It’s difficult to decide if wedding favors are necessary at a wedding. For some, they add the perfect finishing touch, and for others, they seem like an unnecessary expense. As with many other decisions in the wedding planning journey, it’s often best to consider every angle before deciding what you want and don’t want at your wedding.
So, ask yourself, is it okay to not have wedding favors? What can I use instead of wedding favors? Who should get wedding favors?
We will explore these questions in today’s post to help you make an informed decision about what works for you.
Is But first, what are wedding favors?
Wedding favors are a wedding tradition that dates back hundreds of years. It was a small gift given to guests by the bride and groom. It was to show appreciation for attending their wedding ceremony.
In modern times, wedding favors can vary in size and price depending on the couple’s preference. Most are handmade or purchased at local store.
You can package favors as goody bags containing candy, cookies, bath products, etc, and put them into boxes tied with a ribbon. Or they may be paper goods such as matchboxes inscribed with his-and-hers monogram initials.
Whichever the case, a wedding favors hould be something the guests can use, not just an item that goes to waste after the wedding.
Is it okay to not have wedding favors?
Wedding favorsa re a way to appreciate your guests for attending your wedding. However, not having favors is not a big deal at all! There are other ways to show appreciation, such as giving out free hugs or making thank you cards.
If you decide you don’t want to have any kind of favors, then just let your caterer know that they don’t need to plan for it.
You also want to check with your venue if they offer any discounts especially if you are closing several items with them. This way, it will be easier for you to avoid separate budget line items such as favors.
What can I use instead of wedding favors?
There are many creative ways couples can appreciate their guests for attending their wedding without having traditional gifts. Here are several alternatives to consider:
1. Having a photo booth
A photo booth is something that both guests and the wedding party can enjoy. The cost is minimal, and it will provide your guests with a keepsake from your special day.
You could then send your guests home with instructions on how they can download their photos online after the event has ended.
If budget is an issue, consider asking friends and family if anyone would like to donate towards the booth.
2. Donate the money saved on favors
You can donate to a charity in honor of your guests. It is a great way of showing gratitude to the people who have come out to celebrate this special moment with you.
You can find a charity related to you and your guests’ interests, such as an environmental cause, animal rights group, or religious organization. This way, your guests will feel good about supporting an organization they care about as well!
3. Music playlist
If money is tight but you still want something different and exciting at your wedding – try a Spotify list full of music that you and your future husband relate to. You could also have your guests send in their favorite songs to play on your wedding day.
4. Plants and seeds
Plants that are easy to care for, like succulents, are a popular alternative for favors. You can use them as wedding decor, and it’s easy for the guests to take care of them while at their homes.
Seeds offer you another way out when looking for wedding favors that don’t involve food or other edible items. You get your guests involved in gardening, which is always good because they may have never done so before if not encouraged by you!
5. Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
DIYs are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding. However, DIY wedding favors can end up being quite costly if you have to make many of them. But just because they are Do-It-Yourself does not mean you have to create everything from scratch.
To save money, you could do something as simple as filling kraft paper bags with coffee beans, tying them with ribbons, and adding a wedding tag.
Make the whole process more exciting by asking your family and friends for ideas. This creates a special opportunity for your guests to bond and to know each other.
The beautiful part about this is that each guest gets to have something that they like, rather than being forced into getting something because everyone else got the same.
6. Who should get wedding favors?
Ideally, every guest at a wedding should receive a wedding favor, including children, the wedding party, parents, grandparents, extended family members.
However, this may be financially impractical because favors are usually expensive. If you are on a tight budget, consider picking one group of people to receive a favor on behalf of all guests.
For example, your closest family members and friends, and the bridal party, or guests who have traveled from far. Or by family groups.
But if you still want every guest to leave with something small – then why not purchase affordable little bags that contain candy and add notes saying thank you inside? Or send them personalized postcards after your big day! The most important thing is that your guests feel appreciated when they attend your wedding.
The question of whether or not wedding favors are necessary is a tough one. If you’re on the side that thinks they aren’t, there’s no need to feel bad about it! There are plenty of other ways to thank your guests for coming and supporting you in marriage without giving them something physical as well. Hopefully, this article has given you some options.
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