Your most celebrated day, your wedding day wouldn't be quite as fun and memorable without all your supportive friends and family who traveled to be with you on your most celebrated day. Expressing your appreciation with wedding favors that are meaningful and will be appreciated by your guests is important. Don't waste your money on gifts your guests will surely and quickly dispose of, or leave on the tables before the end of the night. Giving wedding favors is an age-old tradition that has evolved over the years. Today, couples are using their creativity and presenting favors that are thoughtful, personal and memorable. There are no set rules of etiquette in presenting favors, however we wanted to share with you a few simple guidelines to help you get started.

While wedding favors may not be as important as the wedding cake, they are a small but creative and wonderful way to thank your guests and give them a lasting memory of your wedding. A couple should definitely think about giving favors if their budget allows it. Favors do not need to be extravagant or expensive…it really is the thought that counts. The small things.

When selecting a wedding favor, aim to be original and choose a favor that is meaningful to you and your family. Or if you have chosen a wedding theme, favors are a great way to complement your theme. Personalized favors are extremely popular because it is a fun way to add your personal stamp to the wedding day. You can also look to the favors you have received attending other weddings to gauge current trends and fashions and get a few ideas, but remember to be unique with yours!

Review at your budget, decide out what you can afford and then what you want to potentially give to your guests. Many couples share an inexpensive, yet personal, favor to every guest, while other couples present a more expensive favor to each couple or family. Your creativity is key…check out our Fresh Wedding Favor Ideas series for some ideas. When you decide to give one favor per guest or per couple, be sure to have extra wedding favors on hand. Some guests may want (and take) more than one or you may have unexpected last-minute guests in attendance. Many couples also send favors to friends and family who were not able to attend their wedding.

If you are giving one favor per guest, present each gift at each place setting or as part of the table centerpiece. If you decide to give each couple a favor, label the wedding favors with the couple’s or family's name and place them on a table so that guests can pick them up upon entering the reception.

Wedding favors can be a single flower that is meaningful to the couple or a handmade paper booklet of how the couple met. The true value of wedding favors is the significance behind the gift and the lasting memory guests will have of the wedding. We suggest browsing our favors sorted by price if you are constrained by a budget. Putting inexpensive custom labels, personalized ribbon or hang tags on almost anything will add the personalized touch to your wedding favors. If personalization isn’t something you want, a small gift wrapped in pretty boxes or accented with beautiful ribbon can often make a big impact. Place card holders can also double as wedding favors. Simple picture frames or place card holders are practical favors that guests can take home and enjoy.

Children are usually given the same wedding favor as adults, but many couples have opted to give special favors that children will enjoy. Present a bag of the couple’s favorite candy in a clear cellophane bag with a personalized label that says “Life is like Candy” or something similar, or give personalized cookies, whether creative, classy or elegant, that you know the children will enjoy. Our adorable wedding bubblegum buddies are always a favorite among the little guests.

If you are unable to find wedding favors that are pleasing to both men and women, consider giving each gender different favors.

Wedding favors have become a part of the table decorations and overall theme of the reception just as the flowers, settings and linen. Alway remember, it is your way of saying thank you to each person attending your wedding, so the presentation as well as the gift itself should reflect your intentions. Some thoughtfulness and creativity will speak volumes. For some presentation ideas, visit our article on ideas for presenting and displaying wedding favors.

This choice is completely personal. Jordan almonds beautifully wrapped in tulle or Italian favor wraps with personalized ribbon are just as classy and meaningful as personalized mint tins. As long as the wedding favors show a couple’s personal style, anything goes!

Plan ahead! Whether your guest list is an intimate twenty or an super ambitious four hundred, selecting the perfect wedding favors takes time. Give yourself or the charge responsible for the wedding favors plenty of time. Make sure to research the different retail stores, online sites and other options you have. Your perfect dream wedding favors can and will come true if you put your thought into it and plan accordingly. Wedding favors is a wonderful way to share your love and add that special finishing touch to your wedding day. Afterall, it's all in the details and t's the small things that count!