Your wedding is a reflection of your tastes and personalities. From the date and location to the flavour of your cake, the choices you make are determined by your personal preferences. Your favours are no different — choose something that has meaning for you and your fiancé and your guests will be sure to love it as well.

Choosing your favours
A favour doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Simple favours are often most appreciated. A bag of sweets can look sensational when packaged in a beautiful box with ribbon and a customized sticker.

The answers to these questions can help you narrow down the choices:

1. Is there something unique about you?
2. Do you or your fiancé have a hobby?
3. Is there something that you and your fiancé love to do together?
4. Is your wedding formal, casual or destination?
5. Do you have a theme for your wedding?
6. Is your wedding during a holiday?
7. Do you want to give an edible favour or something your guests can keep?
8. Did you meet somewhere special?

If you love chocolate you could give your favourite chocolate bar wrapped in a custom designed wrapper. Or you could put a few truffles in a gorgeous box.

If you love candy, you could have a lavish candy bar. Give each guest a cute box or bag to put the candy in. Seal the bag or box with a custom designed label.

If you love coffee or met your fiancé in a coffee shop, you could give a personalized bag of coffee or hot chocolate.

If your wedding has a beach theme or is a beach destination wedding, you could give candy or soap in shell shapes. You could place the soap or candy in a cute box that is tied with ribbon and has a shell or beach themed label to seal it.

The options are endless, but you should choose something that is meaningful to you and that you would love to get yourself.

I’ve decided what to give as my favour.  Now what?
You’ve decided on what you would like to give your guests as a thank you, now you have to decide how to package it. The simplest and most inexpensive favour can look like it came from a stylish boutique with the right packaging. Details and accents can turn even a simple box or container into a favour that no one will leave behind.

Some ideas that will help you create beautifully packaged favours:

• Make it personal. Use a monogram or have a custom label created with your names and wedding date. You could also have a custom logo designed to use on your favours and stationery.
  
• Choose a simple box or container and dress it up with ribbon or accents that go with your theme or colours.
  
• Choose a box or container that ties in with you theme. If you are having an asian or zen theme, you could use Chinese take out boxes to package your sweets.
  
• It’s all in the details. It’s important that your favour looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. Make even a simple bag of sweets seem special by wrapping them up in coordinating tissue and sealing it with a cute little seal.
  
• Use rich, vibrant colours.  
• Let your personality shine through. Use things that you love to accent your favours. If you want to choose something that is different and not usually used for favours, go for it. Your guests will remember the special personal touches long after your wedding celebration is over.

What are the trends this year?
Colour combinations that are popular this year:

• Chocolate brown with:
  Pink
  Apple green
  Blue
  You will also start to see brown paired with purples, reds and corals
  
• Red & aqua or light blue & orange are also popular choices for those looking for something a bit different
  
• Light pink with:
  Hot pink
  Orange
  Green
  
• Classic Black & White paired with funky patterns

Nature-inspired and decorative motifs:

• birds
• swirls
• foliage
• florals
• cherry blossoms
• geometric shapes

Custom Logos

Monograms are still popular but custom logos are the up and coming trend. What better way to personalize your wedding than having a logo created just for you. It can be used on labels for favours, stationery, table numbers, place cards or anywhere else you want to add a customized element.

Favours that are edible are very popular. Many guests really don’t want another candle, or picture frame, but almost everyone loves to get something to eat. Some guests may save your edible treat for later and some may enjoy it at the reception. Giving your guests something sweet to eat is a great way to say thank you without breaking the bank.

How to Present Your Gorgeous Favours
Now that you have created gorgeous favours that everyone will love, how do you make sure that everyone receives one?

• Set a table up at the entrance/exit with a display of favours and allow guests to help themselves.
• Place a favour at each place setting.
• Use your favours as a centerpiece on each table.
• Have your favours perform double duty as placecards or table numbers.
• Present each guest with their favour personally. Although it is time consuming, it will give you a chance to personally thank each guest who is there to wish you well.
• Create a favour tower similar to a cupcake tower.
• Have the waiters hand out a favour to each guest while they are seated at the table.

Feeling overwhelmed or haven’t got any ideas?
With all of the choices available, it can be overwhelming to choose something to give as a favour.  If you need some advice just ask a favour professional for ideas and suggestions.  My website, www.karensmallbone.com has many favour ideas and all the supplies you need to create gorgeous favours yourself. We also design custom labels, logos, monograms and anything else you might need. If you just don’t have the time to create the favours yourself, I can put everything together for you and deliver them.

Don’t leave your favours until the end. Start planning as soon as possible. 3-6 months before your wedding is a good timeframe. The longer you have to source everything you need, and to assemble your favours, the less stressful it will be.