CDs as party Favors

ourwedding2

Lookin for a vendor to provide CD labels and sleeves at reasonable cost.

trix1223

Not the specific answer to your question, but many have come here to say that providing CD favors was a money waster for them.  I think it's pretty risky to assume that everyone will have the same taste in music as you do.

Every Christmas, I get gifted a CD from a family whose kids I teach.  It's nms at all, and I throw it out after I get it home.

I'd probably do the same with your CD.  Sorry.

ohwhynot

Agreed, Trix.  We've been to two weddings now that offered cds as favors, and one we took but thew away and the other we left at the venue (not on purpose, but we would have thrown it away when we got home anyway) - why would we want a cd with YOUR favorite music on it?  I think it's an odd sort of favor, honestly. 

pandasquishy

Ditto trix and ohwhynot.  You're better off with something edible or nothing at all.

 But if you're stuck on the idea, try Office Max.

bbyckes

Yep, no go on the CD s favors.  I've gotten a couple and have never listened to any of them.  Incidently, people really don't use CDs anymore.  Most people download their music nowadays.  I would think of something else to give.

heidilein13

Thats a shame b/c I went to a wedding and LOVED the CD I got as a favor!  So much that the idea stayed with me as well for MY wedding!  My husband looked forward to this project too (yet I found myself creating the template and songlist anyway, but thats b/c I'm a total control freak).  I've been working with  ourweddingcd.com b/c I loved the samples they sent and you can customize the CD just how you like it.  Perhaps for "previous posters"  it wasn't for them, but if its something you are passionate about (as I am) ITS YOUR WEDDING VISION.  GO for it!  My sister is in the music industry and often sends me CDs from NYC from all sorts of various artists and I also enjoy movie soundtracks for the various genres.  IMPORTANT TIP if you do decide to (and this part gets pricey even with ebay and amazon)....if you are going to put a song onto a CD to give out, you MUST own a CD with that song on it, not just a download MP3 from iTunes.  Apparently its some sort of copyright infringement or something.  Its sad PPs didn't care about the work and thought that went into this favor b/c this is something VERY personal to your guests from you as a couple.  I didn't realize candy was more meaningful. I'm kind of over gifting my guests too b/c the last wedding I went to they had REAL CHEAP favors and it stuck in my craw that mine would not be that way.  We have mini-picture frames as placecard holders, designer salt and pepper shakers and custom CDs, plus awesome OOT bags b/c most of our guests are from OOT.  Best of luck to you with whatever you choose.  

ourwedding2

Thanks for all the interesting inputs.. All of your opinions will play a part in weighing my  options for the CD as a favor...I have said all of the above...but who really wants candy....coaster, picture keepsakes may be good idea.

aerinpegadrak

Honestly, I'd probably prefer candy to something "keepsakey", unless the bride or groom was my immediate family.  Favors, no matter what they are, usually get left behind by most people, so the reasoning behind edible favors is that the leftovers are easy to dispose of.  Some people may really like the CD, but chances are very high that you're going to be left with several dozen of them at the end of the night.

Favors are totally optional.  We're providing to-go boxes so that people can take home anything off the dessert bar or main buffet that they liked, that's our only "favor."

trix1223

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_cds-party-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:35a631d0-7b25-4163-8c5a-f1213b5d5b73Post:aced5c09-5ca4-4664-a715-cb44c6a92d2e">Re: CDs as party Favors</a>:
[QUOTE] Its sad PPs didn't care about the work and thought that went into this favor b/c this is something VERY personal to your guests from you as a couple.  I didn't realize candy was more meaningful. I'm kind of over gifting my guests too b/c the last wedding I went to they had REAL CHEAP favors and it stuck in my craw that mine would not be that way.  We have mini-picture frames as placecard holders, designer salt and pepper shakers and custom CDs, plus awesome OOT bags b/c most of our guests are from OOT.  Best of luck to you with whatever you choose.  
Posted by heidilein13[/QUOTE]

First of all, the reason I posted what I did was that I COMPLETELY understand the amount of time and effort that someone puts into this.  And I think that the amount of time and effort can easily go to something else.  If the OP has a boatload of time on her hands and wants to spend hours doing it.  Okay, then do it.

But realize that at the end of the night, she might well be looking at several dozen and perhaps more CDs that people left behind because they "forgot" them.

When I go to a wedding, I don't care about a favor at all.  I'm certainly not looking for a personal piece of memorabilia.  Your wedding is the most important thing, thus far, in your life.  But it's just not to your guests.  It's important.  It's fun to attend.  But I just don't feel a need to have a "keepsake".

I wouldn't care if I got a favor or not.  Nor would most guests.  But if you're going to invest time and $$, giving an edible has a better chance of being used.  It's not meaningful.  Favors rarely are meaningful to guests.  They're meaningful to couples who THINK that it will be meaningful to guests.

A mini picture frame and salt and pepper shakers, CD's, and OOT bags filled with more "stuff", while clearly "meaningful" to you would be useless dust collectors to me.  And I'm at a stage in my life where I'm done saving "stuff" that I'll never, ever use.

If that sounds harsh, sorry.  It's my considered opinion.  And apparently the opinion of many others on this board.