When it comes to cutting costs while planning a wedding, one can become easily overwhelmed. There are many non-negotiables: your guests must eat, most would probably enjoy a drink and some music, and of course everyone needs a place to sit. While Pinterest is abound with many DIY favor ideas for how to add creative touches to all of the extra details at a wedding: save-the-dates, place cards, gift bags, table decorations, don’t overlook the party favors as a place to both show your creativity and save a little cash that could be used towards those shoes you’re dying to buy, or some transportation to drive all of those drunk people around safely. Many opt for candles or sweets, for favors, but if you want to try something a little different, consider one of these:
{ Photo: Love Katie and Sarah }
- Food, Food, Food. So many possibilities, including small bags of M&Ms or jellybeans (color coordinated, of course), rock candy, chocolate-dipped pretzels. Sure, this has become a common trend, but there are endless ways to make this kind of favor unique. Charlotte Smith of Ciburbanity bequeathed homemade fudge in small white boxes that she adorned with tissue paper, quotes about love, and letters from a Scrabble game.
- Think green. Small plants (succulents work well), fresh-cut flower bulbs again in packaging or presentation that are thoughtful and could add to table décor if presented at each table setting. For holiday-themed or fall weddings, pinecones, small wreaths, and holly could also be spruced up and presented as a take-away gift.
- A personal favorite; make a mix of songs that both reflect your personal music tastes and include some songs from the ceremony or reception. I walked down the aisle to Cat Stevens’s “The Wind” and our first dance was “Moonlight in Vermont” (the Willy Nelson version), so both were included on the CD. The best part, my artist-friend designed a screen print of the round barn and surrounding farm, where we were married, that we duplicated for the cover of the CD. For the more tech-savvy couple, choose a flash drive that can be either color-coordinated to match your wedding theme or even monogrammed. Along with a selection of songs, you can also include relevant photos on the drives. Endless possibilities here…
- Be original and creative. Think about what makes you unique as a couple. A close friend’s fiancé worked for a glass water bottle company, so for their wedding favors, they printed love quotes on to the bottles for guests to take home at the end of the night. We still keep ours among our favorite glassware. If wine is your thing, do something funky with a bunch of corks. If either one of you is an artist, design something and have it printed. You love to travel? Start collecting postcards, or small souvenirs at open-air markets to turn into favors.
{ Photo: The Favorbox }
So there you have it! While it may feel superfluous to take on this extra assignment during this crazy planning season, keep in mind that a token of your appreciation for the effort, resources, and time it took for your guests to be a part of your wedding weekend, goes a long way.
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Liz Mathews is a Connecticut based mother, teacher, and freelance writer who blogs on children’s books and related topics at La La La. Her work has appeared in Quality Women’s Fiction, Town and Country magazine, and Literary Mama.