I hope this series has been helpful and informative to many of you so far! We have talked about reciprocal wedding invites, parent involvement regarding wedding finances, and so many other topics. Today, we are going to move on to registry dilemmas and wedding favors…
My fiancé has been married before and does not want to receive any gifts, but this is my first marriage and I’d like to create a registry – how do we handle this?
We advise you to go ahead and make a registry, but perhaps register for items that are priced throughout a wide price range. The groom’s side is not obligated to give gifts for a second marriage, but this strategy will give them options for how they wish to handle your wedding. As your guests will be of different ages and financial means as well, this is a great way for everyone to show how much you mean to them.
Another option is to register for a charity or have your guests bring items that you can donate to a cause that is meaningful to you. For whichever approach you use for your registry, you can ask your wedding party to spread the word so that everyone feels comfortable and well-informed of their options.
I am on a tight budget and know where I want to spend my money – can my fiancé and I do without wedding favors?
Although it might seem extraneous, a wedding favor is a token of appreciation that symbolizes how thankful you are for all of your guests to attend your special day. We completely understand that even seemingly small favors can add up, but there are a few other ways to help reduce cost while still giving a meaningful gift.
While working with your caterer, try to perhaps build a sweet or savory treat into your budget that could serve as a late night favor for your guests. By making small adjustments to your passed hors d’oeuvres, plated dinner or buffet menu, you could completely cover the costs of your wedding favor.
Another option is to use your floral arrangements as part of your favors. They are always so beautiful but often get forgotten at the end of the night. Let guests know that you would like them to take a centerpiece home as part of your appreciation! You can also incorporate your place cards into this idea as well, as they might be a small plant or packet of seeds.
Lastly, remember the personal touches and economical value of DIY projects – you can surely come up with something creative, useful, and budget-friendly that your guests will love.
Has anyone done any fun and interesting wedding favors lately? Or perhaps have some great ideas in mind while you plan? Let us know – we love a good dose of inspiration! See you next week for the last, and final, etiquette series blog! Then, new and exciting surprises await… xo!
One of the brides whose wedding I photographed created home-brewed beer, and hand-made truffles. Each truffle was placed into a little box and adorned with a card that said Merci. They were adorable and delicious favors for all the guests. The beer was enjoyed throughout the reception! I posted a few pictures here: http://staceyvaethphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy.html
One of my best friends and her husband adopted a few animals (I think 3 or 4) at the local zoo as their wedding favors. As the guests left the wedding they picked up an envelope with their name on it containing a picture of one of the cute animals with a note about the adoption!! A few months later I was at the zoo and had a fun time finding all of the plaques with my friend and her husband’s names!