No Favors!?!?

My FI and i are paying for our wedding ourselves. After the tuxes, the flowers, the dress, the cake, the rings, the reception hall and the food, adn the DJ there wasn't anything left for favors, is that really bad? We didnt even have enough to have the place decorated, i feel really bad about it...

No Favors!?!?
I really don't believe that you can't afford to buy a few bags of Hershey Kisses to put in on the tables or something. It doesn't have to be anything fancy but people will expect something.
Reply:Most likely favors will be thrown away and forgotten about.





Unless you get edible ones.





You spent your money in the most important areas.





Honestly I don't remember any wedding where I even remember what the decorations were. I remember the food, the dj, the dancing, the ceremony, but not the decorations.
Reply:I understand what you mean. What I've done is I bought a whole bunch of salt water taffy and some white bags from the craft store and viola! It's way cheaper and creative than those fancy things you can buy.





If something like that is even out of your reach I would say not to worry about the favors, they're a technicality and not necessary.
Reply:Put a big bowl of Fortune Cookies out or something and a little sign that says "Good Fortune to you and to the Happy Couple, Mr and Mrs..."





And if you can't do that, then I wouldn't worry about it. Favors are kindof a waste of money. Unless they are edible, I generally leave them at the wedding.


My best friend did silver almonds in a clear box. We spent hours doing these things, and she had over 3/4 of them left!
Reply:No, it's not bad at all. Your guests will have wonderful memories to take away and that's better than anything. They will remember the chance to help your celebrate your wedding and the start of a fantastic marriage.


Best wishes for your future happiness together ... and stop stressing out!
Reply:Wow! I give you credit for what you are doing, and on your own! Favors are not necessary. For my wedding, I decorated the tables with flowers picked from some friends gardens and also we went into the woods and found some Queen Annes Lace. I used some vases from flowers sent to me, and collected others from friends and I bought some simple ribbon at the local fabric store (didn't cost but a couple of dollars) the color of my bridesmaids dresses to tie a bow around each vase. Kept the vases in the refrig. until the next morning and had my host couple take them to the hall to put on tables early the morning of the wedding to put them on the table! If I had got married in winter,I'd probably have gone and cut some holly branches with pine branches! Decorations can be cheap to almost no cost. Just use your imagination! Some crape paper on the ceiling and cut out some wedding bells out of heavy construction paper to tape on the walls and around the entrance door! My mom and I made these rose buds out of some silky fabric and glued them onto some very thin dowls (for stems) and filled them with birdseed (you tuck in the ends). When we left, everyone got one and shook it on us. The "flower" was their "favor". I don't think the whole thing cost more than $10.00 for everything, and that was for 300 people! But favors are not necessary, the people are there to enjoy the wedding, reception, and the two of you! That is what is most important at a wedding. God Bless you both
Reply:Not at all, skip them, they are a fairly new thing, I was talking to my sister about her wedding which was 12 years ago and I asked her what favors she gave, she told me that back then (only 12 years ago) favors werent done. Martha Stewart came up with favors, they are by no means mandatory.





As for decorations, dont feel badly, think back to weddings you have been to, do you really remember the decor? Chances are no. Its the food and drink and dancing that everyone remembers, not the flowers or color cordinating or any of that junk.





You'll have a great wedding! Good luck!
Reply:I was in the same boat with my second (current) marriage. We had to pay for everything and living with 3 kids on one income. I made a lot of everything (bouquets, bouttenieres, etc). We didnt do favors for the guests but we did have favors for the wedding party and people helping with the wedding/reception. These were our center peices on our tables for the reception.





As for the guests, I don't think they'd mind. I mean, heck, you feed and entertain them half the night!!





If you want to do favors for the wedding party/helpers, I'd do a search online and find something simple to make or cheap to buy.
Reply:You can always just toss around some Hersy's Kisses %26amp; Hugs - that will cover it cheap %26amp; is fine. Really, people don't need another knick-knack!
Reply:You actually can do favors very inexpensively, they are a nice thank you for your guests. Also you can do your own decorations just go to you local party or craft store and see what you can find. If you really can't afford favors and you are having a simple wedding then I wouldn't worry about it, BUT if you have spent a lot on everything else but don't have any favors believe me people will notice so be prepared for snotty comments. You may want to reconsider doing some your self.





Oh and by the way the tradition of giving favors dates back to at least the 16th century in England where the bride and groom would give away love knots made of lace. Many other countries have similar traditions so it isn't really a made up modern tradition, but it is your day and you can plan it however you want.





Good luck!





http://www.weddinggazette.com/content/00...
Reply:dont waste your money on something people will forget or throw away anyway.
Reply:Forty years ago, no one had ever even HEARD of favors. It is a fake "tradition" invented by The Wedding Industry to get you to buy stuff. Feel good about not putting your hard earned money into such silly nonsense.
Reply:I think favors are a total waste of money, and even though we do have the money, we aren't having them. Every wedding I've ever attended had 1/2 of them left behind on the tables after the reception was over. People don't want some $1 candle or a wine glass with your name on it. They just don't.
Reply:No it's not. Most favors end up being thrown away. Usually they are a tad tacky and no one knows what to do with them. The only favor I ever kept was a scented candle. You're better off not wasting your money, and I'm sure no one will even notice.
Reply:Everyone keeps talking about doing weddings their own way. Unless, that is, one chooses to deviate from The Formula.





There is nothing saying you HAVE to do favours. I remember the day when we kept the invitation and the personalized napkin as a remembrance of the day.





You could do something simple that would be inexpensive. Buy a bunch of netting at the local fabric store and wrap up some M%26amp;Ms or jelly beans. Tie with curling ribbon and attach a little thank you.


Cute, colourful, inexpensive and people will eat them!
Reply:Hi and congratulations!


Don't worry about it. In all my posts I tell people NOT to do favors if it's a budget issue. Some people have an endless budget, so if they want favors, fine. But if you are in a budget "crunch" , again, don't worry about it. I only like the favors that are edible anyway, like chocolates. The others are a waste and not even taken, or if they are, they are thrown away when people get home.





And don't worry about decorations either. Again, people may not even notice. They are busy visiting, eating, looking at the bride and groom! Sit back and enjoy your wedding!
Reply:My friend and I are both getting married next summer and neither of us are doing favors. I've been to countless weddings and throw the favors away from all of them. Trust me, it's not a big deal.
Reply:i would not worry about it ...people will not even notice.... i didnt notice my brother didnt have any at his wedding till i starting looking at some for myself..... dont stress about it ...just have a good time and that is what people will remember
Reply:don't stress over it, my fiance, and I are not having favors either. I don't want to waste money on something that will be thrown in the trash, or left on the tables.
Reply:Dig around the house or ask some friends to borrow unique jars or vases. Clean them and then fill them with multi-colored M%26amp;Ms, nuts, mints, or other candy. This can serve as a centerpiece and a favor...place a note. "You are so SWEET for sharing in our special day. Thank you for coming."





It won't cost a lot (less than $20 or so) and your still sort of providing a favor.
Reply:My FI and I are also paying for our wedding by ourselves. I am not planning on having favors because as many people have stated they just get eaten or thrown away. For me personally, I'd rather spend a little more money on the food or drinks or photographer rather than something people don't care much about anyway.
Reply:Favors are a waste of money, you're feeding them why give them extra gifts.





We have no intention of having favors.
Reply:Unless favors are edible, at least half of them get left behind, anyway. I've been to a couple weddings where there were no favors, and most of the time it didn't even occur to me until afterwards.





Favors are easily ignored.
Reply:You're fine. Most times favors are just dust collecting crap anyway.





Even with favors the most important thing is to make sure you take time out to VERBALLY THANK GUESTS for coming during the reception
Reply:usually favors just get eaten or thrown away, so i think it's okay. if it really bothers you, check out orientaltrading.com. they have very inexpensive favors that are actually cute!
Reply:I've never been to a wedding where they gave out favors. They're highly optional. The only time they really seem crucial is for children's birthday parties.
Reply:1) Don't feel bad. Nobody really wants favors. I mean, think about it. We throw them out or stick them somewhere where they're just another thing to dust. I wouldn't give it another thought. I was a bride 19 years ago and my favors were those tacky Jordan almonds wrapped in tulle. Those things are on a par with Christmas fruitcakes


in terms of desirability. We were spending money we didn't have on items that nobody really wanted.





2) Machowolf, you're a riot. Your post made me laugh. I could have used a sense of humor when I was planning my wedding!
Reply:People toss and forget those things anyway.
Reply:Bad planning but you can still get to Party City or some place like it and get some decorations and some jordan almonds and little bags to put them in. That won't cost much and you can hang crepe paper and maybe some balloons. You can do all this your self for a very few dollars.. Good Luck
Reply:That happens sometimes.





I hate that it's going down like that for you.








However, understand that it's more important to know that you have someone that you love very much in your life. You may not have gotten the dream wedding...and that is sad...but just focus on what you do have.





You could go to your family and his family though and get some help.....see what can be done.





I wish I had more advice for you....especially since My fiance and I are getting married as well. we are a long way from our date...and I hope that a budget crisis doesn't happen to us.





I do wish you the best in trying to figure this out though.





Maybe you just need to talk to your families...get a little bit of help..that is what they are supposed to be there for. Especially when it comes to your wedding. If they can help with the decor at least....then maybe...just maybe...you can pull it off.





Another option....you could push the wedding date back to allow for time when it comes to budgeting the wedding n' stuff so that you can get the decor in the budget. (just because they are booked doesn't mean you can't talk to them, explain the situation and try to see if it's ok to rebook for a later date).





Otherwise, I really don't know what else I can tell you.
Reply:maybe it is not too late to change things so that you can get the favors. Can you cut back on the flowers and the food?