Favors

Left behind favors....

Hi there, brides!

So in brainstorming on a cool and affordable favor for my guests, I realize that people will leave them behind, if not by accident, on purpose.

What was the percentage of leftover favors you had without homes?

I'm thinking such a question will help me narrow down my ideas.... and possibly go the route of using the cash set aside for favors and make a donation to a charity my fiance and I work for and believe in.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Re: Left behind favors....

  • Cray.anitaCray.anita member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    At the weddings of my close friends about 40% of the favors were left behind.  Everything from etched glasses to coasters to candy boxes....

  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    I don't think one champagne bottle was left behind.  There were extras on a separate table for the no-shows but people were grabbing them on the way out!

    I had a ton of candy left over but that was only because I bought too much and we had less guests than expected. 

    Go with edible if you don't want a ton left over.
  • trix1223trix1223 member
    5000 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_left-behind-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:e6678d58-4bd2-48a5-b408-40d0576cfef6Post:70437902-4717-476f-85bc-8aec04664da0">Left behind favors....</a>:
    [QUOTE]Hi there, brides! So in brainstorming on a cool and affordable favor for my guests, I realize that people will leave them behind, if not by accident, on purpose. What was the percentage of leftover favors you had without homes? I'm thinking such a question will help me narrow down my ideas.... and possibly go the route of <u><strong>using the cash set aside for favors and make a donation to a charity my fiance and I work for and believe in</strong></u>. Looking forward to your thoughts!
    Posted by doregan8[/QUOTE]

    Donations to a charily are important.  They are lovely.  I make them myself.  I encourage others to make them too. 

    But they are NOT in any way, shape or form a favor for your guests.

     I don't need a favor, I don't care about getting a favor.  Presumably I'm being given a free dinner, free drinks, and a good party.  But please don't pretend that giving something to someone else is a favor to ME.  Because it's not.

    And just out of curiosity, why is it always the gift to the guests that gets cut out of the equation?  If it's really important to you (collective you, not necessarily OP), why don't you cut your flower budget?  Or your attire budge,  to allow you to make a donation to charity?

    If you're looking for favor ideas, my best advice is to give something edible.  They are least likely to be left behind, and if they are....you can still use them.  No bride and groom needs 30 extra coasters, or picture frames, or candles.  But thirty cookies.....bags  of coffee or tea......candy bars.....bags of m&ms?  Great!
    "Trix, it's what they/our parents wanted. Why so judgemental? And why is your wedding date over a year and a half ago? And why do you not have a groom's name? And why have you posted over 12,000 posts? And why do you always say mean things to brides?" palegirl146
  • edited December 2011
    Very good points.  Especially hey, I just gave you a free meal and free drinks.  ;)
  • edited December 2011
    You can always take the edible leftovers to work.
  • edited December 2011
    My daughter had both, every other place.  We had a friend who did beautiful cookies with a celtic knot design (bags of 2) and her husband INSISTED on these celtic knot letter openers and would NOT be talked out of them.  :)

    Every cookie bag was gone...except for the empty bags where kids had already eaten them.  Half of the letter openers were still there.  I saw his mother picking them up.  I have no idea what he did with them and I do not intend to ask :)
    My baby girl is a married woman...and now my baby girl HAS a baby girl. Time unfolds in such an amazing way. I've been blessed!
  • jeanna85jeanna85 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i would assume that the % left behind really depends on what favors you choose. i wouldnt bother bringing home cheesy stuff like personalized shot glass, koozies, cheap candles, etc (although i think this is a regional thing, in my circle koozies would be made fun of, while other brides on here love them)

    I'm planning on doing some sort of box of chocolates or french macaroons with bottles of homemade red wine. I'm crossing my fingers that most people will take them!
    Photobucket
  • edited December 2011
    It's true that favors do get left behind, but I think it's about how "useful" your guests see them ( I know that sounds terrible).

    My husband and I made a donation to American Cancer Society, but also gave cookies like these (http://wiseweddingstyles.com/Products/Favors/ShopFavors/tabid/113/Catalog/View/Item/67/Personalized-Wedding-Cake-Cookies.aspx) because I did want to send guests home with something they'd enjoy..... there was not one cookie left. I think that's why edible favors are so popular these days and candy buffets as well.
  • CA2MT4EveRCA2MT4EveR member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_left-behind-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:e6678d58-4bd2-48a5-b408-40d0576cfef6Post:88cd4021-605b-4fd0-a6f4-450571458b8a">Re: Left behind favors....</a>:
    [QUOTE]It's true that favors do get left behind, but I think it's about how "useful" your guests see them ( I know that sounds terrible). <strong>My husband and I made a donation to American Cancer Society,</strong> but also gave cookies like these ( <a href="http://wiseweddingstyles.com/Products/Favors/ShopFavors/tabid/113/Catalog/View/Item/67/Personalized-Wedding-Cake-Cookies.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://wiseweddingstyles.com/Products/Favors/ShopFavors/tabid/113/Catalog/View/Item/67/Personalized-Wedding-Cake-Cookies.aspx</a> ) because I did want to send guests home with something they'd enjoy..... there was not one cookie left. I think that's why edible favors are so popular these days and candy buffets as well.
    Posted by amd1981[/QUOTE]

    Which is great, but don't boast about it and pretend it is a favor.  Like Trix said.
    dont make ur password so easy. gbck2CA2 hahahaha
  • edited December 2011
    like everyone said the least amount of favors left behind are the edible one's,i did gift bags with mini bottles of wine,wedding mints & chocolate hershey bars and a lottery ticket,then i did a candy station as some of my favors,we had no gift bags left behind and only a little bit of candy left and thats bc i ordered alot more then i needed.
  • edited December 2011
    I've learned that favors ppl can eat/drink are less likely to be left behind than most useless stuff that the couple thought was cute, but was really unnecessary..
  • edited December 2011
    My favors will be music note keychains and personalized guitar picks. Everyone loves keychains, and they're so cute. If people leave them oh well they're pretty cheap anyway, and I really don't mind if they leave the guitar picks, I'll just give them to my fiance's band members then!
  • janedoe1113ajanedoe1113a member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We probably had about 50% left over.
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards