Wedding favors are a nice touch, but they are not a necessity. Many people believe that wedding favors are a waste of money and that the money could be better spent elsewhere, such as on the honeymoon or an extra hour of photography. Others believe that providing guests with food, drinks, and entertainment is enough of a thank you for their attendance. Some people suggest that if you do want to include favors, edible ones are the best option as they are more likely to be used and enjoyed by guests. Ultimately, it is up to the couple whether or not they want to include wedding favors, and skipping them is a perfectly acceptable option.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Cost of wedding favors | Anywhere from $173 to over $450 for designer favors |
Use of budget | Could be used for an extra honeymoon night, extra hour of photography coverage, larger bouquet, or inviting extra couples |
Guest experience | Could be used to enhance the guest experience, e.g. tableside flambé dessert presentation |
Necessity | Not a necessity, not historically traditional in the US |
Guest preference | Guests prefer edible favors, e.g. small sweets, boxed or wrapped |
Guest behavior | Most favors don't make their way home with guests, and are left at the wedding, thrown in the trash, or overlooked entirely |
What You'll Learn
Guests won't notice or care about wedding favours
Wedding favors are not a necessity. Your wedding guests won't notice or care about wedding favors. The reception, the meal, the drinks, the dessert, and the dancing are all party favors in themselves.
As a guest, you might not even take the party favor. They might end up in a drawer or forgotten in your car. Most favors are left at the wedding, thrown in the trash, or overlooked entirely. You can spend that money on something else, like an extra honeymoon night or another hour of photography coverage. You could even use the money to invite another couple to your wedding.
If you're still eager to include favors, consider edible ones. Small sweets, boxed or wrapped, are the only favors that consistently get used. You could also provide to-go boxes for dessert or a late-night snack, like coffee and donuts or fries and a drink, as a parting gift.
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Save money by skipping wedding favours
Wedding favours are a nice touch, but they are not a necessity. If you're looking to save some money, skipping wedding favours is a great option. Here are some reasons why you shouldn't feel obliged to provide favours for your guests:
Your guests won't notice
As a guest, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the day and overlook small details like favours. Most people won't even realise they're missing, and they certainly won't be upset about it. They're already being treated to cocktails, dinner and desserts, which is more than enough!
Save your money for other things
The money you would have spent on favours can be put to much better use. You could upgrade your honeymoon suite, add another hour of photography coverage, or even invite an extra couple to your wedding. These are the things that will make your day truly special, not a small gift that will likely be left behind or thrown away.
They often go to waste
Unless your favours are small, boxed sweets, they probably won't be used or taken home. Personalised items with your names and wedding date can be especially tricky to donate or find a use for if they're left behind. Edible favours are more likely to be taken, but even then, you'll likely be dealing with a lot of waste.
Focus on the experience
Instead of spending money on favours, you could enhance your guests' experience. You could splurge on a tableside flambé dessert presentation, a late-night snack, or an espresso bar. These are the things your guests will truly appreciate and remember.
So, if you're on the fence about wedding favours, don't be afraid to skip them! It's your wedding, and you should do what feels right for you.
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Spend your budget on enhancing the guest experience
Enhancing the guest experience is a great way to spend your wedding budget. Here are some ideas to make your wedding memorable for your guests:
Food and drinks
Your guests will appreciate a delicious meal, free-flowing drinks, and a fun atmosphere. Consider splurging on a fancier cocktail hour, a tableside flambé dessert presentation, or a late-night snack. An open bar, espresso bar, and a well-curated wine selection will also be a hit.
Entertainment
A photo booth with fun props and backdrops will provide your guests with instant souvenirs and create lasting memories. You could also hire a DJ or a live band to get everyone on the dance floor. If you want to go the extra mile, organise a surprise performance or a special guest appearance to really wow your guests!
Practical comforts
Little touches that show you care about your guests' comfort go a long way. For example, providing pashminas for an outdoor spring wedding or offering a welcome bag with snacks, water, and pain relievers for guests staying at the hotel. These gestures will make your guests feel taken care of and appreciated.
Memorable send-off
Create a grand finale to your celebration with a memorable send-off. Sparklers, confetti cannons, or a balloon release will make for a spectacular exit and provide unforgettable photo opportunities.
Remember, your wedding is about celebrating with your loved ones, and they will appreciate a well-hosted event with thoughtful touches more than a small trinket to take home.
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Wedding favours are not a requirement
Your wedding guests will not miss wedding favours and will not be upset if you don't provide any. They will already be enjoying cocktails, dinner, and desserts—that is thanks enough.
If you do want to include some sort of favour, edible ones are a good option as they are more likely to be used and less likely to be left behind.
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If you want to do wedding favours, edible ones are best
Wedding favors are not a requirement and it is not considered rude to skip them. In fact, many people believe that wedding favors are unnecessary and are often left behind, thrown away, or forgotten entirely. If you are eager to include favors at your wedding, edible ones are the best option. Small sweets, boxed or wrapped, are the most consistently used favors. They can also serve as a nice addition to the table setting.
If you are set on providing favors for your guests, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you can provide customized sugar cookies, homemade jam, or to-go boxes for the desserts you already have. This ensures that your guests will actually use and enjoy the favors, rather than leaving them behind. Another idea is to provide a late-night snack, such as coffee and donuts or fries and a drink, as guests are leaving. This can be a fun and memorable way to thank your guests for attending your wedding.
Additionally, you can consider providing edible favors that are unique or themed. For example, one couple provided small jars of honey as favors for their fall wedding, while another couple gave out custom conversation hearts for a Valentine's Day-themed wedding. These favors were well-received and added a personal touch to the celebration.
Ultimately, the decision to include wedding favors is entirely up to you. If you feel that your guests would appreciate them and you have room in your budget, go for it! However, if you are unsure or would rather allocate your resources elsewhere, skipping the favors is a perfectly acceptable option.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not bad etiquette to skip wedding favors. In fact, many people believe that wedding favors are unnecessary and a waste of money.
You can allocate the money you save by skipping wedding favors to other parts of your wedding, such as an extra honeymoon night, additional photography coverage, or a larger bouquet. Alternatively, you can use the money to enhance your guests' experience, for example, by offering a tableside flambé dessert presentation or a late-night snack.
If you decide to include favors, edible favors are a good option as they are more likely to be used and less likely to be left behind or thrown away. Some ideas for edible favors include small sweets, boxed or wrapped atop each place setting, customized sugar cookies, homemade jam, or to-go boxes for desserts.