Nothing says, "Thanks for coming to our wedding" like a miniature plastic swan with your names and a cheesy slogan such as 'Love gives us wings' airbrushed on its side, right? Seriously, these are available (I just saw them advertised in a major wedding magazine) and I would argue that they are no way to show your gratitude. If I came to your wedding and you gave me one of these, I would send you an 8X10 photo of my cat flushing the toilet as your wedding gift. However, there is no accounting for (poor) taste; one of your guests could be searching for the perfect ornament to display on her mantle over the holidays, and this may be just the ticket…if the guest in question is your crazy Aunt Ethel who also collects ketchup packets from every fast food restaurant she's ever been to and considers crocheted toilet paper covers fine art. In other words, there are far more practical things to give to your guests as a token of your special day, some of which they may actually make an effort to remember to take home with them. The overall theme of good wedding favors is: Make them useful or available for consumption. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind, with provisions for every budget.
- Use Local Goods
This is a great idea if you have a lot of out of town guests coming, or if you're planning a destination wedding. For example, if you're getting married in Vermont you could give your guests maple syrup. Don't forget to deliver it in teeny tiny jugs that look like they were crafted by Smurfs and would surely give you carpel tunnel syndrome if you tried to grasp the handle on a regular basis. Oh, and remember to print labels with your names and a gag-worthy - I mean catchy - phrase such as 'We're sweet on each other'. Or skip the slogan altogether (please!). - Dole out a sweet treat
Some candy companies, such as M&Ms, will personalize their treats with your monogram or something else nuptial in nature. This allows you to be a little bit cutesy but still give your guests something that they will actually enjoy. I recently attended a wedding where each guest received an organza bag filled with personalized chocolate candies, and I happened to be pregnant at the time. I enjoyed these candies every bit as much as my husband did the champagne…meaning that we both consumed much more than we needed to that evening (I don't think anyone else at my table got to eat their own candies), but it seemed like a good idea at the time. The organza bag is an attractive and affordable option for packaging goodies, and can be found in a wide variety of colors. Check local craft stores and online for good deals. Another budget-friendly variation on this tasty theme is to personalize the label on a candy tin or other container, (you can buy tins in bulk and print the labels at home to save your pennies), and fill the tins with whatever sweets you choose. - Use your wedding season as your theme
If you are having a fall wedding you could give each of your guests a leaf-shaped candle or something otherwise autumn-inspired, or in the winter a simple tree ornament. I would caution you here, though: It can be easy to get carried away and veer toward the not-so-useful-and-definitely-too-silly side of wedding wares if you stick too closely to a theme. This is just my opinion, but I'm a Leo so that actually makes it a fact. A good test of wedding favor acceptability is to consider whether this gift would be something that you would actually want to take home with you from your second cousin's wedding. Would a spring daisy-shaped refrigerator magnet with 'Jane and Joe: Our love's in full bloom!' written on it make the cut? Perhaps not. - Follow the wedding theme or heritage of the bride and/or groom
Again, we are wading in dangerous theme-infested waters here. Tread carefully, but there are good ideas available if you keep it simple and remember the overall theme of usefulness. For example, if either or both of the happy couple happens to be Asian, or if you have an Eastern theme to your event, a decorative pair of chopsticks or an Asian spoon cradling a lovely and decadent chocolate makes a great - and very affordable - favor. You have freedom to get creative here, but try to take your bridal blinders off so that you can be at least a little bit rational with your decision. - Living gifts
This is my favorite category, and I think it's pretty difficult to go too far astray here. A miniature potted plant or a satchel of seeds is a perfect keepsake from the day that grows over time. However, I was recently reminded by a friend to be mindful of your location if you are going to give a living gift. She was married in England, and most of her guests came from the States. She gave each of them a sapling, which was promptly confiscated at customs when they attempted to bring it home. A sensible alternative to an actual plant would be a bud vase, small pot, or other foliage receptacle.
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