The Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Favors

If you know me, you know that I believe that you don’t need anything at your wedding other than a partner and a marriage license (and maybe an officiant and witnesses, depending on the state. But you get the point). However, if you decide that you want to include wedding favors in your celebration, here are some of my wedding favor dos and don’ts!

Wedding Favor Dos

Do keep it simple. If you decide to do favors, don’t stress yourself out by trying to come up with something elaborate. In the grand scheme of things, people aren’t focusing on how simple or extravagant your wedding favors are.

Do give consumable favors. Consumable favors can include edible items like cookies, honey, spices, etc. or other products you use up like lotions, candles, or matches. This allows your guests to enjoy and experience your favors after the wedding without requiring them to hold onto a physical item for months or years after the event. If you’d still like them to have a forever memento, put your consumable favors in cute, reusable packaging!

Do make it personal; not just personalized. Say it with me: personal is not the same as personalized. Your wedding favors can tell part of your story, show off your personality, and be wonderful and personal without being personalized. See: “don’t put your name and wedding date on everything.” Instead opt for unique favors or something that fits the color palette of your wedding.

Wedding Favor Don’ts

Don’t give favors out of obligation. Just in case you need it- this is me giving you permission to skip wedding favors. You really don’t need them. They’re a sweet gesture for your guests, but they are absolutely not necessary. If there aren’t favors that are speaking to you, just skip them.

Don’t put your name and wedding date on everything. I know that it’s cute and tempting to put your names and wedding date on every item you find, trust me. But I have to break it to you and tell you that most people are going to pitch them or shove them in the back of a drawer or cabinet until who knows when. Save the custom shot glasses/koozies/coffee mugs for family gifts or home use! If you feel passionately about personalizing your favors, try adding your guests’ names instead!

Don’t give large favors. If you can’t toss it in a carry-on, you should probably skip it. Even if you don’t have guests flying in, large wedding favors are way more likely to get left behind at the reception. Keep your favors relatively small (bonus points if they fit in a purse) and light.

Don’t over-purchase. The unfortunate truth is that wedding favors are often left behind, so there is no need to buy extras. Even really really good favors may get missed by a handful of your guests, so have a plan for what to do with leftover favors after the wedding.

If you’re still feeling a bit stuck, check out our Philosofi-approved wedding favors. As a bonus, they’re all made by local Kansas City businesses!