Of all the weddings you've ever been to, what has been the best favor you've received? I know some people say if they can't eat it, they don't want it. But I've also had a few friends say that something really unique was always welcome too. One friend received a customized yo-yo as a favor from a friend's wedding and loved it.
As a guest, would you love or hate either of these favors? I love love love the gumball machine, but it is too childish? And are the bookmarks appropriate if not everyone is a book nerd like me and my fiance?
I like them both, but I would likely use a bookmark more (I'm also a book nerd). Once the gum ran out of the gumball machine, I probably wouldn't refill it.
...we gave out ornaments that were specific to our wedding. Even though the wedding was in September, I know many of our guests held onto their ornaments and hung them on their trees.
I have thrown out every favor that wasn't edible, even if cute. The best was I got an awesome little tea maker from Argentina, but I just never used it so it got thrown out. Get what you want for how it will look, how people will like it that night, but assume that if not edible, a lot of them will get discarded later.....
I swear that the best favor that I've ever gotten was NOTHING. I hate to think of all the money that people waste on favors when I'm probably just going to throw them away. I had a friend who skipped favors and had grilled cheese and french fries while we danced and that was fantastic. Nobody missed the favors and everybody talked about how cute the grilled cheese was!
Its true that if you're not spending money on food favors, it will eventually get thrown out, maybe not until the yearly "spring cleaning" but it will eventually end up in the garbage. Thats why food favors are the most economical-- less waste.
The gumball machine is VERY cute, reminiscent of childhood. The bookmark is pretty, but I probably wouldn't use it very much.
You could also just make a cash donation to a charity as a wedding gift, and give out little cards explaining it to the guests, or just give nothing, not many people really care about the favors anyway. You're already paying for them to just be there they dont really need a cheap trinket too.
I would find something that fits your personality and is meaningful to you. I love the gumball machine! It's so cute. But the bookmark is pretty and useful too. Get both and alternate the gifts per table!
Gumballs are fun and cute, but I agree with other posters - non-edible favors are mostly destined for dustbins. Perhpas not in the next round or two of cleaning, but eventually. :(
That said, I would use a bookmark, but I'm also a huge reader.
also, I know it is not a new idea, but I had a candy buffet at my wedding and people loved it! My parents didn't really love the idea before the wedding, but they thought it was such a hit after the wedding. People get to take what they like, so nothing is wasted. It looks really cool. And the pics of adults attacking jars of candy are priceless!! And also, even though it is a well used idea on here, most of your guests are unlikely to have seen one before (I have been to a LOT of weddings recently, and no one had one....)
The best favor I received at a wedding was a wine glass. It had a personalized beaded tag at the bottom with the names of the bride and groom along with the wedding date. Practical (who doesn't love wine?) and personal (I think of the couple every time I use it).
The only favors I ever kept were engraved wine glasses (although those are expensive) and picture souvenirs (ie. Photobooth pictures or pictures of the me and the bride & groom that were printed the same day). Otherwise, edibles are always great. Knicknacks are a waste of money IMO. OR, just don't give any favors - they will not be missed.
For my wedding, I printed my guest's picture and put it in a 2X3 glass frame, with either silver or pink rhinestones (purchased at Aaron's Brother). The picture frames were used as name placecards on the table and my guests took them home. It was a big hit! We made round stickers with our names/date on the back. It took alot of time gathering everyone's pictures but I did it. We wanted to give our guests something they would put on their shelves to remind them of our wedding.
I always love edible favors. However, I saw a really cute idea in an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings; she had a favor table with a bunch of different favors in the wedding colors and a sign that said something along the lines of "please help yourself to the favor of your choice." You could always do something like that.
gumball machine how cute!, but probably will never get used after gumballs are out...
one of my friend gave out toothbrush and toothpaste as their favor
another friend (who doesn't know previous above friend) told me he got toothbrush and toothpaste (maybe even floss) as favors and LOVED it cause he used it and saved a bit of money....
well obviously now you know what field of work i'm in :)
I like those, but I have to agree with everyone else- if it's not edible I usually discard it.
We're making homemade almond cookies (my fiance's and my favorite) which is my MIL's recipe. We're putting these in little bags and then in a small white box with ribbon. It will be a nice display and guests can eat them on the way home.
I guess i'm just like everyone else, if I can't eat it I throw it out. The best favor I ever received was a little bottle of spices that the bride made from a secret family recipe. For our wedding I am making white chocolate daisy suckers.
Of all the weddings you've ever been to, what has been the best favor you've received? I know some people say if they can't eat it, they don't want it. But I've also had a few friends say that something really unique was always welcome too. One friend received a customized yo-yo as a favor from a friend's wedding and loved it.
I'm debating between something easy and edible in a cute box, these mini gumball machines: http://www.beau-coup.com/mini-gumball-machines.htm and these bookmarks: http://www.accenttheparty.com/inc/sdetail/5730
As a guest, would you love or hate either of these favors? I love love love the gumball machine, but it is too childish? And are the bookmarks appropriate if not everyone is a book nerd like me and my fiance?
posted by kerry81480 21 posts 4 months agoI like them both, but I would likely use a bookmark more (I'm also a book nerd). Once the gum ran out of the gumball machine, I probably wouldn't refill it.
posted by smkarl 40 posts 4 months agothere was a thread about this a while back that you might find useful...
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/whats-the-best-wedding-favor
...we gave out ornaments that were specific to our wedding. Even though the wedding was in September, I know many of our guests held onto their ornaments and hung them on their trees.
Additionally, we gave out rosemary salt favors. You can see both of these favors here: http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/06/05/the-seondary-favor/
posted by corn 153 posts 4 months agoI have thrown out every favor that wasn't edible, even if cute. The best was I got an awesome little tea maker from Argentina, but I just never used it so it got thrown out. Get what you want for how it will look, how people will like it that night, but assume that if not edible, a lot of them will get discarded later.....
posted by Janna19 344 posts 4 months agoI swear that the best favor that I've ever gotten was NOTHING. I hate to think of all the money that people waste on favors when I'm probably just going to throw them away. I had a friend who skipped favors and had grilled cheese and french fries while we danced and that was fantastic. Nobody missed the favors and everybody talked about how cute the grilled cheese was!
posted by KateMW 483 posts 4 months ago@ KateMW, Yummy, grilled cheese!!
Its true that if you're not spending money on food favors, it will eventually get thrown out, maybe not until the yearly "spring cleaning" but it will eventually end up in the garbage. Thats why food favors are the most economical-- less waste.
The gumball machine is VERY cute, reminiscent of childhood. The bookmark is pretty, but I probably wouldn't use it very much.
You could also just make a cash donation to a charity as a wedding gift, and give out little cards explaining it to the guests, or just give nothing, not many people really care about the favors anyway. You're already paying for them to just be there they dont really need a cheap trinket too.
posted by MissCamera 75 posts 4 months agoI would find something that fits your personality and is meaningful to you. I love the gumball machine! It's so cute. But the bookmark is pretty and useful too. Get both and alternate the gifts per table!
posted by jennifer0031 29 posts 4 months agoGumballs are fun and cute, but I agree with other posters - non-edible favors are mostly destined for dustbins. Perhpas not in the next round or two of cleaning, but eventually. :(
That said, I would use a bookmark, but I'm also a huge reader.
posted by missm 485 posts 4 months agoalso, I know it is not a new idea, but I had a candy buffet at my wedding and people loved it! My parents didn't really love the idea before the wedding, but they thought it was such a hit after the wedding. People get to take what they like, so nothing is wasted. It looks really cool. And the pics of adults attacking jars of candy are priceless!! And also, even though it is a well used idea on here, most of your guests are unlikely to have seen one before (I have been to a LOT of weddings recently, and no one had one....)
posted by Janna19 344 posts 4 months agoThe best favor I received at a wedding was a wine glass. It had a personalized beaded tag at the bottom with the names of the bride and groom along with the wedding date. Practical (who doesn't love wine?) and personal (I think of the couple every time I use it).
posted by EmilyQ 3 posts 4 months agoThe only favors I ever kept were engraved wine glasses (although those are expensive) and picture souvenirs (ie. Photobooth pictures or pictures of the me and the bride & groom that were printed the same day). Otherwise, edibles are always great. Knicknacks are a waste of money IMO. OR, just don't give any favors - they will not be missed.
posted by Red 42 posts 4 months agoOoh, gumball machine! Gumball machine!
posted by rzblna 113 posts 4 months agoFor my wedding, I printed my guest's picture and put it in a 2X3 glass frame, with either silver or pink rhinestones (purchased at Aaron's Brother). The picture frames were used as name placecards on the table and my guests took them home. It was a big hit! We made round stickers with our names/date on the back. It took alot of time gathering everyone's pictures but I did it. We wanted to give our guests something they would put on their shelves to remind them of our wedding.
posted by yeehaa 11 posts 4 months agothose gumball machines at beaucoup are a little big i think ... there's some smaller candy dispensers here:
http://www.sophiesfavors.com/boxes_candybins_main.htm
posted by LinLin99 26 posts 4 months agovotive candles in a little satin bag were also a great favor I got, I definitely used them afterwards.
posted by MissDragonfly 14 posts 4 months agoI always love edible favors. However, I saw a really cute idea in an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings; she had a favor table with a bunch of different favors in the wedding colors and a sign that said something along the lines of "please help yourself to the favor of your choice." You could always do something like that.
posted by ErinMarieMack 266 posts 4 months agogumball machine how cute!, but probably will never get used after gumballs are out...
one of my friend gave out toothbrush and toothpaste as their favor
another friend (who doesn't know previous above friend) told me he got toothbrush and toothpaste (maybe even floss) as favors and LOVED it cause he used it and saved a bit of money....
well obviously now you know what field of work i'm in :)
posted by superstar 157 posts 4 months agoI like those, but I have to agree with everyone else- if it's not edible I usually discard it.
We're making homemade almond cookies (my fiance's and my favorite) which is my MIL's recipe. We're putting these in little bags and then in a small white box with ribbon. It will be a nice display and guests can eat them on the way home.
posted by maureen9004 264 posts 4 months agoI guess i'm just like everyone else, if I can't eat it I throw it out. The best favor I ever received was a little bottle of spices that the bride made from a secret family recipe. For our wedding I am making white chocolate daisy suckers.
posted by caliocteach 720 posts 4 months agoThe gumball machine is cute. It's a bit taller than I expected but still quite small. Think of a childs toy or desk item.
Either way it's a bright fun item and get's your guests talking.
I also found it for cheaper over at http://www.weddingfavorbliss.com
exact url is http://www.weddingfavorbliss.com/wedding-favors/mini-classic-gumball-dispenser.html
costs is 2.75 each with no minimum so that should help save some money.
Also I would comparison shop alot online. Free shipping and no taxes make a bigger diffference in the long run than just a lower per item costs.
Good luck. I am sure your wedding will turn out great
posted by WeddingScout 1 posts 3 months ago