I'm on a tight budget: $10,750 for the wedding. My budget for all gifts and favors is $340 this includes my attendant gifts, welcome bags, and favors.
I've ditched alot of things in my wedding that arnt important to me- a limo for example... I couldn't care less about having a limo- So I'm spending that money on this important to me- and favors are important to me.
So I really don't like the idea of nick-nacks that end up collecting dust so I'm thinking foods. I am going to do a cookie bar. I am also doing little cotton bags with pistachio nuts (good for your heart and delicious!) My FI and I eat them all the time.
Those two things I'm definitely doing. Here are some things I've thought about:
- S'mores: I saw someone who made these any I LOVE the idea- it's cheap and cute and our reception in at a summer camp on a lake in the Adirondacks so it fits!
- Wine: I make my own wine, it will cost me about $.50/bottle for home made 750lm bottles with custom labels. I'm sure my dad would donate some of his wine to the cause for free also- (I make good wine too)
- Skeletal Leaf Ornaments: For those of you who don't know what this is, check out the picture below. You can buy them for $20-$60 at gift stores. My mom and I both LOVE them. This would be my one non-edible favor. It would be free to make because my mom has the materials. My reservations about this are that we are having a fall wedding- not a winter wedding so it will be a few months before christmas... but they would be leaves which fits with the fall-
So what do you guys think- is this over kill? I really like making things and It will be tight to do it all within my budget but it's possible.
Even if I don't end up doing everyhting as favors, I am going to make the wine anyway, I always to. And I'm going to make the orniments anyway because my mom has always bought them and we just found online directions to make them.
Like I said I'm def doing to cookie bar and pistachio nuts. What do you think about the rest?
Re: Too many favors!
What were your favors? How did you have them layed out?
I am thinking about having the pastachio nuts act as escort cards. Wine bottles can be part of my center pieces. The cookie bar will be it's own table. Not sure what I would do with the s'mores and/or leaf orniments.
yellow scented roses which i had laid on each chair for the ceremony
i had personalized chocolate hershey bars,bottles of wine,wedding mints and a little plastic thank you card that had a cute note written on it & i placed those all in personalized gift bags in my color for everyone and had them places on everyones chair(the gift bags are below)
and i did the spoon full of kisses(we had plasic spoons and we put a few kisses on each and placed them in the cute little tull bags with tags that read "a spoon full of kisses from the Mr & Mrs" & i did the candy station as a little extra
having the pistachio nuts as escort cards are a cute idea
you can place the wine bottles at each setting with the smores, mabye have someone hand out the leaf ornaments as the guest's walk into the reception?
[QUOTE]I would skip the leaves. The wine is ok, and so are the nuts. But the leaves lean on the side of knick-knacks and clutter
Posted by CA2MT4EveR[/QUOTE]
This is my fear- I mean my intent would be to have them used as christmas oriments (when you buy them they are sold as christmas oriments) which would make me hope people would actually use them as oriments and then store them with the rest of thier christmas stuff the rest of the year...
But I don't want to give people stuff if it will just collect dust... Anyone else's thoughts on this?
You are giving your guests a nice night of dinner, drinks, dancing, and entertainment. They will talk away with the memory and thank you for that.
on a slightly random note though, i would be careful with the nuts. i have an extreme nut allergy and have had to refrain from eating and other things because people have had nuts out at parties and weddings. i don't know if any of your guests have an allergy, but it's something to be aware of. just make sure that they are packaged in a way so that they aren't touching anything else (e.g. sealed bag)
just a thought.
maybe incorporate the leaves into your centerpieces and don't make one for each guest (one for each couple, perhaps) to reduce your cost and get additional functionality from them.
i love the wine idea.
i don't know about the s'mores. wouldn't they just be part of the dessert, or you providing take-home bags at the cookie table? still a cute idea, just not a favor.
re: nut allergies, depending on the size of your wedding, wouldn't you know if there are guests with nut allergies? you might want to hold off on this until you get RSVPs from your guests indicating food intolerances if you're not sure.
I would leave it at the cookie/dessert bar and that's it. Now I will play devil's advocate:
S'mores are cute, but how're you gonna have an open campfire (let's be honest, that's the ONLY way to do it) and control any potential hazards?
Does everyone like wine? Do you really want to fill all those bottles and label them? How're you going to get them there? What if people leave them? Are people really going to care?
Also, if people are traveling, it is my understanding that the less they have to walk out with, the better. Extra cookies will be a fun snack on the trip home, and that's all they need.
Bottom line: people don't need a something-er-other to remember your wedding! They were there!
[QUOTE]I am from the Adirondacks originally, and I personally LOVE the leaves. You have great taste and I really like all your ideas. However, I think you are going overboard with "stuff." No one expects anything--they're going to see you get married, that's it. I have a similar budget, am traveling for my wedding as well, and every time I have a cute idea for this kind of thing, I hear a cash resgister sound go CA-CHING! CA-CHING! It is a reality check. I would leave it at the cookie/dessert bar and that's it. Now I will play devil's advocate: <strong>S'mores are cute, but how're you gonna have an open campfire (let's be honest, that's the ONLY way to do it) and control any potential hazards?</strong> Does everyone like wine? Do you really want to fill all those bottles and label them? How're you going to get them there? What if people leave them? Are people really going to care? Also, if people are traveling, it is my understanding that the less they have to walk out with, the better. Extra cookies will be a fun snack on the trip home, and that's all they need. <strong>Bottom line: people don't need a something-er-other to remember your wedding! They were there! </strong>
Posted by mlekitty[/QUOTE]
Excellent points mlekitty! As far as the smore thing goes, we had some at school a couple months ago and they were basically premade- mixed mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and some sort of cereal together in a bowl and poured into a pan then cut into bars. Far too much work for my liking!
As far as the wine- I'm gonna do it anyway... the funny thing is- my FI's family doesnt drink... but I brought my wine home for christmas and they all loved it because I brought them a really light bodied low ABV wine (which is what I would do as favors) I'll be making some wine this week actually- it's an awesome hobby! I have NO doubt in my mind- there wouldn't be any wine left for me to haul back to PA after the wedding.
I'm still up in the air about the leaves... I've got some that I picked this week and I am drying them so I can try it out. I guess I'll figure it out after a test run- see how easy it is etc...
I really appreciate all of your input! Thanks ladies
This sounds like a lot! If you are on a tight bidget, pick just one!
[QUOTE]This sounds like a lot! If you are on a tight bidget, pick just one!
Posted by mandyandkenny[/QUOTE]
I am on a budget- The leaves would be free because my mom already has everything we need to do them. The cookies themselves would be free and I already payed for the cookie bags. I also already bought the baggies for the pistachios...
Like I said before- I'm going to do the wine either way- while I have limited the amount I will spend so that I won't have enough but that's what Dadddy is for! (yeah I just said that... I've always been and always will be a daddy's girl... and he'll be happy to help especially since it wont require him to do anything he doesn't already do!)