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So, what’s the deal with favors? I have to say, some of the strangest criticisms I hear about weddings is about the favors. I’ve heard the following far too many times: “I can’t believe they gave us (fill in blank.)”
Excuse me, but do you go to the wedding for the favor? No, most likely you do not. At least I am hoping you don’t. So again I ask, what’s up with favors?
I feel like far too many people put too much concern and worry into the favors. The fact of the matter is, most favors cost anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars. Most likely you are not going to have some outrageous favor to present to your guests. If you do, then hey, that’s awesome! Where I come from though…that just doesn’t really happen.
Your guests know this! I personally have never gone to a wedding expecting some type of incredible favor.
My point here is that the debate on favors is never ending. Some people say food is the only way to go. Some people dog on Jordan almonds (I personally think Jordan almonds are delicious.). Matchbooks, mints, wine topper, spices…you know, the usuals. Some people prefer to donate money in their guests’ honor. Some people decide to give no favor.
Whatever you decide, I honestly feel they are all great. It is your wedding, and you don’t have to conform to any pattern. Do what you and your FI feel is best. Better yet, have some fun and do what you feel fits your personalities the best.
Ladies (and gentlemen?) let’s stop stressing about the favors. Yes, they are nice to have, but I think we should all stop fretting so much about it. And for goodness sake, let the criticism on favors subside.
You might have noticed that I haven’t mentioned what our favors actually are. I wanted to get this all out before I tell you what our favors are and potentially take some heat for them.
What is your take on favors? Do you think, as brides, we worry about them a little too much sometimes?
In the grand scheme of things, I could totally forego the whole idea of favors and use the money toward something my guests would truly enjoy. Such as…a better tier of open bar perhaps? An extra hour with the DJ? A bit more elegant cocktail hour? I think there are many possibilities. Can’t wait to see what you have chosen!
I have spent too many hours of my life trying to come up with a good favor. Yes, I do not really care what I get as a favor. I will take it out of respect for the bride and groom. I have seen on here where some people say they leave the favor on the table because they didnt want it. I personally think thats rude. YOu can at least take it and sipose of it later. I think its the polite thing to do. Anyway, I still don’t know what we are doing for favors.. its such a headache. And when I read sometimes about hoe ungrateful some people are of the favors they get…it maeks me want to throw in the towel.LoL.
We are not too worried about it. Our favors are about $.30 a piece *gasp* we are on a tight budget. But we are doing cotton candy for our circus themed wedding. If people don’t like it, they can take it home to their kids or dogs (if dogs are allowed to eat cotton candy that is). But I agree, way too much worry over stuff that won’t matter in 10 years. Heck, it won’t matter the next day.
GREAT POST! Can’t wait to hear what you are doing as favors though.
We completely skipped the favors…but not until we agonized about it! I agree with you - why is it such a big deal? After going back and forth on the issue, we decided to use the money we would’ve put toward favors as an extra tip for our hard-working band. What do you remember more as a guest: the rockin band or the bag of personalized m&ms you tossed in your purse?
I am having an indoor vintage garden wedding….so I have little glass viles that I am filling with wild flowers and giving those away. Favors were the first thing off of my list, but I always had to revisit the idea; afraid that my guests may feel some way about them. They are super cute though and I don’t care! 
I have food, cake, more desserts, memorial gifts, photobooth with free photo, and FREE DRINKS! What else do they need? If they are not satisfied then that is their problem. I think people worry about favors more than they should.
I never remember the favors. 
That said, I’m excited about ours - a friend offered to make favors for us as her gift to us. She makes delicious caramels that she sends to us at Christmas and FI’s birthday that she’s going to make for our guests. She also super crafty (featured in a Martha Stewart magazine last February), so I’m looking forward to seeing how she packages them. I’m just hoping my dad & a good friend, who have now both tasted her treats, don’t collude and swipe them in advance as they’ve threatened to do and replace with store bought ones.
I know what you mean. People seemed so focused on what they can get for attending your wedding. It’s a little disrespectful in my opinion. You’re there to celebrate the joining of two families not score swag. We wanted to give something that people can use and wouldn’t cost us an arm and a leg. I wanted to do personalized shot glasses but at 75 cents to $1 a piece for 100 it would have been out of our budget. We went with personalized matchboxes and lip balm. It cost half the price.
I had been completely stressing favors until a few days ago. I gave my FI a beer making kit for Christmas- and, as long as the first few batches go well, we’re going to make a few batches of beer for wedding favors with personalized labels and bottle caps! We’re both huge beer people…so it’s very us. And for those who aren’t beer people, I’m going to make a small amount of homemade limoncello in little bottles also!
I am not even going to have favors! My wedding is at the end of January and there are so many things that I still need to purchase, that favors just don’t fit into the equation. I am having a photobooth and am hoping that people will just appreciate being able to take pictures home at the end of the night.
And I vote for no favors at all. They aren’t mandatory or even traditional. Your mother and grandmother didn’t give out favors at their weddings. We decided to save the $300 - $500 and invest in better food instead.
I’m torned cause I’d love to give something good and usefull but there’s no way I’m spending 3-5dlls per guest and I refuse to give something that’ll be tossed into a corner for months until they find it again and decide to just throw it away.
We skipped it. I couldn’t find anything that really worked that I could afford. And I didn’t want to add anything that would DETRACT from the carefully planned event. Nobody noticed and nobody cared.
I don’t really remember or keep favors… However, I am sure I have always taken them home. As another bee mentioned, I think it is rude to leave gifts from the host behind–shame on those guests!
THANK YOU! My mom has totally lost her mind about favors and I keep telling her that no one is going to care. We’re going with Jordan almonds and a donation. Boom. Done. Easiest wedding decision yet.
I didn’t even realize that favors were given at weddings until only about a year ago, when I read about them somewhere. I’ve been to many weddings and none of them gave out favors, and no one expected them to. I plan on doing it at my wedding just because I like the idea and the surprise it will be to my extended family, but they are definitely not required.
We’re either donating to a local dog rescue and leaving notes on each table explaining this, or doing nothing at all. My opinion is that anyone who goes to a wedding and is bummed to not get a cheap little favor in return isn’t there for the right reasons anyway. It’s not about what you get in return for going.
We, um, forgot about favors. No one even noticed (that I know of), and I had one less thing to pay for and organize.
Our colors are Black & White with “hints” of orange (the Mr.’s doing!! It’s a southern football thing!). We are also doing a dessert reception with a candy buffet. I managed to work a deal with a sale and coupons and paid just $1 for every 40 packs of Tic Tacs in orange and white. I’ve printed a label that says “Mint” to be, with our names and date. All in all I’ve got about $0.04 in each favor Had I not found this deal or something that was useable, tied in, or just as cheap, we were totally prepared to do no favor. I agree as does the Mr. that if you are there for a favor, you are there for the wrong reasons! Your favor should be celebrating and having a great time with family and friends!
I stressed about favors too. But not because what others would think - only because I wanted something that could do dual purpose and still have some representation of us. I love the history of Jordan Almonds, it has a beautiful Greek story - look it up. I was thinking doing this with the story attached. Then I thought little honey jars. Story: The Greek version of Cupid dips his arrow in honey to sweeten the lovers hearts. I could go on and on… But we (or I chose - although no Greek story) a cute box with a catchy phrase tied with a satin ribbon that will look oh so adorable on the tables. Mahalo to Weddingbee DIY!
However I am doing the OOT Bags and some of the stories and items will be in that.
Amen to this! It’s so easy to get caught up in this. I ended up making a last minute favor for our guests yesterday but it fits in with the New Year celebration so it made sense to do it and caused little stress. Most of the time, favors aren’t even worth it!
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Miss Doe, Northern California Age and Occupation: 24, Real Estate Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling Manager Engagement Date: December 25, 2010 Wedding Date: May 2012 Venue: Monte Verde Inn About Me: I’m a Rat Pack fan and a Christmas nut that loves to read, good wine, cheesy ’80s movies and ’90s sitcoms. My wiener dog with an attitude problem and lazy basset hound are my constant source of entertainment. He's a hunter and I like cooking so it's not rare to see wild game on our dinner menu. Both of us were born and raised in a small historic farming town where our feet are still firmly planted. We have been together for nearly a decade and have shared many life experiences together, including birthdays that are only one day apart. We are two old souls that are creating our long-awaited wedding with loads of tradition that blends our two styles into rustic elegance in the foothills of Northern California.
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