By Lanna Britt, Candlehouse Contributor
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding or special event! We know there are so many details that go into weddings, but one area you may not have considered is the subject of favors. Wedding, bachelorette, and bridal shower favors are all important parts of weddings and the events that surround them. Keep reading for tips on how to choose the best wedding favors!
Favor Etiquette
When should you give favors?
A wedding favor is a small gift given to your guests as a show of appreciation from the happy couple. Favors aren’t required for any event but they are a nice touch as a “Thank you” to guests who took time to celebrate you.
How much should you spend on favors?
This is the money question - pun intended! Weddings are notoriously expensive and even if you are trying to limit expenses, there are always added costs that pop up. However, with some creativity you don’t have to break your budget when it comes to favors. A recent study by The Knot showed an average couple spends about $450 on wedding favors with each favor costing between $1 to $3. Obviously, that amount can jump if you are planning for a big wedding with a couple hundred guests. On the flip side, if you are having an intimate ceremony you may want to spend more per person since guests traveled a presumably long distance.
Who pays for the favors?
When it comes to wedding favors, the bride’s family traditionally covers most costs associated with the wedding which includes favors. For Bachelorette parties, there are fewer “rules.” The bride may feel she wants to choose specific favors to enhance the party or weekend. Usually, the maid of honor plans the Bachelorette party so she may cover the costs, or it could be split among the bridesmaids and guests. For bridal shower favors, traditionally the person (or persons) hosting the party would cover the costs of the favors.
The Best Wedding Favors
With so many options for wedding favors it can be overwhelming and if you are a bride reading this - you are probably already overwhelmed! Let us help break down the best wedding favors on the market to wow your guests.
We here at Candlehouse love our personalized wedding candles. If you are planning an intimate destination wedding, consider splurging on our 100% natural soy wax wedding candles. We hand pour each candle and offer custom engraving. With up to 70 hours of burn time, your guests will remember your special day for months to come! Keep in mind we offer bulk discounts on orders of 20 or more!
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat at the end of a long night dancing and celebrating the bride and groom? Many couples opt for something sweet to gift their guests. Martha Stewart rounded up a number of cookie favor options that are sure to make your guests smile. From cookies with monograms to custom fortune cookies that offer sweet notes to your loved ones, the choices are endless! Consider finding a local bakery (we love supporting small businesses!) to see what cookie options they have.
If you are on a budget, matchbox favors are a great option. Not only are they simple to bring to your venue but guests can easily carry them home. There is something nostalgic about matchboxes and the sound of lighting a match? Magic. They are also a fun way to show off the bride and groom’s personality. I remember attending a wedding and receiving a matchbox with a cartoon drawing of the couple and I saved it for months because it was just so cute!
Finally, consider giving seed packets to guests to “let love grow” - especially if you marry in the spring or summer. It’s an eco-friendly gift your guests are sure to appreciate.
The Best Bachelorette Party Favors
Bachelorette parties are F-U-N and it almost seems like custom tee shirts are a requirement these days! The bridal crew will surely love posting pics of all the girls in their matching shirts celebrating the bride-to-be!
Depending on how wild you expect the Bachelorette party to get, personalized shot glasses make fun (and useful!) gifts. If you are the bride and know the party hosts are giving out shot glasses, consider buying a nice bottle of tequila or vodka to go along with the gift. Cheers!
Personalized sunglasses are a fabulous way to bring the glam to your girls especially if you are splurging on a sunny bachelorette getaway. Just imagine how cute you all will look posing beach-side with matching sunglasses. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Let’s be real. Most girls haven’t met a gorgeous candle they don’t love. Consider treating the women to a candle favor they will happily display in their home!
Lastly, consider a bachelorette favor that matches the theme of your party. You can find dozens of fun themes online but also consider the bride and groom could also be your theme. One bride decided her groom could still participate in the party, or at least his likeness. She had custom temporary tattoos made along with his face on sticks. I am pretty sure the girls will take a good amount of hilarious photos with the “groom!”
The Best Bridal Shower Favors
If you are having a dry bridal shower, consider giving guests mini Martinelli’s bottles of sparkling cider. There is a reason the company has been around since 1868! Even young guests like the flower girl can partake of the celebratory bubbles.
If I had a dollar for every plant I’ve killed over the years, I’d be a millionaire. I can keep children and pets alive but when it comes to plants, I am the Grim Reaper. So I appreciate a good succulent that requires minimal effort but looks lovely. Chances are your guests will too, long after the wedding has come and gone!
There is no such thing as too many lip balms, wouldn’t you agree? Consider a classic Burt’s Bees along with a cute printable and voila - effortless and affordable gift!
Finally, candle wedding favors are always a classic way to impress your guests. Did you know Candlehouse offers 100% all-natural soy wax candle refills? So guests could enjoy your gift season after season!
Presentation
Make sure to consider the theme of your wedding and how best to incorporate or present your favor to guests. Some choose to leave the gift at each place setting if you are offering a seated dinner. Others design a favor display station and guests can help themselves. Keep in mind your wedding colors as you consider packaging for favors. A unified color scheme can add to the overall ambience of the wedding from the flowers all the way down to favors. Don’t forget printables as a way to elevate your favor. Maybe your favor is a cookie in the shape of a throwback vintage cassette tape. Consider pairing that with a printable of the bride and groom’s favorite playlist. If your favor is a matchbox, adding a printable with a poem about “Love’s Spark” might be a fun touch. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box too.
One bride-to-be tells me, “I wanted the favors to be something that wouldn’t get discarded in a couple of months but also something that would capture a memory. So after a bunch of contemplation, it suddenly struck me that I wanted to do Polaroids as my “wedding favor.” I’m going to have a little couch and green foliage backdrop with a Polaroid station set up. My guests will be able to take a picture for themselves to capture the moment and then I’m going to also request that they take a second photo for us. There will be a guest book beside the camera set up for them to put a Polaroid in and space to write a message as well.” Now that is capturing the love!
