Stumped About Wedding Favors? Your Guests Will Love These

Dear Alimay,
What is the "rule” these days on wedding favors or takeaways? Each wedding I go to seems to one-up the last. With so many potential gift options, it's hard to decide!
—Goodie Bagged

Dear Goodie,

Nope, wedding favors are not required. However, they are a fun bonus even when they don't break the bank. You may think monogrammed and personalized items are cute, but realistically speaking, no one wants to lug that kind of stuff home.

You shouldn't attach permanence to your favors. Your wedding was a blast for your guests, but it doesn’t need to be a part of their home decor for years to come. Instead, takeaways should be lighthearted, of the moment, and totally disposable. Think: pizza truck for a late-night snacks on the way to the parking lot, or a candy buffet with festive boxes or baggies. There are lots of creative ways to experiment with packaging that personalizes your goodies, and hundreds of companies specializing in that very thing. (Bring it on, Etsy!) We recommend tasty options or charitable donations in your guests' honor — so they leave with travel snacks, or warm-fuzzy feelings, to go.

Keep reading for some of our favorites.

Yours Always,
Ali & Maya

We’d love to hear your questions! Drop us a line at DearAlimay@AlimayEvents.com.

Wondermade makes bourbon- or Champagne-flavored marshmallows. Need we say more?

At one wedding we recently worked on, we were so bummed to have to throw away the gorgeous floral displays from the ceremony. So, during the reception, we had a florist come in and repurpose them into mini-bouquets for the guests to take home. Everyone was thrilled!

Fatty Sundays makes the cutest chocolate-covered pretzels. You can order custom labels, and even get sprinkles that match your wedding colors.

Send your guests off with a pretty package from MarieBelle, that just happens to be full of tasty truffles.

A charitable donation in lieu of a favor is another great way to spread the love. We suggest sticking with a non-political cause. After all, there are plenty of rain forests, manatees, and whales worth saving.

We love when favors correlate with a wedding's location. Getting married at an apple farm? Let your guests fill up a mini basket with fruit to take. Or, research local businesses and find a way to incorporate their products into a goodie bag.

Finally, consider channeling your inner child by handing out trendy, temporary tattoos. Tattly's assortment even includes wedding-themed graphics. Look into it!

NEXT: How To Write A Flawless Wedding Invite