Congratulations on your engagement! This is a really exciting time in your life. It’s also probably going to be a bit stressful.
During this next year, I want to walk through this process with you. I’ll give you a 12 Month Guide to planning your wedding and explain things along the way. You can start from the beginning here (click). Come back to this blog each week for the next installment.
Week 34 – Wedding Favors
Hope you’ve found a great makeup artist and hair stylist! Today we’re going to talk about wedding favors, and I don’t mean the little kazoos you use to get a children’s birthday parties.
Wedding favors are a wonderful way to express yourself, show off your wedding theme and thank your guest for coming. There are a ton of options out there, and you can create more. So how do you decide what to do? Here are a few ideas to send you in the right direction:
- Your theme. Does your wedding theme have specific colors or location? Let’s say you have a fall
wedding in Vermont. Something iconic for the area is maple syrup, and it also is a beautiful fall color tone. If you have a Hawaiian theme, consider giving your guests traditional leis. Match the colors of the item or the packaging to your wedding. You get bonus points if the favor also matches some portion of your theme, the season or location. - Your Budget. You know what I’m going to say…look at your budget and how many guests you’s expecting. If you have a very large wedding with a small budget, it is best to go with a simple favor. You may even want a sweet DIY favor that shows you care, but doesn’t break the bank. You can make something special and personal that guests we’ll love. This can be as simple as wrapping chocolates in a bag with a little bow and a thank you. If you have a large budget and/or an intimate wedding, you may want to go with a more elaborate gift. Feel free to find pretty packaging or items that are really unique (such as each guest’s name etched on a glass with a personal sized bottle of the local wine).
- Usability. The final consideration is for guest usability. It is always nice to give your guests something they will actually enjoy. Some wedding favors just go on the shelf or straight into the trash. If you use a food item then it is likely to actually be used and enjoyed. If you choose something else, think of the overall functionality and likelihood of being used.
I hope this gives you a starting point on figuring out what to give your guests as a thank you for coming. What are you getting to thank your guests?
Next week we’ll discuss the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner plans!
Katelyn is a certified wedding planner. She is available for consultations.
She will even meet with you on Skype to help you work through part of your wedding planning.
Click here for more information.