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How to Include Your Personality In Your Wedding Favors (Part 2)
by Nicole Chireau
In Part 1, Nicole introduced us to the history and tradition behind wedding favors. Here, she delves into the advantages of custom favors.
Personalized Wedding Favors
 Candle Tin Favors |
 Winter Wedding Cookies |
The centuries old tradition of the wedding favor has now been transformed into personalized, custom-made wedding favors. Although these personalized favors can be expensive, it’s not done to impress, but simply to show gratitude through personalization. First and foremost, these personalized wedding favors come with the name of the happy couple, often engraved somewhere. The date is also included, along with a short phrase summarizing the love of the couple, and their feelings for the guests. Inevitably, the gifts themselves are structured around a photo of themselves. Interesting to note, too, how many couples include their pets in the photo. A personal touch indeed!
These personalized wedding favors can reflect the wedding themes, for example the beach, or spring, as well as reflect the colors of the wedding itself. Couples can have wedding favors personalized for their beach wedding with products called Adirondack chairs, which feature tealite candles or a personalized heart-shaped bottles decorated with sand and seashells. Couples can also personalize their summer or spring wedding with favors that feature wild daisy flowers or cute flower hearts. Couples can also give edible wedding favors. Tiny bags of coffee or even chocolate bars can be personalized, now, as wedding favors. How about a wine bottle with personalized label? In that vein, glass wedding favors, or customized champagne chutes have also become a mainstay in personalized wedding favors.
Yes, personalizing one’s wedding favors can become an expensive ordeal, but when done right, the gifts can be a treasured memento.
Why Give Wedding Favors to Guests
 Jordan Almonds |
 Photo Cookie Favor |
Although the aristocrats gave wedding favors merely as symbols of their wealth and power, that isn’t to say that wedding favors today still can’t carry with them some symbolism. They do. There is, of course, the inherent symbol of gratitude that all gifts carry. But beyond that, wedding favors such as the giving of five Jordan almonds are symbolic of things like health, wealth, long life, fertility, and happiness which are the most important things in a happy marriage. Giving sugared almonds can be construed as recognizing that in marriage there can be bitterness and sweetness.
Beyond the purely symbolic level, wedding favors often have practicality to them. Whether its a bottle of wine, or a box of candles, these gifts are to be used, not just admired. Though there certainly are wedding favors which are purely decorational. Still, that’s a function, isn’t it? Couples have given beautiful framed pictures of the beach where they had their first date, or a vase from the glass-blower at the county fair where they first met. Wedding favors are ultimately about the memories.
Wedding favors are also a great ice-breaker. Often there are guests at a wedding who know only a few or even just one of the other guests. But a creative wedding favor can open people up, and have guests mingling. Imagine giving, say, five different photos to each person at the wedding. People would then approach one another excitedly, “Let me see the ones you got!” Or how about giving different candied nuts to the guests. People will mingle and share.
Truly the bottom line in wedding favors is to give a thoughtful Thank You to all the guests who took the trouble to attend your wedding. Give a touch of symbolism, a dash of practicality, a touch of personality and love, and your guests will remember your wedding for a lifetime.
A Note From the Author
I have 10 years of event planning experience. I received my planning background in music and television industry and with the professional background friends and family were always requesting assistance with planning their event especially weddings. After many years of being the “unofficial” wedding planner I found my calling to start my own company. I absolutely love planning weddings. My unique focus is serving busy career couples; and that includes students. I’m the perfect match for couples that are finding it difficult to get free time for all the specifics that go into planning a fabulous wedding, yet don’t want to miss out on throwing the event of their life.
Because of my tremendous strengths in the area of organization and time management, I liberate in-demand brides and grooms from the worry and stress that can take away the fun of planning a wedding. I allow them to spend more time developing their tastes and preferences, while I handle the details that will make it all come together.Go to www.memoiresdamour.com and get your FREE report, 8 Secrets for Letting your “Inner Designer” Plan your Wedding, While Still Keeping the Details In Check.