Wedding favors are a hotly debated topic in the wedding planning world. On one hand, you have couples who delight in designing personalized coasters or creating the tastiest take-home desserts as their unique wedding favors. On the other hand, you have couples that hate the idea of adding another expense to their wedding budget.
If you’re on the fence, trying to decide which camp to join, this article will help. It sheds light on the importance and examples of wedding favors. It also highlights alternative things to do if you don’t want wedding favors. You’ll find detailed answers to questions such as:
- Do people still give wedding favors?
- How much do you spend on a wedding favor?
- Does every guest get a wedding favor?
- What can I do instead of favors?
- What are some good ideas for wedding favors?
Do People Still Give Wedding Favors?
Yes, couples still give wedding favors, and understandably so. Here’s the deal: you’ll be spending a ton of money to ensure every guest is entertained, fed and comfortable on your big day. However, these guests will also be devoting their time and money to attend your event.
From traveling to buying wedding outfits, gifts and possibly accommodation – all these are hefty expenses they’ll likely incur. So if you want to offer a token of appreciation, a wedding favor is an excellent way.
While we recommend offering it to your guests, it’s important to note that they aren’t mandatory. If you just don’t have the budget for it, then you can ditch the idea altogether. And if you do decide to stick to it, don’t pressure yourself into getting expensive favors that you can’t afford. This brings me to my next point.
How Much Do You Spend on a Wedding Favor?
There aren’t any hard and fast rules on how much you should spend on wedding favors. This decision often boils down to your budget. In other words, you can spend as little or as much as you can afford to.
That said, it would help to know how much previous couples have spent on this affair. Well, based on a study conducted by The Knot, couples spent an average of $440 on wedding favors and guest gifts in 2022.
As expected, one factor that influences this cost is the number of guests. The longer your guest list, the more you’ll spend on wedding favors. However, if you prefer a more intimate ceremony with just a handful of people, you can save a few bucks.
Does Every Guest Get a Wedding Favor?
There’s no definitive answer as it depends on the size and nature of the wedding favor.
If you’re offering something big and expensive – like a cookbook or customized photo frame – then you can offer one per couple. However, if you’re offering something simpler, then aim to give one piece per guest.
What Can I Do Instead of Favors?
If you don’t want to go the traditional route of offering tangible items, there are other things you can do to appreciate your guests.
For instance, you can set up a fancy photo booth for your guests to take pictures.You could also make a donation to a charity chosen by your guests. Or, have each guest pick a song that you’ll play during your ceremony.
What Are Some Good Ideas for Wedding Favors?
Still not sure of what wedding favors to get for your guests? Here are a couple of recommendations and more below:
- Fruit boxes
- Himalayan salt
- Take-away snacks
- Miniature candles
- Mini succulents
- Luggage tags
- Honey jars
- Trinket trays
Useful Wedding Favors
1. Bottle Openers
As far as practical wedding favors go, bottle openers top the list. They’re versatile, easy to customize, and they’ll be useful to your guests for a long time to come.
I particularly like these Hashtag themed bottle openers from Beau Coup. They’re super cute and double up as table decorations for your event. Plus, you have an option of customizing the back with your preferred text.
2. Photo Tea Favor
Tea wedding favors have risen in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. The truth is, tea is a widely-consumed beverage, and can be tailored to complement the theme of your event.
These Photo Tea Favors are my personal favorite. Each tea bag holder can be customized to include a photo of you and your partner. Better yet, you get to choose from multiple tea flavors like chamomile and double spice.
3. Wedding Survival Kit
There’s no doubt that your wedding will be a special event for your guests. However, it won’t be the last one they attend. This means a wedding survival kit might really come in handy.
This Floral Wedding Survival Kit by Kate Aspen makes for a superb wedding favor. It includes essentials like bobby pins, a manicure set, hair ties and more.
4. Mason Jar Mugs
Are you planning a country-themed or rustic wedding? If you are, these mason jar mugs are the perfect wedding favor idea. They can be filled with just about anything, from cold drinks to candles and sweet treats.
5. Trinket Dishes
When it comes to practicality, another wedding favor that hits the mark is a trinket dish. It can be used to hold a wide range of items, from jewelry to keys, candies, stationery items and more.
If you love this idea, check out the Kate Aspen rectangular trinket dishes. They have a gorgeous floral print and they’re made of ceramic for maximum durability.
Unique Wedding Favors
6. Wedding Tissue Packs with Dried Flowers
Are you looking for some out-of-the-box wedding favors? If so, look no further than the CHARMY NOW wedding tissue packs.
The tissues arrive already packaged in an elegant box. This is already a big bonus point as it eliminates the hustle of packaging your favors. The best part, they’re unscented and accompanied by real dried flowers!
7. Grocery Tote Bag
Another unique gift that guests will never guess is a grocery tote bag. It’s simple but it’s incredibly versatile and suitable for every kind of guest. This Eco Tote Bag is one of my favorites. Available in five different styles, five different colors and can be customized to include the guest’s name.
8. Bath Bombs
By the time the wedding is coming to an end, the guests will be pretty fatigued from all the dancing and celebrating.
So one of the best ways to help them relax is by getting them some bath bombs. These Go Party Bath Bombs come in one giant box, but each one is wrapped individually and boasts a soothing scent and effect.
9. Herb-Infused Mini Olive Oil Bottles
Olive oil bottles are a popular wedding favor. However, you can amp up your game by choosing these particular Mini Olive Oil Bottles, whose condiment is sourced directly from Greece. The best part – the olive oil can be infused with your favorite herbs; be it chili, rosemary, lemon among others.
10. Punny Matchboxes
Are you looking for wedding favors that will have your guests in stitches? These Punny Matchboxes fit the description. They have funny phrases engraved on the package, such as “The Perfect Match,” “Get lit,” “Sparks Flew,” and more.
Conclusion
Wedding favors are the perfect way to appreciate guests for celebrating your big day with you. Besides, you don’t have to go the traditional route of buying tangible items for each guest. If your budget doesn’t allow it, there are other ways to express gratitude. These include playing your guests’ favorite songs, setting up a photo booth/ late-night snack bar or donating to a charity of their choosing.
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