Wedding favors are not necessary. But they are another opportunity to recognize those who support you in your marriage. Family, intentional family, close friends – all of them want you to be happy and successful. So, a little something to remember your special day is a lovely touch.
The ideal favor has personal meaning for you, does not add clutter to the recipient’s life, is either useful or consumable, and is within your budget. If the favors will push your budget over the top, cross them off the list.
Far more important than wedding favors are thank you notes. Before the wedding, be sure to buy enough note cards or thank you notes. You can pre-address and stamp them, and have them all ready to go. You can thank people for any gifts in the same note. After the wedding, add a short personal note from the two of you, seal it, and send it on its way.
Edible Favors
In Victorian England, edible favors were a small slice of the wedding cake. As marriage is a sacrament, the wedding was at the regular Sunday morning church service. Immediately after the wedding, the bride and groom would be seated at a table and served light refreshments. Guests might or might not partake. After congratulating the couple, guests each would be given a slice of the wedding cake, carefully wrapped to take home.
Today, edible favors can be quite nice, especially if people will have a long drive home. Small silk bags of candies and/or cookies are popular.
A couple who loves hiking and the outdoors might opt for energy bars.
Useful Favors
In Hawaiʻi, lei are always appreciated. Fresh lei are lovely, and so festive! But nice everlasting lei are a wonderful gift, as they may be worn at many future events.
Lei kukui are traditional, and worn by both men and women. They are worn in different lengths. Many of the best are hand-polished and retain their natural grooves, or are faceted. But the commercially tumble-polished lei kukui also are attractive, and more budget-friendly. Hand-polished lei kukui can run into a few hundred dollars. Commercial lei can be bought for around $10.
Reusable bags are among the most useful. They are available in patterns to match any theme, and they often can be printed with the couple’s name. Even quality bags are not terribly expensive, and they will be useful for years.
We do rather like these skeleton key bottle openers.
As we think of more ideas, we’ll be adding them to this page!