WEDDING NOTES™ - What Favors?

People have come to your wedding to help you celebrate this important day and you want to find a way to say thank you for being with us today.  How best to say that thanks?  Most couples choose a little something special as a gift that thanks them for their presence.  Are favors necessary?  No.  Are they nice?  Yes.  Only you can decide if the wedding budget can cover them.  Here are some ideas.

*Edibles - Most appreciated are favors guests can eat either at the reception or take home with them.  Chocolates are the number one choice - Godiva specialties, truffles, chocolate dipped pretzels, nuts and fruits.  Some offer frosted cookies wrapped in tulle or stacked in gift boxes and other brides have given small wine bottles with personalized labels.

*Living Things - Potted plants and seedlings make great gifts as do potted herb plants.  Flower seed packets are popular as are mini bamboo plants.

*Keepsakes - Brides have chosen candles and candle holders in colors from the wedding, glass potpourri bowls with scent packages, silver picture frames (look in craft stores for good buys), books of poetry or quotes, bookmarks that bear your couple's photo and wedding date.

*CD Mixes of your favorite tunes.

*Christmas Ornaments with the date and your names.

*Personal pampering items like hand creams, body lotions and other spa-type goodies.

*For themed weddings, give favors that reflect that theme - mugs with hot chocolate mix inside for winter weddings, sunscreen for summer beach weddings.

Whatever you decide, be sure to attach a preprinted thank you note to each favor signed with your names.

Some couples prefer to place the favors at each table, but others arrange the favors on a special table near the exit for the guests to take as they leave.  Some turn them into the centerpiece at each table by grouping them in a special basket or container.