It’s all about the details when it comes to wedding favors! We take you through wedding favors 101 to highlight those little signature items, trinkets, and tokens intended to be a small gift from the happy couple to thank their guests and mark the special day.
The giving of wedding favors began centuries ago in Europe.
And like other features of the ceremony and reception, the trend in wedding favors can range from the traditional and reflective of the overall theme to a more whimsical tone capturing the spirit of the bride and groom. There are no rules here; it’s the couple’s choice.
History of Wedding Favors
Giving your guests trinkets to remember your special day has old European roots. The tradition is said to begin in 16th century Europe, where guests would receive bonbonnieres, or small decorated boxes containing sugared treats, at any elaborate celebration they attended. The tradition later expanded to all classes and rooted in wedding celebrations.
Practical Wedding Favors
The more traditional and still popular of favors includes matches, either a book or box, with the cover etched with the couple’s name, wedding date and special note to guests. This may be a small favor but wedding guests will likely find it a useful one.
Throw the rules out the window with your guest gift-giving!
A growing trend in favors for outdoor weddings includes providing flip-flops for nuptials on the beach or shawls to keep guests warm on chilly days. Both the flip-flops and shawl are items that guests will reuse often following the wedding.
Edible Wedding Favors
Yes, wedding guests like to eat! It’s often a great idea to select edible wedding favors that they can enjoy later. It can be customized candy, samples of petit fours, or jars of cookies! How about adding bags of dry mixes for hot cocoa, tea, or even coffee beans? Of course the packaging will remind them of the wedding with a note detailing the significance of the couple’s selection.
Other wedding favor choices may include:
- Koozies – can be used for soda pop can or a bottle of beer.
- Coasters – can be simple or elegant to showcase couples name & wedding date.
- Bottle Openers – how handy will it be to have this great tool close by.
- Fans – a great wedding souvenir to keep guests cool.
- Wine or shot glasses – use to toast the couple later or add to your collection.
Sweet or practical? The choice is yours for favors.
Unique Wedding Favors
The more environmentally conscience couple may opt to send guests home with a tree sapling to plant as they will do also at their new home. As the years pass and the trees mature, it will be a reminder of their marriage and the growth of their bond.
Give guests a chance to hit the jackpot with lottery scratch off tickets! It will definitely be fun to see how many people are winners. Everyone over 18 will want to make sure they check their tickets for the winner numbers. Let’s party!
A copy of the wedding soundtrack is another fine idea. The customized playlist will hold special memories for the couple that they want to share with their family and friends to remember the day they said, “I do.”
The couple may decide to forgo a traditional wedding favor and instead use the funds to make a donation to their favorite charity in the name of each guest. It’s a thoughtful gesture and each guest will have a special note of thanks from the couple to document.
Our professional event planner at the Roberts Centre can help couples create those special moments of the ceremony and reception including the presentation of the wedding favors for all to enjoy. Contact our staff at 937-283-3275 to schedule your wedding date.
