One of my brides reached out to me this week and asked a very random, yet great question: How important are guest favors?
Guest favors seem to come with the territory when planning a wedding. Favors are one of the items you don’t budget for, and often wait until the last minute to finish. They aren’t a priority. While I love some of the creative and unique favor inspiration on Pinterest, some (or most) of those favors are pricey or take a little while to make. Who has two weeks to make 300 guest favors? Not I…and I’m pretty sure you don’t either!
I’ve already given you two reasons why guest favors are not necessary. 1. Additional expense and 2. Can take up time (for the DIY favor).
For those of you who are teeter-tottering on whether or not to provide guest favors, I am going to provide you with reasons why it’s not necessary.
1. Expensive: If you have 300 guests attending your wedding, then you are looking at spending quite a bit of extra money on guest favors. If you are trying to save money or have a tight budget, then this can be a burden on your bank account.
2. You are already providing them a night out. Think about it. You are hosting an event full of great music, delicious food, and free alcohol. The favor is them receiving an invitation to join you in having a great time celebrating the start of this new chapter in your life. You don’t owe them a favor.
3. If you do provide favors that you can’t eat on the spot (like fun desserts from Nashville Sweets or cake pops from Party Pops by Julie), then most of them will be left on the tables. However, you won’t be there to see how many favors aren’t taken with guests because you will be swept away to start your honeymoon.
I have worked dozens of weddings where we were left packing up guest favors to send home with you. Because we (the event staff and coordinators) felt bad that your guests left the favors behind, we gladly would take some off your hands so you weren’t left with them. I’m sorry. It’s true, and that’s why I think you should save the money you would spend on guest favors and put it towards something else.
If you are afraid of looking tacky, don’t be. I promise that your guests won’t even remember not having favors. No one goes to a wedding saying, “I can’t wait to see what favors they have.” And if they do go to a wedding saying that, then something is mentally wrong with them.
Remember, your guests are coming to your wedding to celebrate YOU! Don’t stress over the favors.
Thank you! This makes me feel so much better! 🙂 Also, I was wondering about Hotel room/reservations for the guests…Not sure how to go on that! 🙂 Any suggestions?
Hi Hannah!
I’m so glad you feel better! As far as room/reservations for guests, I always recommend including 2-3 hotel options on your invitation. Include an insert with the hotel information and let them know how to reserve them room for their stay in Nashville!
We love the Hutton Hotel and Aloft! 🙂
I belive strong heartedly that although party favors are cute but they are not a must. I have been debating on the idea on rather to have them and I think that money that goes in to them can be better spent on something else. Free food, music, alcohol, and cake…that is the party favor! Party favors are over rated and another stressor that doesn’t matter when it is all said and done.
Karmen, I totally understand your view on party favors! Instead of investing in them, you can invest that money towards something else that is more important to you and your fiancé!
We are making a donation to our local children’s hospital in lieu of a favor. We are having cupcakes which will be boxed individually and placed at each place setting with a tag telling the guest we have made the donation.
I absolutely LOVE this idea for favors! What a great, unique thing to do. Instead of giving a favor that your guests may or may not appreciate, why not encourage your guests to join you in giving back to a great cause that would definitely appreciate your efforts!