Wedding Favors - Does Your Wedding Really Need Them?

Wedding favors can be the perfect ending to a wonderful wedding day. However, there is frequently a debate among brides as to whether wedding favors are really needed.

Some brides see wedding favors as a way to thank the guests of their wedding while others see them as an unnecessary expense. Listed below are views from both sides of the argument.

Here are six good reasons why you should have wedding favors for your guests:

• Your wedding guests were gracious enough to spend the day at your wedding, and some have traveled a long distance to be there. A wedding favor is your way of saying thank you.
• Wedding favors can help finish off your wedding theme. For example, if you are having an apple-themed wedding you can give candy apples as your wedding favor. Having a beach or destination wedding on an island? Consider giving your guests beach bags filled with beach items or local favorites that they can use on the trip.
• In addition to acting as wedding favors, they can also be part of your table centerpieces. For example, for a Halloween-themed wedding jack-o-lanterns can act as both centerpieces and wedding favors for your guests. Another option would be to have small vases or mint julep cups gathered in the middle of the tables with arrangements of flowers as centerpieces. At the end of the reception each couple or single attendee would get to take one home.
• Wedding favors are part of wedding tradition.*If you are having a very traditional wedding, you will want to include favors.
• As you probably already know, weddings are expensive. However, if you are already spending $20,000 on your big day, does spending another couple hundred on wedding favors really make a difference?
• Wedding favors allow you to show your creativity and style. This is one area of your wedding that you can really do something unique and different.

Here are five reasons to not have wedding favors at your reception:

• Having a non-traditional wedding might mean not doing the traditional wedding activities like wedding favors.
• If your wedding is a small affair with only a few close family and friends, you may want to bypass favors all together and buy personalized gifts for each person attending.
• Wedding budgets can dictate whether wedding favors will be given out. There are more important things than wedding favors, like good food at the reception and your honeymoon. If you have to cut something from your wedding budget, wedding favors should be at the top of your list.
• If wedding favors don't add to the ambiance of your wedding, consider cutting them. An example would be if your wedding is very formal or in a unique location.
• Many times couples are stuck with a lot of left over wedding favors that guests left behind. If you don't think your guests will like the wedding favor you have chosen, pick another one or don't give one at all.

An important thing to remember is that you will be making many important decisions about your wedding like your wedding dress and choosing a caterer. Deciding on whether to give out wedding favors is not the most important decision you will make when planning your wedding, so don't take it too seriously.