Custom-made wine glass rings are the perfect wedding favor.
Selecting the perfect wedding favors is by no means the most important part of planning this milestone event, but it is still important. Wedding favors often serve as mementos of your big day, and as a pre-thank-you-card-thanks. It lets guests know that they are appreciated, and let’s face it—we all look forward to seeing the little mini-gifts that await us on the wedding tablecloths when we attend these milestone events.
Wedding favors shouldn’t take up a large portion of your budget, but if you buy items in bulk, you’ll be able to cut costs significantly. Most people have luck shopping online or through wholesale distributors, though of course your resources will vary depending on what favors you decide to purchase. For the sake of this article, we’ll be focusing on unique, themed wedding favor combinations.
The Foodie Favors
Weddings rarely feature sensible portions, particularly if they are buffets—instead, you’ll see dinner plates loaded with food that almost always leaks onto the white wedding table cloths. While you’d think this would lead to moderation in upcoming days, we all know what happens when we eat a large dinner—we wake up starving. The solution? The breakfast wedding favor, a package that consists of recipes, specialty pancake batter, and mini-jars of jams, honey, and maple syrup. Often, companies can customize their packaging according to your invitation graphic designs, provided you give notice and order enough items. If they don’t, simply print labels and ask your family and friends to affix them.
Another option is the wine kit. Look for personalized wine stoppers, wine glass markers, corkscrews, and maybe a magnet or label that offers a guideline. A number of companies print out wine wheels that act as paper sommeliers of sorts—just turn them to match food combinations to their ideal wine. A number of couples bottle their own wine as well. If you can afford to do so, wedding guests will certainly appreciate your efforts. Just make sure they don’t uncork too many bottles at the table—the last thing you need is for a glass of Chianti to spill on your wedding linen rentals.
Some couples like to customize salt and pepper shakers, but this seems like a hit-or-miss gift. Most people already have salt and pepper shakers, after all. A better option is to give the gift of condiments—sort of like the savory counterpart to the breakfast kit. Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil are always a good bet, as are specialty salt and herb mixes. Include recipe cards to give your guests added inspiration. Be sure that all bottles are tightly sealed—like red wine, balsamic can easily leave a stain on white table linen.
Another option is the dessert kit. This can either consist of customized candy (the perfect option if you don’t have an endless budget) and other treats, or a few choice dessert ingredients. I’m fond of using vanilla in this regard—a cured vanilla bean pods, vanilla sugar, and so on. Though you will occasionally run across people who are allergic to vanilla (I never have, but I’m sure they exist), it is in general a safe choice. Besides, including vanilla bean pods means you can toss in a recipe for the absolute best dessert in the whole world, crème brulée.
The Travel Favors
Regardless of whether or not your guests are world travelers, they are bound to appreciate the thought and care put into a travel favor. All of the items listed in this section are shockingly useful, which is generally a big no-no for wedding favors, but I couldn’t resist.
Since so many modern couples are capitalizing on outdoor settings—and who could blame them, given how stunning wedding table linen looks against green grass and blue skies—wedding favors that deal with the great outdoors are a sure fit. For this reason, a camping kit would be the perfect favor package! I recommend a kit that includes a small pocket knife (unless you can somehow afford to give each guest a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman), a lighter, a key ring flashlight (with batteries), and a Survival Strap-style bracelet. You can customize a few of these items, so see if you can match them to your wedding to a certain degree. Survival Strap will let you customize down to the cord colors (match them to your wedding table linens) and add photos, for example. Note that you can find online tutorials to make survival cords, so if you can spare a few thousand hours or enlist someone to do so for you, this might be an option. I wouldn’t recommend it for obvious reasons.
Another option is to focus your favors around travel. Options would include luggage tags (everyone can use a new luggage tag because they often detach en route), a passport carrier, a few travel-size toiletries, hand sanitizer, ear plugs, a space blanket (some airlines stopped providing blankets after the H1N1 scare), and so on.
If your wedding is on the beach, a beach survival kit might be essential to your guests—they can’t very well hide under the table and get their clothes all sandy, or use their napkins as sun hats. Include sunscreen (preferably something organic that won’t irritate sensitive skin), a hand fan, a bottle of water, a small towel (customized to your wedding, of course), and maybe a custom snapback hat.
The Hobby Favors
Everyone will marvel at your wedding décor, from your gorgeous napkins to your flower selection. A great way to give them a lasting memory is to include a small gardening kit—flower seeds, a trowel, a flowerpot, and perhaps even a small, well-sealed bag of potting soil (yet another thing that you don’t want to end up on your rented wedding table linen). Include instructions, just in case your guests are as terrible at gardening as I am.
A cleaner option is the tech set. You wouldn’t think that anything tech-related would be a good idea due to the price, but custom flash drives can be quite affordable when you buy them in bulk—obviously, the more you buy, the less it will cost. Other tech gifts include ear bud organizers, larger cord organizers, and a mini-robot vacuum.
Summary
For a useful, unique take on wedding favors, bundle related items together! Look for specialty items related to food, travel, and even hobbies. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised to find favors they don’t want to re-gift. Shop online and through wholesale retailers to get the best prices and be sure to think of fun ways to display favors on your wedding linens!
Looking for great online sources for wedding tips, rentals and favor selection? Check out:
Lots of décor tips, plus stunning wedding linen rentals.
Find Mini Robot Vacuums and more here!
Fashionable Camping Accessories
Survival Straps are cute, customizable, and completely functional.
The Small Business Report 