: cute, fun, but ultimately not worth it, because, among other reasons, approximately 50% of people, i.e., males, will consider them neither cute nor fun.

8/31/10 @ 7:08 pm (reply)

Member

LittlestBirds (message) 2,626 posts, Sugar bee

One point to maybe possibly consider: you might not know whether anyone takes them or uses them. We had to ask around when we got back from the honeymoon to get an idea of whether our guests took home their favors or left them there.

If there isn’t anything that particularly grabs you as a favor idea, then don’t feel bad about letting them slide. OOT bags will create great mementos for your guests to remember their vacation and your wedding by. I think favors will wind up causing you a lot of unnecessary grief, what with the transportation issue, unless you have an idea that you fall in love with.

8/31/10 @ 7:14 pm (reply)

Member

crayfish (message) 4,993 posts, Honey bee

I think the OOT bags totally count as a favor! If you really thing you need something else, do a local thing once you get there - a local dessert, or something useful to people while they are on the trip!

8/31/10 @ 7:22 pm (reply)

Member

Miss Slice (message) 173 posts, Blushing bee

I say SKIP the favor! It’s one less thing for you to have to worry about transporting, and guests won’t even notice they are missing! They are there to celebrate your wedding, I’m sure they will not mind if they don’t receive a favor. I think favors can be cute, and if you are really set on an idea that’s awesome, but since you seem wishy-washy to begin with I think you are fine without them.

8/31/10 @ 7:23 pm (reply)

Member

06anchored08 (message) 33 posts, Newbee

OOT bag definitely counts as a favor! A favor is to be :
1. memorable
2. a representation of the bride and groom

Pretty sure you’ve got that covered!

8/31/10 @ 7:35 pm (reply)

Member

chrispygal (message) 1,198 posts, Bumble bee

I am having a destination wedding as well, although I will be only 4 hours away and don’t need to ship anything, but I still think I’m going to skip the favor. I am banking on the OOT bags being enough.

8/31/10 @ 7:36 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

Kaitlyn

We arent doing a destination wedding but we have decided against actual favors for our wedding. Instead of favors, we are donating the money in honor of our guests to the charity of our choice. My cousin did that for her wedding and it was awesome! Nothing like helping out a cause!

8/31/10 @ 8:01 pm (reply)

11.

Member

elivt (message) 187 posts, Blushing bee

How about making a small donation to a local charity and leaving a note about it on each table or by the guest book? Some ideas:
http://issatrustfoundation.com/
http://www.cojokids.org/

and a list here:
http://www.jis.gov.jm/nongov_agencies/index.asp

8/31/10 @ 8:06 pm (reply)

12.

Member

missbiscuit (message) 1,050 posts, Bumble bee

An OOT bag can count as the favor, I think. If you reeeeally want to do something though, what about just picking a charity or two that means something to you/each of you and giving a donation there? (Cancer Society? ASPCA? WorldVision? etc.) You can either DIY little cards that make note of the donation or sometimes organizations have cards that they can send you for such gifts. It won’t be cute, but it will be thoughtful and meaningful…

8/31/10 @ 8:09 pm (reply)

13.

Member

mander411 (message) 735 posts, Busy bee

I was in a DW once and in addition to the OOT bags we got at the reception a picture frame with the island name on it. I love it ! It hangs on my wall with a photo of all of us in it, a good reminder of the best vacation ever!

8/31/10 @ 8:12 pm (reply)

14.

Member

photographernico (message) 527 posts, Busy bee

Skip the favor. It sounds like a hassle to bringing them onto the plane and assemble on site. I bet there will be many guests and activities to keep you and Mr Handy busy.

(I haven’t kept a favor from a wedding yet - sorry to say. If I got an OOT for a DW, I’d be thrilled and not expect a traditional favor.)

How about giving coffee as Christmas presents (to wedding guests who like coffee)?

8/31/10 @ 8:18 pm (reply)

15.

Member

animated_librarian (message) 290 posts, Helper bee

We are also giving to a charity instead of favors. I am just making a bookmark that everyone will get with a picture of us and our dog (taken at our e-session) that explains that in lieu of a favor we are giving to the charity that we got our dog from.

8/31/10 @ 8:50 pm (reply)

16.

Member

emma5w (message) 547 posts, Busy bee

OOT bag definitely = favor. But just so you know, you can totally gnaw on raw sugar cane. It’s weird but super-delicious. I did it in St. Kitts a few years ago. But yeah, OOTs are more than enough!

8/31/10 @ 8:51 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Miss Sand Dollar (message) 1,305 posts, Bumble bee

I’m skipping favors, and totally feel no regret. Sure, it would be great to be able to have sweet little mason jars of homemade pickles, but is it worth the added stress and money? No way! Hold strong Handbag!

8/31/10 @ 8:59 pm (reply)

18.

Guest

LA Bride

OOT bags definitely = Favor for a Destination wedding. Since it seems the guys are less interested in the favor, what about including some funky sunglasses (99 Cent Store) or flip flops for the girls? Toss your cheap choice into the bags, add a cute little note about protecting their eyes from the sun in style, or protecting their pedicure while they dance. Bright colors will = great photo-op!

8/31/10 @ 9:26 pm (reply)

19.

Guest

Beth

Do a charity favor - you can keep with your theme by donating to a cause in Jamaica - see http://www.breadbasketministries.com/ for an example.

Then you just print up little cards - you can do one per table, one per guest, that say “in lieu of favors, the couple has donated to xxx charity in their guests’ honor”

Good luck!

8/31/10 @ 9:36 pm (reply)

20.

Member

letta (message) 23 posts, Newbee

We’re sort of doing a destination wedding since it’s in a different state, and we decided not to do favors. I wasn’t really inspired either and with all the other costs for a wedding it seemed easy to drop favors. A friend did not have favors at her wedding and I honestly didn’t notice at all. I didn’t even realize until she was giving me wedding planning advice months later and she mentioned they didn’t do favors. I agree they can be cute but it’s more important to me to have great food and a fun band. I guess it’s all about your priorities.

8/31/10 @ 10:16 pm (reply)

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