Wedding Favors - Are They Really Necessary? Tips to Help You Decide.
There are so many details that arise when the planning starts for your wedding day, and wedding favors are just one of the many things on the wedding planning agenda. Given the rising costs of, well, just about everything, brides are looking for every corner to cut while still preserving an overall look and feel for their wedding that fits their dream vision. So the question becomes, can they be crossed off the list? Are they really necessary?
Before answering these questions, let us take a brief look at history. It is believed that the tradition, common among European aristocrats, started with what was known as a bonbonniere - a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones, and containing sugar cubes or delicate confections. These gifts symbolized wealth and royalty, and as the price of sugar decreased, so the story goes, the tradition of giving thank you gifts to guests at weddings reached the general populace and was embraced by couples of more modest means.
Historically, as in current times, these special little gifts are given to express your thanks to all of the guests who attend your wedding celebration. Your guests may be traveling from far away, and be spending a nice chunk of money to be there for you on your special day, from travel expenses to the gift. And a wedding favor is your chance to give them a heart-felt thanks in return.
Wedding favors that work for all the different types of guests in attendance can be a creative challenge. You may be considering whether there are some you can skip, like ones for children. Keep in mind, though, that some guests might be offended if you leave their children out. Try different ideas that may cost less, like bagged candies, for children. Some other general tips are to brainstorm ideas that are unisex; what kind of items you would be excited to receive, and whether you have any special talents that could work, like those mean chocolate chip macadamia cookies you make. Also factor in any family or cultural etiquette or traditions.
Getting back to the point of these little gifts, their main purpose is to give your guests a personal thank you. Yours do not have to be extravagant or expensive, but it is important that they convey a heartfelt message of thanks to your guests. Do-it-yourself wedding favors are a rising trend, because among other things you save on the built-in packaging costs of pre-made, store-bought items. And they are also a very meaningful and effective way to get your message of thanks across to your guests.
Before answering these questions, let us take a brief look at history. It is believed that the tradition, common among European aristocrats, started with what was known as a bonbonniere - a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones, and containing sugar cubes or delicate confections. These gifts symbolized wealth and royalty, and as the price of sugar decreased, so the story goes, the tradition of giving thank you gifts to guests at weddings reached the general populace and was embraced by couples of more modest means.
Historically, as in current times, these special little gifts are given to express your thanks to all of the guests who attend your wedding celebration. Your guests may be traveling from far away, and be spending a nice chunk of money to be there for you on your special day, from travel expenses to the gift. And a wedding favor is your chance to give them a heart-felt thanks in return.
Wedding favors that work for all the different types of guests in attendance can be a creative challenge. You may be considering whether there are some you can skip, like ones for children. Keep in mind, though, that some guests might be offended if you leave their children out. Try different ideas that may cost less, like bagged candies, for children. Some other general tips are to brainstorm ideas that are unisex; what kind of items you would be excited to receive, and whether you have any special talents that could work, like those mean chocolate chip macadamia cookies you make. Also factor in any family or cultural etiquette or traditions.
Getting back to the point of these little gifts, their main purpose is to give your guests a personal thank you. Yours do not have to be extravagant or expensive, but it is important that they convey a heartfelt message of thanks to your guests. Do-it-yourself wedding favors are a rising trend, because among other things you save on the built-in packaging costs of pre-made, store-bought items. And they are also a very meaningful and effective way to get your message of thanks across to your guests.