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Hi friends!
Today’s post is about wedding favors for guests! This is something every bride assumes she has to have on each table as a thank you gift. And I wish I would have read a blog like this one, because I assumed the same thing! And when you see the prices, it is usually at least $1.00 – $2.50 each, which is a few hundred dollars!
Wedding Favors | Are they necessary?
Here is the mistake I made –
I packaged a small hershey’s bar with half a graham cracker, and 1 large marshmallow in sweets bag with a cute thank you tag that took many hours putting all together. (Thankfully I had 8 bridesmaids) Their cost was about $1.10 each and I made 200 of them. So that was an extra $220 that truly was not necessary. There was a fire pit to roast them (hence why I had smores as a gift) but it was wet outside from a short amount of rain and I actually also forgot to bring metal rods for roasting marshmallows. Yeah, I know total fail on my end. I ended up throwing away probably close to half of them (Thank you to those guests that took them home so I didn’t feel even more overwhelmed with the amount wasted) And even though the rain and my lack of thinking of metal rods had an affect on it, not many guest would have stood over a fire roasting marshmallows on a wedding day. They looked adorable on my tables, but they really weren’t a needed necessity.
On top of the s’mores bags, I also had a photo booth and a chocolate fountain with fruit and other dipping treats. Here is where I clearly went overboard and never even realized. I was so focused on the gifts at the table that I forgot I also was going to have a photo booth and chocolate fountain! Both things that are for the guests to enjoy. Thankfully I didn’t let my guests down too much because I had other options available as a thank you for coming, but the table gifts just weren’t worth it.
Here is what I would suggest – instead of spending money on something cheap (that adds up) for each guest individually, book a photo booth, do a candy bar, popcorn bar, s’mores bar, or even a caricature artist! And then to still have something on the table if that’s what you are wanting, add a “Thank you for coming” card with information about using whichever favor you decided to book or provide.
It made me excited to see my guests using the photo booth and laughing and enjoying the chocolate fountain! & the only one I saw use our table favor was my cousin 2 weeks after the wedding who was sending me snaps of her making a s’more on her stove. True story.
So just to be clear, some time of “thank you” is nice for your guests. And can be so much fun! But don’t get bogged down with the table favor if you have the choice of doing one or the other. Most would definitely suggest having the fun idea!
Of course you are the bride and you should do what YOU want for your wedding!! But, I know I would not have made those darn s’mores if I could rethink that one.
Truly with love,
Kayla