Wedding Favors

[v!v!]

since the wedding colors thread was so much fun, i figured i''d ask what everyone was planning on doing for wedding favors (if you''re having them).

my idea is mini champagne bottles, which will also double as placecards. i''ll tie the placecards with ribbon to the necks of the champagne bottles. killing two birds with one stone!

 

[zoebartlett]

I like your idea! We''re not doing favors but we are doing gift bags for out of town guests. In these bags will be:

info. about the area -- brochures, maps, etc. from the local Chambers of Commerce

a small jar of blueberry jam -- Maine''s most popular fruit

salt water taffy

bottles of water

maybe a couple of apples

for those with little kids -- a copy of the book, Blueberries For Sal

maybe homemade chocolate chip cookies

 

[mimzy]

since we are having a christmas wedding, i would like to do a mini package of the christmas cookies that we have made in my family for as long as i can remember and then add a little book or card of the recipes used. since that seems like a lot of work that my family most likely won''t have time for, we''ll probably end up doing glazed walnuts in little baggies with the recipe attached.

another option we are considering is baklava because our family is greek and FI loves it too!

 

[ladyciel]

Ooooh, I'm torn on this. Almost all of our guests will be traveling, many of them on planes, so we want to stick with carryon-friendly (not everyone likes to check a bag, especially on short trips) or easily-eaten favors.

My first idea: Our favorite cookies along with the recipes on little cards. FI's favorite cookies are his mom's hershey kiss peanut butter cookies, and mine are a super jam packed chocolate chip/dark chocolate chunk/walnut/oatmeal cookie (more filling than dough, basically) that a friend's mom would always make. We (and our parents, probably) would make all the cookies ourselves, enough for one of each for each guest, and then I would make little recipe cards to match our wedding colors. As for presentation, I think we'd steal Mandarine's idea for her favors, except we'd put the recipe cards in the napkin pocket and place the cookies on top.

My second idea (Thanks to Musey!!): Musey posted a link earlier this month to this company. They make handmade papers, including some with wildflower seeds in them that will actually grow flowers if you plant the paper. They have a bunch of pre-designed wedding favors, or you can buy the paper by the sheet and make your own. Our ceremony is in a botanical garden, so this would go really well with our theme.

I'm tempted to do both, maybe giving out the seed paper in the programs or something (cut out shapes and attach them to cover of the program in such a way that they could be removed and planted?), but we'll have to see how the budget looks...

ETA: Mimzy, we were typing at the same time, and apparently we think alike!
ETA2: Oh, and if you have baklava, I'm going to have to crash your wedding.

 

[partyjewels]

Ooh! All your ideas sound so great and yummy! For our favors we''re going to be doing caramel apple jelly beans, wrapped up in cellophane with a short dowel stick sticking out of them (with a ribbon or something to tie it all together) to look like a caramel apple I can''t decide though if I should have some that are just apple instead of the caramel apple..

 

[Independent Gal]

I love the champagne bottle idea! At WP1, my mother is giving bottles of a local specialty alcohol made from fruit from her very own trees. At WP2, we are giving these Vosges chocolates which I put in organza bags with ribbon.

(Oh, since you're new, I'm having a two-part wedding. Civil ceremony in my mom's country, religious wedding in my dad's country. Cuts down on the traveling people have to do).

BTW, I love your avatar, v!v!

 

[Coreysgirl]

These are the favors we''re doing. I think we''ll put some mints or candy or something in them. I ordered them and I have them already and their really cute. The royal blue is actually our wedding color.

 

[Gypsy]

We''re giving out hand-inlayed mosaic boxes. I think they are about 3 x 3 and they are gorgeous. I haven''t decided what to fill them with yet. Something like Jordan Almonds I suspect, but I''m not, aside from telling my aunt what I want them to generally look like and to attach the escort cards to the things, going to be in charge of them. That''s ONE item I get to delegate. Thank god!

 

[happy in love]

My aunt is making biscotti cookies, YUMMM!!! We are putting 3 in a cello bag that will be folded over and tied with a ribbon. I made a cute label to put on them too. I will post pics after easter, since that''s when the assembly line be happening!

 

[Stephanie]

Daffy caramel apples wrapped in cellophane (I just can''t see having the time to actually do 100 plus apples or I''d do them myself), wrapped with raffia, and doubling as place cards with names attached.

 

[lovehersomuch]

Date: 2/28/2008 12:13:13 PM
Author: Coreysgirl
These are the favors we''re doing. I think we''ll put some mints or candy or something in them. I ordered them and I have them already and their really cute. The royal blue is actually our wedding color.

those are really nice!! im going to show my gf those! how much are they apiece if you dont mind me asking...

can you point me to the website you ordered them from?

thanks

 

[partyjewels]

Date: 2/28/2008 12:32:28 PM
Author: Stephanie
Daffy caramel apples wrapped in cellophane (I just can''t see having the time to actually do 100 plus apples or I''d do them myself), wrapped with raffia, and doubling as place cards with names attached.

Oh you lucky duck! lol. Thats what I had originally wanted to do, both caramel and candied, but they wouldn''t ship them to me in time for the wedding, I even e-mailed them asking if they''d make an exception if I paid extra and they told me no! So I had to think up an alternative, cause I was not about to make them all myself, what a mess, and where to find the time so close to the wedding!

 

[Coreysgirl]

I ordered them from efavormart.com. I can''t remember how much they cost exactly but they were $30-$35 for 100.

 

[Sue16]

We are having two favors. I''m Chinese and FI is Italian so we are having the traditional chinese banquet. I found these cute double happiness candles online to give to the women. We are also going to order fortune cookies with a custom message inside them and make some biscotti''s. We are going to put one of each in a cello bag tied with a ribbon or a twisty-tie for everyone.

 

[hopefulheidi]

I''m already going to have a pretty full table set up with the centerpieces we''re doing and the charger plates I''ve purchased so I didn''t actually want to do anything at the table and then I came across the (now totally unoriginal) idea of the candy buffet so I believe we''ll be going that route.

My sister had votive holders and little containers of hershey kisses at each table for her reception and by the end of the night the chocolate was all gone but the candles were all still there. Rather than have the same group of guests do the same thing at our wedding, I''m going to learn from that experience and go the totally edible route. I found some VERY affordable glass apothecary jars at Marshalls and I''ll be buying some of our favorite bulk candies to fill them with. This way I figure people can munch from the candy buffet throughout the night, and take some home with them at the end of the reception, if they so chose. Worst case scenario we end up with large amounts of leftover chocolate and in my book, that''s never a bad thing hehe

~Heidi

 

[Pandora II]

I''ve bought little drawstring un-bleached cotton bags which I''m hand-stamping with a monogram design I made of our initials.

The bags will be full of a lavender and herb mix - the same herbs will be in my bouquet.

I wanted something that was fairly unisex - and something people could just chuck in a drawer when they get home (which is pretty much what happens to most favours...)

 

[Stephanie]

Date: 2/28/2008 12:36:46 PM
Author: partyjewels

Date: 2/28/2008 12:32:28 PM
Author: Stephanie
Daffy caramel apples wrapped in cellophane (I just can''t see having the time to actually do 100 plus apples or I''d do them myself), wrapped with raffia, and doubling as place cards with names attached.

Oh you lucky duck! lol. Thats what I had originally wanted to do, both caramel and candied, but they wouldn''t ship them to me in time for the wedding, I even e-mailed them asking if they''d make an exception if I paid extra and they told me no! So I had to think up an alternative, cause I was not about to make them all myself, what a mess, and where to find the time so close to the wedding!

Seriously? They wouldn''t push them out early?? Have you checked other options for apples (if you still wanted them?) I''m sure that if you google it there will be someone that can do it. I don''t know if you would need to go further north or south to get apples earlier.

 

[Independent Gal]

lovehersomuch for favour bags, you should definitely check on ebay. My bags cost 5 cents each (so, $5 for 100 of them). There''s lots of variety too.

 

[partyjewels]

>Date:[/b] 2/28/2008 1:29:41 PM
Author: Stephanie

Seriously? They wouldn't push them out early?? Have you checked other options for apples (if you still wanted them?) I'm sure that if you google it there will be someone that can do it. I don't know if you would need to go further north or south to get apples earlier.[/quote][/b]

Yeah, they said they simply could not ship them any earlier than September 15th (which is two days AFTER our wedding) due to the possible heat. I looked all over the place online for other vendors, but they had the best prices, and in my mind, the best sized apples too. Some of those caramel apples you can buy are just ridiculous! They might have them in the stores in time that I could just buy a grocery store out, but I don't want to wait so close to the wedding and possibly not find them. I figure jelly beans are easier anyways, I saw it done at a store last fall and it was adorable, plus it's not so messy to eat, and who doesn't like jelly beans? (Ok, thats not a real question since I'm sure someone doesn't

)

 

[CrownJewel]

I think we''re going to give pretty chopsticks and Madeline cookies, two of our favorite things.

 

[mimzy]

Date: 2/28/2008 11:28:09 AM
Author: ladyciel
Ooooh, I''m torn on this. Almost all of our guests will be traveling, many of them on planes, so we want to stick with carryon-friendly (not everyone likes to check a bag, especially on short trips) or easily-eaten favors.


My first idea: Our favorite cookies along with the recipes on little cards. FI''s favorite cookies are his mom''s hershey kiss peanut butter cookies, and mine are a super jam packed chocolate chip/dark chocolate chunk/walnut/oatmeal cookie (more filling than dough, basically) that a friend''s mom would always make. We (and our parents, probably) would make all the cookies ourselves, enough for one of each for each guest, and then I would make little recipe cards to match our wedding colors. As for presentation, I think we''d steal Mandarine''s idea for her favors, except we''d put the recipe cards in the napkin pocket and place the cookies on top.


My second idea (Thanks to Musey!!): Musey posted a link earlier this month to this company. They make handmade papers, including some with wildflower seeds in them that will actually grow flowers if you plant the paper. They have a bunch of pre-designed wedding favors, or you can buy the paper by the sheet and make your own. Our ceremony is in a botanical garden, so this would go really well with our theme.


I''m tempted to do both, maybe giving out the seed paper in the programs or something (cut out shapes and attach them to cover of the program in such a way that they could be removed and planted?), but we''ll have to see how the budget looks...


ETA: Mimzy, we were typing at the same time, and apparently we think alike!

ETA2: Oh, and if you have baklava, I''m going to have to crash your wedding.

that is amazing!

and the peanut butter hershey kiss cookies are one of our favorites too! they would definitely be in the bag

 

[v!v!]

zoebartlett, thanks! i really love your ideas too. and i love bluberries for sal! what a great, great book for the kids!

mimzy, cookies and the recipies, that''s sure to be a hit! and i agree with ladyciel, if you''re having baklava i''m crashing your wedding too!

ladyciel, i am still thinking of doing the plantable papers too. i love that! and it would fit perfectly with your wedding at the botanical garden! if it''s in your budget, i''d say do both things that you''re considering!

partyjewels, that is such a cute idea! so creative!

independent gal, that''s so nice that you get to have two weddings! does that mean you''re wearing two dresses too? that is one of the coolest things i''ve heard, that your mom is making a specialty alcohol made from her own trees! and chocolate anything always makes a great gift. is that a chocolate covered pepper i see? looks delicious! thanks for the compliment on my champagne favor idea and my avatar too...

coreysgirl, i love the bags you found. that blue really pops!

gypsy, do you have a picture of the mosaic boxes you''re having? they sound absolutely gorgeous! i''d love to see them!


happy in love, i''m sure the biscotti cookies will be a hit. i can''t wait to see the picture you post!

stephanie, the daffy caramel apples sound soooo good and will be such a pretty presentation. love it!

sappergirl, i love the candle! and the personalized fortune cookie is such a great idea!!

hopefulheidi, i love the candy buffet! and you can make it original in your own way with your colors or a pattern or something! and i agree, large amounts of leftover chocolate is never a bad thing!

pandora II, i love the monogram you designed! and that''s such a great idea with herb mix in the bags. whenever someone opens the drawer they put it in, they''ll be reminded of your wedding!

crownjewel, i would love to get your favors!

 

[Independent Gal]

Thanks v!v!. The chocolate has chili and cinnamon in it. We also have some with curry and coconut and some with wasabi and something else... www.vosgeschocolate.com

And yup, two dresses. The white one is more 'bride-y' but the silver one is the one I like more.

ETA: haha, there's some Vosges choco-website in the background.

 

[scm1012]

Since we''re thinking of getting married in Italy I''d like to do small bottles of extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar....one of our favorite combinations.

 

[sleeping beauty]

i was thinking on doing bottle stoppers, but that would mean that i have to buy 300 of them and then ship them to my destination wedding. im still debating on wether i should do it or not. then my order idea would be to have welcome bags for my OOT guest only which will be about 15-20, but i have no idea what to include in the bags.

 

[goldenstar]

We are giving individual pieces of candy "sushi". The seaweed and fillings are either chocolate or gummy candy. The rice is rice cereal-marshmallow treats. We both love sushi and its one of the things we eat most. Plus, FI is Japanese.

 

[v!v!]

oh...my...god! independent gal, you look soooo classy!!!! those dresses...wow! i am just so impressed. gorgeous!
and are you kidding me about wasabi chocolate? wasabi is probably one of my most favorite things ever, and then add chocolate to it?! oh the insanity. i've got to check that website out! thanks!

scm1012, a wedding in italy? sounds wonderful! and those favors are just perfect!

sleepingbeauty, i think the bottlestopper is such a great gift. everyone can find a use for it and the heart shape is so cute! i like the idea of giftbags for the out of towners too...i think i read someone posting about putting something like that together...you might want to do a search, you might be able to get some ideas from it! i'll see if i can find that post that i read and will post it.

 

[Independent Gal]

Those sushi candies are hilarious! I want one!

 

[sleeping beauty]

Thanks V!v!, it took me forever to semi-decide what to give and im still not sure but i''m glad you think they can be useful.

 

[Harleigh]

Aaachhh! I have struggled with this question myself...since we're doing a Destination Wedding in Maui and I am doing huge OOT Welcome Bags for every guest who is joining us, do I NEED to do a favor at the actual wedding, as well???

For those who wanted ideas for OOT Welcome Bags, I think I've posted what I am putting in them on here somewhere before, but I can again if someone would like some ideas for theirs.

Also, we are having a HUGE reception in August for about 300+ people, several of which are not couples, meaning more favors will be needed. FI would like to do a wedding CD of our favorite songs that has our picture actually laser-printed on it (no cheesy rippled stickers for him, mind you!

) and it actually looks like a professional CD. Since I know many people find the wedding CD cheesy in and of itself, I wanted to do something in addition to that...maybe you all can help me!

Since we're getting married in Maui and have no real theme, I thought I would try to keep it somewhat tropical. I have considered personalized Pentel metallic gel pens with a palm tree, our names and wedding date inscribed on them (my friend did these in her colors and they are fantastic AND functional!) I am trying to work a deal directly with Pentel, but these pens go for about $3.56 each...if I could get them for about $1.75 each, I may go for it and tie one to each CD, but that decision will solely depend on our numbers.

My other thought would be to get some kind of tropical cookie cutters (palm trees, starfish, shells, fish, etc...) and tie them with a favorite cookie recipe of ours to the CD, but I can't find these for under about $1.86 each, and at that price, the pen would work, too.

My dilemma is that with over 300+ guests, this could get way out of hand cost-wise...so, does anyone here have any reasonably priced (read here: CHEAP!) tropical ideas that could be attached to the wedding CD's for a fairly decent reception favor?

Thanks in advance for any help you are able to give!