Wedding favors have been a part of wedding receptions for years and are a way for brides and grooms to say “thank you” for sharing in their day. Favors should be as unique as the bride and groom themselves. They can be a reflection of the bride and groom, something that represent who they are, or perhaps something that is important to them or has a special meaning.

We often get asked, “Do we have to give our guests favors?” No, of course not. It is your day and if you choose not to, don’t feel guilty. Guests do not expect favors. After all, you are providing them with a fabulous meal and great entertainment for the evening. They did not come to your wedding just to see what favor they will receive, they came to be with you and share in your special day. If you want to give favors, here are some fun things to think about.

Favor ideas are endless and depending on your guest size, you can really get creative. First, let’s talk food. Who doesn’t love sitting down at their table and seeing something edible? My experience with edible favors is there are hardly any left over at the end of the night, and if there are, you don’t mind taking the rest of them home with you. Better to be stuck with four dozen chocolates than four dozen coasters.

Something I really like: specialty cookies. They are offered by several vendors in the Peoria area and can be designed like mini brides & grooms, wedding rings, regular circles and square shapes with the wedding date or couple’s monogram. They come individually wrapped so your guests can take them home or eat right away. Candy and cookie stations are also a popular idea. Set up a table with all your favorite candies or cookies, have handmade labels, bags, and presto – great favors for your guests.

If you are considering a candy or cookie station, please make sure you check with your venue to ensure you can bring in outside food before you start purchasing or making your treats. A late night snack station for your guests is also a fun idea that your guests will thank you for. Popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, and chips can all be out on display for your guests to enjoy later in the evening. You can even create “tent” signs for all the tables stating “In lieu of a favor, we hope you will enjoy the late night snack station.” When it comes to food, you can hardly go wrong. So be creative and your guests are sure to enjoy it!

Themed favors are another option. Consider your wedding and reception locations. At a winery, give your guests a bottle of wine as they leave at the end of the evening with a picture and your wedding date as the label. Again, this isn’t something you would want to do if you had a 400 person guest list, but for smaller weddings, this can be a great idea. For a garden wedding, think fl ower seeds or even a mini tree for your guests to plant in the spring. You can buy fl ower seeds in bulk, purchase bags, tie a note around the top, and they can be very personalized.

Still thinking of something different? Photo booths are new, fun, and interactive for your reception. Your favor can be the photo strips that your guests receive, and your guests will cherish those photos for a lifetime. Get creative with your photo booth, bring in fun props for your guests to use and, trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

And lastly, a favor that I feel truly touches many hearts – a charitable donation to an organization that has special meaning to the bride, groom, or their families. Many organizations will even send you cards to place at each guest’s place setting stating your donation. However, you can make your own cards to place at each table or place a framed note on the guest book table at your reception.

Every wedding is special and unique. Have fun with it, do not be afraid to step out of the box, be creative and enjoy every minute of it!