Do i really have to have Party Favors?

tanyasuey · March 2012

I am not sure if i am doing a Candy table or not but if i dont do i have to have Party Favors, all the party favors i had ever gotten i threw up they were pointless.

dubird · March 2012

It's not really necessicary. If you really feel you have to have favors, get some little boxes or bags online for cheap and fill with candy. That, at least, will get eaten!

Maggie0829 · March 2012

Favors are not mandatory. If you do have them atleast make them edible because those are the only favors anyone really ever enjoys.

deanozzi · March 2012

I am making my own CD compilation of my wedding music. Total cost around $2 per household. Favors are not mandatory though!

deanozzi · March 2012

A second idea would be to give each guest an empty bag and let them fill them up at the candy bar to take home.

scorpgirl1120 · March 2012

If you decide against a candy bar why don't you put a vase with candy in it at each table. Put bags on the table and people can grab their own candy if they want some...

AurorasEnvy · March 2012

No, favors aren't necessary. I can't think of any non-edible favor I have gotten that wasn't useless.

Eliz77 · March 2012

Hijacking the thread for a moment to ask: are party favor always left on plates? I'd like to do cake pops and wondering if I should plan to place two on every plate (decorated as bride/groom) or if I should have a table set up with them on?

Maggie0829 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_do-i-really-have-to-have-party-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:544f23bc-7489-4f20-a97e-a961998b0700Post:76bab705-b507-44cd-b8fe-db994cc90aa1">Re: Do i really have to have Party Favors?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hijacking the thread for a moment to ask: are party favor always left on plates? I'd like to do cake pops and wondering if I should plan to place two on every plate (decorated as bride/groom) or if I should have a table set up with them on?
Posted by Eliz77[/QUOTE]

Unless you are doing something like a candy table, I would suggest leaving the favors at each place setting. If you place them in a basket on a table off to the side many guests will not even know that they are there and won't take them home.

You could also use your favors as escort cards as well...with cake pops (if doing one per person) you could have a tag attached with the guests name and table number and then place the stick in styrofoam so that they are standing up...this way each guest gets their favor and also is directed to their table.

FutureMrsRacheau · March 2012

My fiance and I are seriously considering doing a charity donation in our guests names. We will probably give to a charity called Child's Play that was started by video game fans that brings toys and video games to children in the hospital around the country, or to either the ASPCA or St. Judes.

Some organizations actually have cards or bookmarks that they send especially for this, but if we pick a charity that doesn't we would donate as much as we can to the charity and then DIY some cool cards.

Those three organizations are close to the heart to us and many of our guests, and I think it would mean more than a beer coozie with our name on it.

GunzNRoses213 · March 2012

I was also considering the donation thing to World Vision or an organization that has to do with medical rellief in a 3rd world country since I will be studying to become a nurse. I see nothing wrong with it .

efrench9685 · March 2012

My coordinator suggested a donation as well. I've never heard of someone being so bitter about having someone donate to a charity in their name as retreadbride...Just dont do something political and I can't imagine anyone with a soul would be so offended.

Starfish0116 · March 2012

I think favors either need to be useful or none at all. I'm not a huge fan of the charity donation.

MrsJacobs2B · March 2012

We did matchbooks from The Knot Store in our wedding colors, pink and black. People liked the fact that they were personalized and they were something they could use. They were also really affordable - less than fifty cents each. Edible favors would also be a great idea :-)

emilycasari · March 2012

My sister donated to a diabetes research fund for her wedding favors, since both our father and her father-in-law have diabetes. It was a gesture they wanted to do anyways. It's your wedding, and you should do what you want.

My cousin and her husband made their own wine and had a bottle with a special label for each family, which I thought was a great touch. Even family members who don't drink thought it was cute and unique (and then passed it off to someone at the wedding who would drink it).

For my wedding, my fiance and I are having a photobooth that provides unlimited instant prints (old school photobooth style) with a little logo with our wedding on it. One of my high school dances did this, and it allowed each guest to make something meaningful and personal to remember the day. The name cards indicate where the booth is and that it's our favor- people who don't care just won't visit it.

beth34608 · March 2012

Favors are not necessary. I happen to like favors. We are doing salt and pepper shakers full of personalized m&m's, and chocolate lollipops. I am having a table set up to put them on. I am afraid they might melt if we put them at each place setting. (Florida - July - outside wedding.)Good Luck.

BethHP · March 2012

We aren't planning to do party favors. They just feel like a needless expense.

Future Mrs. Lindstrom · March 2012

If you don't want to spend the time to wrap up little bags for each person, just put out a bowl of kisses or something on the table with a sign that says "enjoy". You might also look into Edible Arrangements. they can do their fruit arrays as centerpieces and your guests can munch as they like. You could even have the fruit chocolate dipped so it seems like a favor type thing!

hollydazzle82 · March 2012

We're donating money to a charity in lieu of favors. A lot of charities now have little favors (bookmarks, stickers, etc.) that they'll give you to let your guests know that you made a donation in their honor.

goatlady12 · March 2012

My fiance and I aren't doing favors either. People don't miss them when they aren't there. We're just going to roll that money over to the hotel shuttle. I'd rather my guests have a safe and sober ride, then have some favor they don't care about.

Sheena51985 · March 2012

I'm doing $1 lottery tickets for all the adult guests. The kids are getting candy.

JacklovesSarah · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_do-i-really-have-to-have-party-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:544f23bc-7489-4f20-a97e-a961998b0700Post:426c375a-9aa3-422d-9b31-5b0daba5a196">Re: Do i really have to have Party Favors?</a>:
[QUOTE]Please don't do donations as a favor. Reason: Favors are a gift to the guest, and a donation is not a gift to the guest. Most people could care less if they get a dinky favor or not, but don't give to YOUR charity, and then try to pretend that you did something "for" the guest. You didn't. Most people have their own charities, and don't feel honored when donations are made, supposedly "for" them, to someone else's. Plenty of people don't appreciate someone else doing anything, even a good deed, in their names. You risk serious offense if the charity is in any way controversial (political, religious, military.....). Saying "in lieu of favors' is saying, "I was going to give you a present but decided to give it to someone else instead, but claim it's for you I think you're dumb enough to believe this." Do the donation. Just take "favor" out of the equation. Don't do favors, and make no mention of them. Put a note in your program that says something such as, "Joe and Sue have made a donation to X in gratitude for the support of their community as they begin their marriage."
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

Yes!!

I´m all for charities at weddings, but there is always the risk of someone disagreeing with your charity and being offended. I like your wording at the end for charity situations.

stefaniewattie · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_do-i-really-have-to-have-party-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:544f23bc-7489-4f20-a97e-a961998b0700Post:426c375a-9aa3-422d-9b31-5b0daba5a196">Re: Do i really have to have Party Favors?</a>:
[QUOTE]Please don't do donations as a favor. Reason: Favors are a gift to the guest, and a donation is not a gift to the guest. Most people could care less if they get a dinky favor or not, but don't give to YOUR charity, and then try to pretend that you did something "for" the guest. You didn't. Most people have their own charities, and don't feel honored when donations are made, supposedly "for" them, to someone else's. Plenty of people don't appreciate someone else doing anything, even a good deed, in their names. You risk serious offense if the charity is in any way controversial (political, religious, military.....). Saying "in lieu of favors' is saying, "I was going to give you a present but decided to give it to someone else instead, but claim it's for you I think you're dumb enough to believe this." Do the donation. Just take "favor" out of the equation. Don't do favors, and make no mention of them. Put a note in your program that says something such as, "Joe and Sue have made a donation to X in gratitude for the support of their community as they begin their marriage."
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

Agreed :)
Its sad really that even a charity takes advantage of brides and grooms to get money.
While I think its great to donate to a charity, dont try to pretend like you did your guests a favor.

GTGT3 · March 2012

I am doing a candy table. It comes with my venue package...but if it didn't I probably wouldn't have anything at all...I mean most people throw away the favors they get unless they are edible anyway.

OliveJuice4Ever · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_do-i-really-have-to-have-party-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:544f23bc-7489-4f20-a97e-a961998b0700Post:426c375a-9aa3-422d-9b31-5b0daba5a196">Re: Do i really have to have Party Favors?</a>:
[QUOTE]Please don't do donations as a favor. Reason: Favors are a gift to the guest, and a donation is not a gift to the guest. Most people could care less if they get a dinky favor or not, but don't give to YOUR charity, and then try to pretend that you did something "for" the guest. You didn't. Most people have their own charities, and don't feel honored when donations are made, supposedly "for" them, to someone else's. Plenty of people don't appreciate someone else doing anything, even a good deed, in their names. You risk serious offense if the charity is in any way controversial (political, religious, military.....). Saying "in lieu of favors' is saying, "I was going to give you a present but decided to give it to someone else instead, but claim it's for you I think you're dumb enough to believe this." Do the donation. Just take "favor" out of the equation. Don't do favors, and make no mention of them. <strong>Put a note in your program that says something such as, "Joe and Sue have made a donation to X in gratitude for the support of their community as they begin their marriage."</strong>
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

<div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;background-color:#ffffff;">RetreadBride- I also like the way you worded the donation message. I've wanted to make a donation for our wedding but did not want to donate "in guests' honor" per se. I think that can be awkward because it seems to imply that a charity meaningful to my FI and I may have the same meaning to someone else. I think couples should feel free to donate in honor of their wedding, but it's a personal choice. Thanks for the great suggestion!</span> </div>

[Deleted User] · March 2012

I don't think it's necessary but I am having a very small wedding so wanted to give something to all of the folks that came from across the country and state. I stamped paper lunch sacks with our last initial and will be stuffing them with a note from us thanking them for coming and supporting us, chocolate covered pecans (wedding is at a pecan orchard), and something I make called Towel Charms. The guests will be staying onsite so I'm also giving them all a 24oz. Nalgene bottle when they arrive and requesting they use it instead of the disposable water bottles whenever possible (but not freaking out if they don't use it!). I tried to give things I know they will use again or eat.

iloveu4ever · March 2012

No we aren't.

elmzar · March 2012

I have been to plenty of weddings where the bride and groom made a donation, and I would never take offense to that. We are donating to a charity with no political or religious offiliation in lieu of favors. I usually leave the little candle holder or knicknack on the table anyway. We didn't give the donation in the guests' names, we gave the donation in our names. We are just letting our guests know that we donated money to something we feel strongly about, rather then giving them a $2 item that they won't use.

Favors aren't necessary. If you want to donate to a charity, there is nothing wrong with that. If you don't want to do anything, there is nothing wrong with that either.

kiki1978 · April 2012

We are a doing a donation for our wedding favor as well. We have chosen St. Jude's to donate to. We figured that would be a great charity that everyone supports. I see nothing wrong with making a donation and most of the people who I've talked to (wedding guests) about this think it's a great idea! We ordered some cards off theknot.com and personalized it. We basically said instead of giving you a little trinket that you probably didn't want anyway, we are making a donation to St. Jude's in our wedding guests' honor.

Do i really have to have Party Favors?

Re: Do i really have to have Party Favors?

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