FI and I can't agree about favors... :(

tdmaus

So i was thinking about baking cookies for favors for our wedding... I was planning to bake them, put them in cute little favor boxes with ribbon and "thank you"-tags on it and give it to each guest at the reception... my Fi thinks the idea of edible favors stupid (since there will be plenty of other foods provided at the venue) and unnecessary... he thinks, we should just save the money and work and skip it all together... I really like to have favors at my wedding though and baking cookies are not a big deal to me... so now i dont know if i should still plan on it or listen to my Fi and skip the favors... I know that favors is not a must-have, but i just like the idea of having favors to show appreciation to our guests... what do you think?

angele4200

I voted to skip the favors. By the time it gets closer to the wedding, you will be busy enough without having to worry about baking and putting all those favors together. Favors are definitely not necessary.
The favors we had were very simple, our caterer has their own honey farm, and they make their own lip balm. They made custom lip balms (we got to pick the scents, etc) and put a custom label, then put them in a nice bag with ribbon and just made it all pretty looking. If someone didn't do that for me I would not have had favors.

KarleeKrause35

I agree with PP that it could be a hassle for you so close to your wedding because you might be busy with other planning details.
BUT, If favors are important to you, I think that edible favors are awesome. To be honest, I never take home or use anything that isn't edible if it comes from a wedding.
I don't really want a shot glass with B&G's names on it, KWIM?
Edible favors make me happy because they're delicious and I don't feel pressured to put them on my shelf every time the couple comes over.

jemmini6

I agree with your FI and PPs.  You are going to have MORE than enough to worry about so close to your wedding without having to bake cookies and put them in boxes too.  Besides, you'd have to start baking days in advance and then everyone will be getting stale cookies.

Trust me, the reception itself is more than enough thank you to the guests that attended.  We skipped favors all together and no one noticed.

alynne1113

If I had to redo my wedding, I would definitly skip the favors.

blgrout

I agree with PP, but if you really think that you can handle all the baking right before the wedding (baking by itself...NBD.  Baking cookies for hundreds of people within a couple days of your wedding...very big deal!).  If it were me, I don't see how I would have the time to do it.

If you really, really want to do it, do you have help that you can enlist?  Because I think that you'll probably need it.  I'm thinking about all the things to do in the day or two before the wedding and I just know that I couldn't pull off a favor like that.

Cynthia1207

Personally I can't stand edible favors but I think it's more of a culture thing than anything else.  I'm Italian and favors for us are a thank you for coming as well as a souvenir of the wedding.  Not having any would be pratically committing a crime. 

I agree with PPs though.  Close to your wedding you will be cursing yourself for choosing to bake cookies.  You won't have time to bake, wrap and stick a thank you tag on them.  If skipping them is ok with you, than skip them. 

Nina0528

If you want to do favors than go for it (definitely edible, though). We made close to 300 chocolate covered oreos the week of the wedding and would do it all over again. If the week of the wedding arrives and you find you don't have the time/energy then skip them. Luckily it's not a decision you have to make months in advance and stick to.

CarleyBo

I think it is a nice and thoughtful touch to have favors but from one DIY bride to another, you might want to find something premade/packaged so you don't have to worry about baking and wrapping those so close to D-day.  Time really starts to fly the week before. 

ginabean82

I would do something to show your appreciation for your guests.  Instead of cookies why dont you do something more simple, like hershey kisses?  You could put them in a cheap organza bag you can get a pack of 5 or 6 at the dollar store.  Or order M&Ms in your wedding colors and put them in a cheap little bag from the dollar store.  I think this would be less stress than baking cookies.  

Kreskin79

I chose "provide edible favors" - mainly because you seem to feel strongly about providing them. "Edible", however, does not necessarily have to equal "home-baked." I'd go with a PP's suggestion and package some Kisses/other candies in organza - no baking, but you'll still have edible favors.

L&J2012

What if you gave them a recipe for your favorite cookies? It could be printed out on cute paper. That way they can try the cookies if they want, and it's less hassle for you.

Sharbear722

Instead of favors we made a donation to a charity that was meaningful to us. We had a small sign at the reception to let the guests know.

I agree that you won't want to start baking cookies right before the wedding when you will have a million other things to do.

MairePoppy

Cookies are the best favors. But the guests will not notice if you skip favors.

Bake a batch of cookies, now, freeze them for a month to see how they taste after you thaw them.  If you can make the cookies ahead of time, go for it. If they have to made during the week before the wedding, skip it.

skippylouwho

I vote to skip them. People don't want something to dust, they really don't need another food item since you'll be providing food at the reception. Just skip them, save the money and the headache.

nvelez28

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_fi-cant-agree-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:31e879cc-5904-42c9-9047-4a8045557bacPost:2c854674-4de3-43f9-82c6-77cb79538113">Re: FI and I can't agree about favors... :(</a>:
[QUOTE]Instead of favors we made a donation to a charity that was meaningful to us. We had a small sign at the reception to let the guests know. I agree that you won't want to start baking cookies right before the wedding when you will have a million other things to do.
Posted by Sharbear722[/QUOTE]
This is what we're doing.  IMHO, favors are a waste of money. 

jennipea382

We are probably skipping favors. My mom seems pretty set on them so I told her if it's something she thinks I should have, she can pay for them. I figure even cheap favors will cost me around $200+ for my guests and I'd rather spend that somewhere else!

At other weddings I've mostly gotten candy and edible things like that. If I didn't eat them right away, I usually forgot about them and they ended up thrown out. I did get a shot glass from a wedding once which was cool to me since I collect them, but if I didn't I probably wouldn't care much about it to be honest. These are reasons I don't want favors.

As an alternative, I like the idea of setting up a candy bar. People can eat candy throughout the night or take some home if they want, but they don't have to. Maybe that's something you'd be interested in?