Talking about favors...

Elinetrouwt

..are you doing them? A lot of people advise to skip them, and I think I'm going with that.

Madisonpenny

We're not doing them, they're just not in our budget.  A few nights ago we (FI and I) had dinner at his parents.  They had just been to their neice's wedding and was showing us their favors.  His mom then asked me what we were doing as a favor and I said "nothing, we're not doing them" and she looked at me like I grew another head or something.  Now FI thinks we should have them even though he was on board before this dinner at his parents about not doing them  and I keep saying no, that they are an unnecessary cost.   Boys and their mothers.....

Joanne1984

We are doing bottles of wine as our favors. It's pretty standard where I come from to give something to your guests to say 'thank you'. 

butterflyjumper1

We aren't doing traditional favors - I think people have gotten really tired of receiving trinkets (which I think is what you were talking about - i.e., a tiny metal frame shaped in a heart that the guest will probably never use).  

We are having a photobooth, plus planning to have some type of a cute wrapped dessert (either a macaroon or an Indian sweet) tied with a bow with a cute sticker on it with our names.  People always love things that are edible (or so I have heard!) 

michelle11988

We are having a photobooth and will probably give the guests small things of M&M's or macarons.  It is pretty standard around here to do something even if it is just a small amount of candy.

ceglare4

We're doing crossword puzzles as sort of ice breakers at the tables and to get people talking and give them something to do during the cocktail hour. We're also wrapping a few chocolates for each guest.

xobride

We're doing wedding libs and cootie catchers at the tables as ice breakers and then asking the wedding libs be turned into a basket so I can put them in a scrapbook later.  We are also doing wine charms as favors for a few reasons.  First, it will cut down on the number of glasses used since no one will get theirs mixed up with anyone else.  Second, we're huge wine drinkers and so are many of our friends so I think it's something a lot of people will actually use later on at home and it doesn't have our name or date anywhere on it.  Third, I love to make them and have an Etsy store for ones that I sell as well as other wine art that I make so while it wasn't a necessary expense, it was one I wanted to do.

mekiakoo

Not going to have one. Almost every wedding I've gone to- I've pretty much thrown away the favors. My cousin did not have one at her wedding last year and I never realized it until now!

dramaqueen91087

Sort of. My venue provides a desert, but I really wanted cupcakes. So we will have a cupcake display, cut the top tier, and then the cupcakes will be boxed and given to the guests. They can choose to eat them there or take them home. Also, I have wanted M&M's with my picture on them for a long time. So we may be doing small jars of these as well, but only if we can find cheep jars.

colleenm18

We are doing a donation.  I know that a lot of people are against this but it is a way that we are also honoring FI brother who passed about in September.  He was an avid surfer and a member of the surfrider foundation which helps to preserve beaches and protect the ocean so we are making a donation in his honor.

Elinetrouwt

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_talking-about-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:c8a99101-1662-425b-9f49-394cc5507b35Post:27838c01-3edf-4cf6-b243-1f502d48ac4b">Re: Talking about favors...</a>:
[QUOTE]We are doing a donation.  I know that a lot of people are against this but it is a way that we are also honoring FI brother who passed about in September.  He was an avid surfer and a member of the surfrider foundation which helps to preserve beaches and protect the ocean so we are making a donation in his honor.
Posted by colleenm18[/QUOTE]

<div>I know people are against this too, but I think this is beautiful, and as a guest I'd be happier with a donation than with almost any other favor.</div><div>
</div><div>I thought about giving chocolates as well, but I'm afraid they'll melt, depending on the weather. Plus, we have such a large dessert buffet, I don't want to give people sweats on top. I might provide some to go bags with the buffet though.</div>

bells24412

Yes, we are doing them. We are doing Swedish Fish to go with our beach theme.

butterflyjumper1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_talking-about-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:c8a99101-1662-425b-9f49-394cc5507b35Post:27838c01-3edf-4cf6-b243-1f502d48ac4b">Re: Talking about favors...</a>:
[QUOTE]We are doing a donation.  I know that a lot of people are against this but it is a way that we are also honoring FI brother who passed about in September.  He was an avid surfer and a member of the surfrider foundation which helps to preserve beaches and protect the ocean so we are making a donation in his honor.
Posted by colleenm18[/QUOTE]

i agree - i think this is absolutely beautiful.  so what if some people are against donations? it means more to your family than any silly trinket ever would.  also, i think the reason some people are against donations is when it is a political organization of some sort that is being donated to. who could possibly be against preserving beaches? what a fantastic idea and a great way to honor your fiance's brother. 

sara814

We want to do personalized M&M's in our wedding colors with our names, the date, and maybe a graphic. I hope it only comes to about $200 total with the boxes to put them in.

k8888

I would be expelled from my family if we didn't do any kind of favor... it's just not heard of in my circle.  My mom keeps ALL wedding favors (except food items, obvi).

We're giving photo coaster frames to go along with our photo booth, chocolate covered bride and groom Oreos my SIL is making, and we're giving out props and flip-flops for the dance floor/photobooth.  We're gift givers, so this is completely normal for us.

bridetobe71412

We're doing a donation, too. I am very involved with volunteering with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and cancer has effected my family greatly - a cousin (who was 8), an aunt, uncle, 3 grandparents, and my father have passed away as a result of cancer. So we're doing a donation. I know some people hate it, but it's our wedding.

Oh and for those that require favors, I suppose you could count the mini cheesesteaks at the end of the night as favors.

Elinetrouwt

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_talking-about-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:c8a99101-1662-425b-9f49-394cc5507b35Post:603e105c-cda1-4dd0-bb88-53097487fe14">Re: Talking about favors...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Talking about favors... : i agree - i think this is absolutely beautiful.  so what if some people are against donations? it means more to your family than any silly trinket ever would.  also, i think the reason some people are against donations is when it is a political organization of some sort that is being donated to. who could possibly be against preserving beaches? what a fantastic idea and a great way to honor your fiance's brother. 
Posted by butterflyjumper1[/QUOTE]

<div>I also think it has something to do with finding it obnoxious that people boast about themselves being so good, while actually it does not matter to the hosts if their guests receive a cookie, a trinket or a donation. The old idea that good things only count when done in silence, and they require a lot of offering. </div><div>
</div><div>I don't think that is true at all. For those who are interested, the philosopher Peter Singer has some excellent arguments why you should be loud and clear about donating (because it makes others consider doing the same, mostly). I would not feel 'robbed' from a trinket that is righteously mine if someone donated - a favor is an extra. And some people may not be wild about them, but other people will not be wild about the dolphin keychain or the almond, so...</div><div>
</div><div>If I do donation favors, it will be to an organisation of veterinarians who help in Africa. By saving livestock, they're saving human lifes too. I know this organisation well and I know they are reliable. My FFIL and FSIL are vets.</div>

elizabethmae315

I think the donation idea you guys are talking about is a great idea!!

And sara814; depending on your number of guests, and what type of box, it will be very hard to get M&Ms to cost less than $200. We looked into it. 

For our favors, we are having peppermint pattys with our initial on it, and some golf tees. We are going to set them on the escort card table after its cleared, and people can pick what they would like, edible or golf. They are going to be in jars, and our guestbook pages will be on the same table, so hopefully people pick up favors and sign! 

BirdyBride

I think they add a nice touch, but no...they're not necessary. 

I wanted my guests to have something a lil personal so I am making sugar cookie butteflies to go with our vintage butterfly garden theme. Played around with the tester this weekend actually. Favors can be ridiculously expensive so I've found making them is a more affordable way. My cousin just tied two hershey hugs and two hershey kisses in tulle and wrote "hugs and kisses from the mr. & mrs." on them.