Hi all!
Our wedding is next October, and it'll be semi-outdoor, with the reception mostly taking place in a heated barn. We really want to do fleece blankets as wedding favours, so guests can keep warm if it's chilly and I think it's a nice thing to take home that won't end up in the trash. We are thinking about the possibility of having them embroidered, but we don't want to go crazy with budget.
First, does anyone have a good company that sells fleece blankets wholesale for a reasonable price? The lowest i've found is a case of 36 for $180 plus $130 shipping, which isn't too bad, but unfortunately we need about 50 blankets to make sure every couple gets one, and they can't split cases, so that's a dilemma.
Wondering what your thoughts are on blankets as a favour, and any suggestions you have!
Thanks in advance!
Re: Fleece Blankets as Favours?
I wouldn't mind a nice fleece blanket as a favor; we're blanket people and always have 1 or 2 on our couch. However, what are you wanting to embroider? I would keep it simple and perhaps just incorporate your wedding colors (with no embroidery). Also, $310 for 36 blankets really seems like a lot just for favors, but if you have that factored into your budget and are good to go, then I think it could be a nice option.
Also, do ALL your couples live together? You don't have any dating or engaged couples invited who don't live together? Any kids invited - do they just not get favors? Are you extending plus ones to anyone?
Personally, I'm of the camp that if you give me blanket to survive your wedding it's too cold to be outdoors. Also, I don't want a cheap fleece blanket in colors that don't go with my décor and I especially don't want ones embroidered with someone else's wedding information on them. I have lots of blankets already. And what would everyone at your wedding being doing that requires them to be cold and outside for extended periods of time? My friend had a "semi-outdoor" wedding in September (warm in the afternoon, a little chilly in the evening) - bar and band was inside a barn, dinner, dance floor, and DJ was outside in a tent. At most I was outside to go between the two, but even when I was outside (in the tent) I was dancing my butt off and sweating - I didn't need a blanket. If anything, enclosed spaces with lots of people in them tend to get warmer than you expect (I recently attended a wedding in a pavilion that had open sides (that mostly closed, but some where open) and everyone was roasting inside even though it was 45 degrees out.
I say if you really anticipate that some people will need them (like maybe your grandma who is always cold), have a stack next to bar for people to grab as needed and then donate them to a homeless shelter after the wedding (or animal shelter - they are always looking for blankets and other things for the animals to cuddle with). Then get a favor per person that has mass appeal.
Of course, the barn will always be open so plan B if there's a freak cold front, we can hang out in there no problem.
I think it's a nice idea and it's not that you're subjecting your guests to below freezing temperatures. Honestly if it's below 80 degrees I have a blanket on at home and if it's above 50 degrees my husband is wearing shorts. Temperature is different for everyone so I will always appreciate a blanket and there are some people like me and others who don't need one like ever.
Obviously make sure you have a plan B in case it's too cold or snows or rains but it doesn't hurt to have a few blankets for people who'd like them. Ours were appreciated. We had 1 for every 2 guests and a couple weren't used and we had a few left behind that i now use for sporting events because I really don't care if someone dumps beer or ketchup on a $2 blanket, i'll just leave it behind. Or if you have too many left animal shelters are always on the lookout for blankets and I'm sure homeless shelters are too.
ETA: Just wanted to add we also had large heaters set up outside so the ceremony seating was kept warm. The reception was inside a heat controlled tent but they kept the heaters outside and some guests went out and mingled by the heaters. I myself did and I'm always cold and was fine. If you're worried about temperature see if your venue has outdoor heaters or perhaps you can purchase or rent some.
For me, I love fleece blankets. This is a favor I'd actually like and bring home.
OP clearly said she has a heated barn as her back-up in case it actually is too cold to be outside, and will have that heated barn all night no matter what. There's nothing rude about planning part of a wedding outdoors when the weather is iffy - as long as there's a back-up, and the couple has no problem using it if it's cold. She and her FI seem to be doing this right.
For me, I love fleece blankets. This is a favor I'd actually like and bring home.
Thanks, this is what I'm trying to get across. I guess I should've said from the beginning that the blankets aren't meant to be a necessity, just a cozy, cute idea that may or may not get used. I brought a shawl to a friend's wedding I attended in July when it was super hot out, and I still ended up wrapping it around my shoulders when the sun went down. It's just nice to have an extra layer sometimes. Our whole wedding is going to have a family gathering feel and I want people to be comfy and relaxed, so I thought it was fitting. We will absolutely be getting married inside if the weather is too cold, I definitely don't want to be freezing my ass off while saying my vows (it's pretty funny that this wasn't obvious, I don't know who would choose to do that!)
Thanks for the feedback so far though for those of you who focused on answering my actual question about blankets. You've definitely made me rethink how I'm going to include this idea in the wedding.
$130 in shipping on a $180 order seems excessive to me. That could be your location Canada, but damn. Shipping alone would have me looking at other options.
I've worked weddings who had things like pashminas and such. More than half are never taken. They ended up going to the staff because the couples often left them behind too.
I think you're right that I can go pretty conservative with the number I have available.
Ugh - you had to remind us... Those special snowflakes!!
OP - IMO, for those prices you're cheaper to purchase fleece by the yard and cut them into strips yourself. Instead of favors, I'd spend that money on a site that is fully heated because coming from Minnesota - October can be all over the map - we had 90 degrees and bugs, and there were years that we were skiing by the 15th, and as a guest it SUCKS to be cold!!!! (Anything below 50 is cold that time of year)...
I am also cool with fleece blankets as optional favours. I mean, favours are always optional, so people could take them or leave them. Perhaps a basket or two with the blankets around the venue- by the bar or on the way out to the veranda. The price you have quoted does sound expensive! I feel you could probably find fleece blankets cheaper.....
I agree with no embroidery. I'm less picky on colours, but I'd put the blanket away in the closet when not in use, so I care less if it matches my decor. Although bonus if it did.