If you’re currently in the midst of wedding planning, what has been your favorite part of the process thus far? Has it been touring the beautiful wedding venues and deciding which one will serve as the backdrop for your big day? How about tasting all of the delicious food options from the various local caterers? While each of those encompass bigger decisions you’ll need to make, there are plenty of other choices along the way that will truly make your special day unique and unforgettable. One that we always love to see are the wedding favors. It’s definitely the perfect example of a wedding planning task where couples can let their creative juices flow. And if you’re needing some help planning your own wedding favors, you’ve come to the right place, as that will be the topic for this week’s blog post.

Before we dive into some wedding favor talk though, we would like to provide a brief introduction for any first-time blog visitors! Our wedding venue, Madera Estates, is located in Conroe, TX. Madera Estates includes several different areas designed to make your wedding day extra special! From the Grand Fireplace and Hacienda to the Champagne Suite and so much more, we’ve been honored to have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing couples over the years. If you’re searching for a wedding venue near Houston, don’t hesitate to schedule a free tour HERE. Now, on to this week’s blog!

Photos on the thumbnail courtesy of Sweet Nest Photography.

What are wedding favors?

“Tradition” is a popular word that you’ll hear tossed around in the wedding industry. Unsurprisingly, there are more than a few traditions that have withstood the test of time and continue to be included in weddings hundreds of years later. The concept of wedding favors is certainly one that would be classified as a tradition, as it is said to have first started a few centuries ago. In short, wedding favors are thought of as a gift given by the couple to their guests thanking them for attending their celebration. It certainly doesn’t need to be anything super-expensive and it’s more so the thought that counts! After all, couples are going to have their hands full with various other wedding planning tasks, so this one doesn’t necessarily need to occupy a lot of your time.

Where to look for ideas and inspiration?

The wedding world has undoubtedly adapted to the rise of social media. With that being the case, it truly is a win-win for everyone involved. Wedding vendors have a blast showcasing their services and highlighting past weddings, while engaged couples now have a plethora of ideas and inspiration literally at their fingertips. Having said that, we always encourage couples to take advantage of this and utilize it when planning their big day. It’s always great for things like decor, color palettes and so on, but it can also be incredibly beneficial for wedding favors. So…if you’re struggling with ideas or coming up with something creative for your wedding favors, browse through Pinterest or Instagram. Pinterest is obviously going to offer up plenty of options to consider and will have you pinning different ideas in no time. On Instagram, just search #WeddingFavors and you’ll come up with even more possibilities to consider. Not to mention, Etsy can also be a great place if you’re simply wanting customized favors that are ready to go without having to put them together.

Before we continue on, I did want to mention that it’s easy to get overwhelmed with just how many options there are on the internet. You don’t need to look through all of them before finalizing a wedding favor for your wedding day. If you find a handful that you like, add them to a list and have a few family members vote on them!

Which qualities are most important for wedding favors?

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics behind wedding favors, you may be curious which qualities to look for when considering possible options. First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that it fits within your budgetary number for wedding favors. It’s always a good idea to establish a budget early on in the planning process and divide it based on the various purchases you’ll need to make along the way (it never hurts to leave a little flexibility in that number too, as costs can change over time or you may think of something extra to add). If you have the budget set, as well as the guest count, this should be fairly easy to calculate.

Once the costs are set, it’s time for the fun part! We already talked about the different places that you go to for ideas, but you’ll want some parameters set to narrow down your search. One key decision will be deciding between buying favors that are ready as-is versus making your favors a DIY project. Both are definitely acceptable and usually vary based on a few different factors, including the amount of free time that the couple has. Another good rule of thumb is to look for items that any of your guests could use. After all, wouldn’t you agree that’s probably the best gift you could receive as a wedding guest? Maybe a candle, bottle opener or even a tasty treat? Depending on the size of your guest list, you’ll also likely be ordering quite a few of these wedding favors as well. Particularly for those that are ordering wedding favors that are all ready to go (and may include some personalized features too), it would probably be a good idea to just order one or two samples before purchasing 200 of them! In the end, just like any other wedding planning task, wedding favors are a decision that you and your spouse-to-be will make together. If you found something that you think all of your loved ones will enjoy, go for it!

When should you take care of this task?

As we’ve referenced several times before, it’s important to stay on schedule throughout the wedding planning process and avoid procrastinating on tasks. This will limit the amount of unnecessary stress that could potentially arise later on down the road. We typically recommend purchasing your wedding favors 2-3 months in advance of the wedding. This way, if you need to put any items together for the favors, you’ll have plenty of time to do so. In addition, you’ll probably want to start thinking of ideas before that 2-3 month window. As long as you stay consistent throughout the planning process, wedding planning will certainly be a fun and memorable experience.

Host Your Special Day at Madera Estates!

Do you feel more confident in compiling wedding favors that all of your guests will love? Wedding favors are definitely an example of a wedding planning task that is rather small, but also a nice thank you gift for your guests. We always enjoy seeing what couples think of for their favors. As I mentioned in the introduction, our wedding venue and event space is located in Conroe, TX, which is just north of Houston and The Woodlands. If you’re planning on having your wedding near this area, we would love to show you around the venue and answer any questions you may have. Have any questions about our event space right now? Click HERE and we would be happy to help. Additionally, if you’re ready to schedule a tour and see the space in-person, click HERE to check out our online booking calendar.