Wedding Favor Tips

1. Before purchasing favors, consider the location, style, and theme of your wedding. A formal affair in a hotel will require a more elegant gift, while home-baked cookies might be right at home for a casual backyard wedding.
2. Decide on an "at the table" or "on the way out" location for your favors. If favors are large or colorful, placing them on the reception tables can take up precious table space or be distracting during the meal. Instead, many brides opt to place large trays (or a table) of favors in a hall or foyer where guests will exit. A tasteful sign -- "Please take one favor per guest with our compliments and thanks!" -- will let reluctant guests know that it's okay to pick up the gifts.
3. For outside weddings in warm climates, you'll need to avoid favors that could melt (chocolates, frosted cookies, etc.), unless these are placed in an air-conditioned space for pick-up as guests leave the reception.
4. If you're thinking about making your own favors, consider your wedding timeline and how much time you have (or don't have) to make and wrap the favors. Busy working brides may want to rely on family or friends for DIY favors, or buy prepackaged favors such as boxed truffles.
5. Food favors will most certainly always be a favorite with guests, yet foods require special handling. Cookies, cakes, and other fresh foods will need to be packaged at the last minute to retain freshness; chocolates and candies may require cool temperatures.
6. Try bundling favors with multiple items that contribute to a prominent wedding theme, such as: Garden Theme -- tulip bulbs, heart-shaped vase, decorated flower cookie; Tea Theme -- white mug, tea bags, crystallized sugar; Beach Theme -- shell-shaped chocolates in a miniature beach chair, with a pair of sunglasses.
7. Are you or your friends into music? Making a CD of original tunes is a one-of-a-kind wedding favor that shares your musical interests with your guests.
8. Do take into account the age and gender of your guests. While women might love a silk pillow sachet favor, most men won't relate -- meaning you may be stuck with dozens of favors "left behind" at the reception.
9. When wrapping your favors, personalized stickers and ribbons are a lovely touch, but these are items that will be thrown away. On a tight budget, you may want to pass on such decorative features and place more thought (and money) into the favor itself.
10. By the same token, fancy organdy bags and satin boxes are beautiful, yet pricey. Try inexpensive clear corsage bags (available in bulk from a craft store) that will show off the favor in style and can be tied with lengths of sheer or satin ribbon to match your colors.