Too many ideas!!

jamjar11

Okay, so my mind is filled with a thousand and one favor ideas! I need some help and opinions. 

A little about us and our wedding: we have a very small budget. Wedding is in February in Arizona, so won't be hot or cold really. Ceremony and reception will be outside in a garden/courtyard setting (hopefully if it doesn't rain, it did on our date this year). No real theme necessarily, keeping it very simple, classic, and romantic. Red/black/white. Red and white roses only for flowers, a little bit of sparkle here and there. We are both kind of nerdy: he's a comic book loving gamer and I'm a literature nerd and poster child for cynical pseudo-intellectual wanna-be writers. That was probably way more than you wanted to know. Sorry.

Here are ideas I have so far:

Cookie mix in a jar (you know, like the dry ingredients layered like sand art)

Terracotta pots with seeds

Seeded paper hearts 

Beer bottle openers (we're both kind of big beer drinkers)

Keyboard key "LOVE" magnet sets... see below

http://www.americanbridal.com/magnet-set-wedding-favors-dsws8552.html

The problem I am having is finding something unique and memorable that won't make people go, "eh, whatever" and leave it sitting on the table, and still keep it affordable. I am having about 60-70 guests and don't really want to spend more than $100-$150 on favors.

ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!!! 

[Deleted User]

You could make your own.

Have you tried exclusivelyweddings.com? They have some nice ideas in there.

Oh yeah, and favors aren't even necessary/required, they just are nice.

Hinaj

I thnk you can find something in your budget.  Edible, is always something a guest can enjoy so it won't go to waste, but it is not that unique.  But what is these days?  You have great ideas, do all fit in your budget?  Because money can make the choice easier. 

trix1223

I'd probably just leave then knicks-knacks behind.  I wouldn't want the love magnet at all, the seeded heart-not so much.  the terra cotta pot maybe a little, the cookie mix okay.  What I'd rather have would be a couple of cookies or something else edible, to be honest.

Worry less about unique, and more about what people will like.  Sure, lots of people use m&ms, but that's because everyone LIKES m&ms.  My DD wrapped m&ms in her wedding colors in small tulle rounds and put them in favor boxes she got on clearance.  They cost less than $1 pp. 

Maybe a cookies shaped like a book or a comic book?  But also remember, as pp said:  favors aren't required.

future-mrs

Those magnets are cute but edible always wins with everyone.  Anything tasty/homemade in a neat container or wrapping is huge with guests...I'd do something like that maybe.

MilleRsBest

That is a lot of favors

trix1223

miller:  I think that she wasn't suggesting that she have all of those.  I think that those were under consideration, and from that list she might choose one.

jamjar11

Everyone tells me to do something edible, but my problem is I just don't want it to be too cliche. FI says, "just give them a little bit of candy." I just don't like the idea of the m&ms or like 5 mints in a little box. It feels like a cop out to me. Plus, there are so many people coming from out of state for our wedding, and we already scaled back on some areas with the food, like not having an appetizer or salad, and having a limited bar selection. I kind of feel bad to have them travel all that way for our crappy little ghetto wedding. Which is probably why I think none of my favor ideas are good enough. Argh.

Sue-n-Kevin

Something I did for a family Xmas party was use metal holiday cookie cutters, lay them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper underneath, then fill them with melted chocolate and sprinkled with edible glitter & nonpariels. I then popped them in the freezer to "hold", took them out and put them in plastic bags tied with ribbons. The guests got something edible, and a cookie cutter to keep.

You can find appropriately sized and themed cookie cutters by doing a google search. You could use circles, squares, diamonds, flowers, hearts, etc.

Not sure if that's appealing to you, but thought I'd recommend it.

The layered ingredient cookie jars won't work because all the ingredients will cost a lot, most of the recipes I've seen call for 12 oz jars, which then will be very heavy. I've made them before as Xmas gifts.

Good luck.

jamjar11

Yeah, after a lot more research I decided the cookie mix thing won't work.

I love the cookie cutter/chocolate idea, but I live in Arizona. Even in February it can be hot enough to melt them if they are sitting out long enough. 

My search continues... good thing I have a while.

lmp_dk

I think you should go with something that people can eat.. Other than that it's pretty certain that it'll be left behind.

cmbahneman

What about mini wine or champagne bottles that are painted with a design that coordinates with your theme (maybe flowers) on the front of the bottle, the date of the wedding and a message written on the back of the bottle from you and your groom.  You could use these as escort cards as well with the name of your guests and table number and when it's time to toast to the bride and groom, everyone has their own little bottle to toast with.  If there are some who don't drink, it's a beautiful keepsake from your wedding, or if some are left behind, you and your husband can enjoy sipping some bubbly or vino later on.  Even the ones that people drink, when they are empty make really cute bud vases and they'll always remember it from your wedding.  It's a really unique favor.  If you're interested in finding out more about these, let me know,
Good luck!

peaches85

What about a couple cookies per person tied up in a cellophane bag with a nice bow?  You could make cookies in the shape of a book (to represent you) and a video game character (to represent him) and Arizona (to represent the two of you since it's where you're getting married).  Each person can get each of the three cookies with a note in the bag explaining the significance of each cookie.  I'm sure someone on Etsy would be more than happy to make the cookie cutters for you.   I personally prefer favors that relate to the couple getting married in some way.

Book: http://www.fancyflours.com/cookie-cutter-open-book.html

Wii Control: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Fkf6XTKxhKI/S1xuV5wdRJI/AAAAAAAAFCc/yqge4b6S3jc/s1600-h/wii_cookies1-t.jpg

Arizona: http://www.coppergifts.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=5&idproduct=779

ualawprincess

Are you getting married before or after Valentine's Day? If after, you could buy heart shaped cookie cutters on clearance and tie a note to them with a thank you message

jamjar11

Peaches - That's an awesome idea! Very creative and unique. Although I don't know if I trust my baking skills enough to pull it off. But it might be worth a shot! And thank you for the links, too! So helpful!

lmp_dk - OMG you look just like my sister! I know that's totally random but I just had to tell you that! It's a creepy similarity!

ualawprincess - I'm getting married on Feb 20, so it would be cutting it close trying to get something on clearance. I do like the cookie cutter idea, though. I noticed you are in PHX but your screen name says UA, are you getting married in PHX are Tucson? Our weddings are only 6 days apart! Yay February!

Thank you all for all of the wonderful ideas!!! Really, I'm so appreciative!

peaches85

Jamjar - I'm sure your baking skills are fine!  haha  Maybe you could post a request on Etsy via their Alchemy page (http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/) asking for people to either make the cookie cutters for you OR to actually make the cookies and send them to you.