Wedding Favors: Gifts With a Touch of Elegance or Whimsy for Your Guests

As your guests and family arrive at the reception party following your wedding ceremony, treat them to wedding favors personalized to reflect your taste and the decorative motif of the celebration. Often these favors are arrayed on a table just inside the entrance along with a printed program of events to look forward to during and after dinner or hors'douevres. This idea also provides a perfect platform to array some photos of the bride and groom from their childhood or the earlier days of their courtship. Put a few silver platters or boxes of chocolate on the table in front of the photos for guests to enjoy as they look over the nostalgic collage, especially if you do not place the main wedding favors there.

More formal receptions often include a greeting line where guests can introduce themselves, shake hands, hug or kiss the bride and groom (the parents may be greeters, too) as they file in. A bride's maid, the best man or charmingly, a child (perhaps the ring bearer) can be there to pass out wedding favors just as the guests enter and mingle to find their seats.

When your guests finally find their seats, they may be delighted to find a beautiful centerpiece of dried or silk flowers, bows and bells and lovely ornaments, fragrant tropical blossoms, roses or tulips in a bowl (depending on your budget) that carry the design motif of the rest of the decorations and the wedding favors. Arrayed around the centerpiece could be small decorated boxes containing a few chocolates, truffles, mints or even a small piece of jewelry (maybe a key chain for your male guests).

Of course, these days we all seem to be on a budget for our parties and planning a gala wedding reception is no exception. You can make your own heart felt wedding favors by visiting your local art supplies store and tapping your own imagination and creativity. Simplest of all could be a single votive candle wrapped in decorative paper, cloth, or perhaps a scintillating organza pouch. Top them with a mini bow for an air of festiveness. Another idea for memorable wedding favors is to place sacks of pot pouri in ribbon festooned boxes gathered around the base of each table centerpiece. This is an especially elegant idea if the centerpiece is not filled with aromatic flower blossoms.

On your special day, your guests will be delighted to bring home with them a gift from your heart they can cherish forever.