Do I Have To?

menotyou87 · August 2012

Hey, me here again.

Me and my fiance(love saying that!) will be getting married December of next year. We're going to be EXTREMELY tight on money: think no decorations, DJ from an iPod, making all our own food kind of broke(not that we are, but that's only because we have wonderful friends who do those things for a living, and gave it to us free/cheap).
I am just wondering, are favors necessary? Right now, I'm looking to cut costs anywhere, and everything that isn't required is going out. So I'm wondering what your thoughts would be on a wedding you attended that had no favors afterward.

roxy64 · August 2012

Getting married in December is great because where you get married will probably already be decorated for Christmas......I was a December bride myself. when we got married, 30 years ago, it was immediate family at the church and back to my parent's home for a meal.

We renewed on our 15th anniversary with the ceremony and reception. Again, I didn't have to decorate because of the season. What I did for favors was make a 3 dimensional Christmas ornament out of embossed card stock. Extremely inexpensive, but time consuming. 15 years later friends and family still hang the ornaments on their tree.

I was able to save money by making my own dress and my daughter's dress. I also did the bouquets and bouts. My parents gave us the cake as a gift, friends gifted video, photos and dj services.

I'm sure what ever you decide, your wedding day will be a wonderfully memorable day.

reppunzel · August 2012

No, you don't have to; favors are not required. I can only think of a handful of weddings that I've been to that had them, and my favorites were consumibles (edible or plantable) ...

mabapunta · August 2012

I wouldn't worry about it. Keep your eyes open for cool ideas that maybe you'll find somewhere or think of along the way, but if you are looking to cut costs, I would focus on everything else first, and this last. Favors are not necessary at all, and honestly I care more about the celebration with friends and photos to remember the day than I would about a physical freebie item.

Peavy · August 2012

Favors are completely UN-necessary. If you're on a budget, eliminate them. Also eliminate everything else you don't need - save the dates, aisle runner and decorations, toasting flutes, cate cutter - the list is endless.

thurmanpowell · August 2012

I also say no on the favors, most people won't take them home anyhow.

TaraKeeley · August 2012

Unless they're edible (or really practical in some way), I don't like wedding favors. We're doing them, but only becuase we're getting married on a boat and candied ginger is good for seasickness. Seriously, don't worry about them, though.

jkrok5955 · August 2012

My fiance and I are also opting out of doing favors. Instead we are taking a portion of the wedding budget and making a donation to the Humane Society in which we rescued our dogs from. At the reception we are going to have a sign (the flows with the decor of course) that indicates what we did in lieu of favors.

So what you could do is make a small donation to a charity that means a lot to you and your fiance instead of favors (your guests don't acutally need to know how much you dontated)

Or just skip them all together. Honestly - unless they are edible or something that can be used I think they're pointless and a waste of money. I've been in 5 weddings in the last six years and I can't tell you how many favors were thrown away.

Hope this helps!

TimbersGirl · August 2012

I honestly have never been to a wedding where the favors weren't the "going away" bubbles/birdseed. I was thinking about cutting favors out of mine too. To be brutal, I see it as if somebody only wants to get something out of going to your wedding, and freak out if they don't, then they are not somebody worth keeping aroundl.

Amsdragonfly · August 2012

Candy is a pretty cheap favor- and baked goods- I am definitely not a fan of non-edible favors. So if you end up doing one, go edible!

daveANDkristen · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_do-i-have-to?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:27Discussion:73de6319-41e6-436d-9a25-729052bf0f20Post:fc02c098-542f-4243-86da-cac9d7aa8df0">Re: Do I *Have* To?</a>:
[QUOTE]My fiance and I are also opting out of doing favors. Instead we are taking a portion of the wedding budget and making a donation to the Humane Society in which we rescued our dogs from.<strong> At the reception we are going to have a sign (the flows with the decor of course) that indicates what we did in lieu of favors</strong>. So what you could do is make a small donation to a charity that means a lot to you and your fiance instead of favors (your guests don't acutally need to know how much you dontated) Or just skip them all together. Honestly - unless they are edible or something that can be used I think they're pointless and a waste of money. I've been in 5 weddings in the last six years and I can't tell you how many favors were thrown away. Hope this helps! :)
Posted by jkrok5955[/QUOTE]

It's very thoughtful of you to make a donation. If you're interested, though, check out the sticky at the top of this board that talks about donations in lieu of favors. Many people will suggest that you make a donation discreetly, and do not mention it to your guests. It is a wonderful gesture, but really is not a favor or wedding related.

jessimarie2013 · October 2012

I have been having this dilemma and I've finally decided that I'm not doing favors. You wine and dine your guests at your wedding I believe that's plenty. Your wedding is about you and your FH if they don't get anything extra and that's what they are worried about they don't have to be there : you will still have an amazing night!!

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