Take a look at some fresh ideas that are guaranteed to impress your guests. A few key things to think about: Wedding favors don’t have to be personalized with the names of the bride and groom and the wedding date. A fancier approach is to include a nice note (handwritten if possible) thanking guests for coming to the festivities. Candy Buffet, do you remember the satisfaction of going to the candy store and filling a bag with your favorite candies? Give guests a walk down memory lane with a table laden with delicious treats like M&M’s, chocolate-covered nuts, jelly beans, cookies, and hard candy (all in your wedding colors, of course). Include cute little Chinese takeout boxes so guests can take home their treasures.
go green. Think environmentally friendly and “Go Green” for wedding favors. Some ideas include giving away miniature potted plants (ivy, pansies, fresh herbs), packets of flower seeds, soy candles, or packets of organic tea with a tea strainer.
Destination weddings. If you’re having a destination wedding, or many out-of-town guests are attending your wedding, provide favors that celebrate your location. A Las Vegas wedding can include a custom game of dice or cards. A New England wedding might include tiny bottles of maple syrup, miniature stuffed lobster, or little “ship in a bottle” trinkets. If you’re getting married in Napa Valley, try wine corkscrews, miniature wine bottles, or wine charms. Tropical wedding ideas include small bottles of sunscreen, dried tropical fruits, exotic flowers, or something that highlights a local specialty or craft, such as pottery, special spices, or indigenous foods.
For him and her, if you plan to have a smaller, more intimate fling, consider “his and her” gifts. For her: Give her feet a break by offering her flip-flops or slippers to dance on. Do you have an outdoor wedding? Place pashmina wraps on the backs of the ladies’ chairs to protect them from the chilly night air.
For a tropical wedding, include exotic flowers with hair clips for the bridesmaids to put in their hair. For him: When asked what men would want as a wedding favor, two responses dominated: alcohol and sports. Golf fans will enjoy personalized golf balls or tees. If the groom is a baseball fan, give everyone a pack of baseball cards.
For adults-only weddings, try shot glasses, wine corkscrews, cool coasters, pilsner glasses, or beer openers.
For fun, receptions can often be filled with awkward moments, as people are assigned to sit with perfect strangers for three to four hours. Ease the pain by providing fun favors that can help start a conversation other than “so how do you meet the happy couple?” Think back to your childhood and give everyone a fun old game like tic tac toe, a rubber ball and paddle, mind games, decks of cards, marbles, dominoes and jacks. Mad Libs, trivia cards, or fun little books also make good gifts. Encourage conversation by creating a mini scavenger hunt for each table to locate their favors.
Holiday/themed weddings. If your wedding is taking place around a major holiday, incorporate your favors with the theme of the holiday. Depending on the theme, many times the favors also tend to double as table decorations. For Christmas, give everyone a beautiful ornament. For New Year’s Eve weddings, include a tastefully wrapped popper and noisemakers. Mardi Gras weddings should include fancy masks or glass beads for each guest.