Do you have to have favors at a wedding?

[AngelRoseFyre]

Do you have to give favors out at the wedding? I can't really think of anything anyone would really want. A little tiny phot frame will get lost, candy will either be eaten and forgotten about within days or get lost, little trinkets will be stuffed away, etc... I don't want to throw away a couple hundred dollars for gifts no one really cares about, and I don't have any free time to make gifts. I'm not trying to be cheap, but i want to cut a few corners here and there to help my folks out. I mean, we are already feeding the guests an expensive meal, and providing them with a night of entertainment and childcare, is it ok if we don't include favors as well?

[wembley]

Most people wouldn't even notice if you didn't hand out favors. There isn't a rule saying you have to give something out, it's just become a common occurance. If it's not something that you want to do, then I say don't do it.

[ljeagle]

It's all up to you! If you don't want to take the time and money to do something then don't.

[breezy]

Favors have become a common way of saying thanks for joining and sharing our day. They are in no way mandatory
I doubt they'll be missed my many, and certainly help the budget to do without!
If you do decide on them, check here at the marketplace! there are several different and inexpensive favor ideas

[sparklesweetie]

No, you do not have to give out favors. That is entirely up to you. I went the candy route for the same reasons you said, and just had it tied up in tulle. Some of it did get eaten, I don't think I had too many left over. And I don't think I spent maybe $30. But no one would have missed them had I not had them.

[michaelsbride]

my solution was to get matches for all the reasons you stated... if people leave em, i can always use matches so they wont go to waste.

[Lizbet]

You do not have to have favors, like the other girls said. At my wedding, I had pine seedlings for people to take and plant. But, I had 150 or so guests, and I only ordered 50 trees --I would have ordered less, but 50 was the min.-- because I knew that not everyone would take one to plant. (We ended up having about 10 left at the end of the night.) We also had the guests use bubbles for the send off. So, anyone who wanted to take something with them would have the little bubble bottle.

[mommy03bride]

i was thinking the same thing bout this. what we decided is that we are going to have are invites made with photos of us it kinda looks like a cd cover but anyhow inside we are going to have a cd made with songs we like with are picture on that as well.

[labeadel]

Nope, you don't have to have them. If you feel that way about favors, then I suggest saving your money.

[SuzyBride]

I sure hope not, cause I didn't!! I think they are nice, but if you don't have the budget for them, can't think of anything, or simply don't want to I don't think it matters.

[555Ann555]

I forgot to give out half of mine! And I should add that no one noticed! Even afterwards when I was telling everone about my mistake, they were like "Oh... Did you???" (I gave them out when we were delivering the cake...)

[Robyn Lynn]

Favors are not necessary. Are you doing programs? They work just as well as keepsakes, if you really want your guests to have a keepsake.
I did candy -- in plastic hearts, tulle and cardboard boxes. I had a lot left over and I took some to work and ate the rest!!! It was inexpensive and put to good use!!

[Heather]

Originally Posted by AngelRoseFyre

[color="Indigo"] I mean, we are already feeding the guests an expensive meal, and providing them with a night of entertainment and childcare[COLOR]

They're only getting those things b/c you've invited them to celebrate with you and that's how you've decided to plan your event. I don't think favors are mandatory, but I do think it's really nice for a couple to give something to thank the guests for attending (above & beyond a thank you note).

[Mrs.Levitt]

we are doing candy. our caterer says if your not doing a food then dont do anything cause it will be a waste of money.

We are just throwing out some hersheys kisses on the tables. not wrapping them up or anything just nicely tossing them in amongst the rose petals.

[Julz518]

If you don't want to put together favors, but you want to do something to acknowledge your guests, there are MANY MANY charities out there that will give you place/table cards which say "A donation has been made in your honor to _______" It doesn't specify the donation amount - so it can be as little or as much as you want to spend. I'm thinking of doing this in addition to candy as my favors (since we have a few charities we give to regularly anyway), but only giving like $50-$100.

Check out www.idofoundation.org. Through them you can donate to any charity and get the cards, even if the charity itself doesn't offer them. You can also sign up for a charity registry and register at stores (like Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond) that will give a portion of the proceeds of your traditional registry back to the chairty of your choice.

Have fun!
Julie

[AngelRoseFyre]

Originally Posted by Julz518

If you don't want to put together favors, but you want to do something to acknowledge your guests, there are MANY MANY charities out there that will give you place/table cards which say "A donation has been made in your honor to _______" It doesn't specify the donation amount - so it can be as little or as much as you want to spend. I'm thinking of doing this in addition to candy as my favors (since we have a few charities we give to regularly anyway), but only giving like $50-$100.

Check out www.idofoundation.org. Through them you can donate to any charity and get the cards, even if the charity itself doesn't offer them. You can also sign up for a charity registry and register at stores (like Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond) that will give a portion of the proceeds of your traditional registry back to the chairty of your choice.

I really like this Idea, I already have several charities from the IDo Foundation as one of my registries. I think this would make a great touch, my mom is a volunteer for CASA (one of the charities), so it would also be kind of personal as well.

Originally Posted by Almost_Mrs.Levitt

We are just throwing out some hersheys kisses on the tables. not wrapping them up or anything just nicely tossing them in amongst the rose petals.

I really like this idea as well, it would be subtle, but still have something for everyone to snack on, before or after dinner.




We were thinking of giving the centerpeices to the guests to take home with them, but then we decided to donate them to local hospitals and nursing homes instead, to give to patiens who don't have family visit them regularly, or would otherwise really enjoy them.

[Julz518]

On the centerpiece thing -
Instead of cut flower bouquets, we are probably going to use live potted plants - either one large one or 3-5 smaller ones in terracotta pots with a ribbon tied around them. Then afterwards the guests can either take them home or (since most of our guests will be flying in and probably won't want a potted plant) we can donate them to a school or nursing home. I'm thinking of doing white violets, which you can buy online for $5 each for a full plant. But if you have the time and resources, you could also grow the flowers yourself from seeds.

[AngelRoseFyre]

We were thinking of potted plants as well, but I love roses and lillies and really wanted them in my decorations, and so cut flowers it is. . . well for now anyway.

[breezy]

What about those potted mini roses?

[AngelRoseFyre]

I thought about that, but I am truly a fan of the big romantic roses. Besides miniture roses do poorly in this climate and they cost a fortune to buy already planted (at least that I could find) (I have a black thumb when it comes to growing anything from a seed - I even killed my son's fortune bean )

[Heather]

I'll bite.

What's a fortune bean?

[AngelRoseFyre]

It's a little bean, that when it sprous there is a little message/fortune written on the leaf

[Heather]

No way! Where do you get something like that?

ETA: That would be a cool favor!

[AngelRoseFyre]

We got it at Walmart in the kids section - It was under $5.00

I just bought another one to see if I can get this one to grow, everyone else I know that has one has gotten theirs to grow.

[555Ann555]

Oh! I want one of those!!!