Wedding Favors Do More Than Say Thank You
Decorate Your Wedding Reception with Unique Favors
Feb 10, 2009
The wedding favor industry is exploding. From vintage-inspired to ultra contemporary, from cheap to pricey, favors that are theme specific are easy to find. It is that varied abundance that provides fresh and personal wedding day possibilities.
Wedding Favors For Guests
Favors are traditionally presented to wedding guests as a token of appreciation for sharing in the wedding couple’s day. From simple strands of woven grasses offered by primitive tribes to the monogrammed platters of sterling silver bestowed by kings and queens, the wedding favor has found its place in nearly every culture throughout history.
Wedding Favor Ideas to Dress a Reception
With all the detailed choices now available, brides are finding that wedding favors can do more than just tell guests how much they are appreciated.
Most wedding favors can be ordered in minimal quantities, making it easy for brides to choose more than one style of favor. As a result, tables used for dining, the cake, the buffet, the gifts or the guest book can be festooned with wedding favors that brighten and enhance the reception décor.
Some favors are suitable for hanging and can create unusual mobiles, decorated trees, accented doorways and suspended “frames” that highlight the cake area, the bride and groom’s seats or other special locations.
Favors chosen for decoration can match those being given to the guests or be completely different to support a theme or to compliment other decorations such as floral centerpieces. The variety of candle favors available today is especially beneficial for decorating. Candlelight compliments any setting and any theme.
The Changing Wedding Favor Trends
Nut or mint cups for each guest were once the must-have staple of every wedding reception, but when nuts and mints are provided today, it is customarily in addition to a more permanent take-home keepsake. As the business of wedding favors grew, the style and choice of the favors evolved even more rapidly. For today’s wedding, almost any theme can be accommodated—the beach, the seasons, a favorite hobby, a favorite animal or any other concept. Nothing is impossible.
Wedding favors can add elegance and distinction to a reception or set a mood of whimsy and fun. Personal loves and passions of the bride and groom are easily represented by the wedding favors they choose.
Wedding favors expert, Cherie Johnson, owner of Wedding Favors by Creative-Bride.com states, “Today’s brides are more imaginative and sophisticated than ever, and we’ve seen an upsurge in unique favors used for everything from gifts to decorations to cake toppers. Brides can do so much with the specialized favors that are available today, and as a result, our inventory must constantly expand. We’ve even added articles and blog entries on our website describing the unusual way some brides have used wedding favors for more than just gifts. We try and offer creative ideas to all brides.”
Wedding Favor Observations from Kate Aspen
Every day more theme specific wedding favors are being offered that lend themselves to decorating possibilities.
Donna Laurent, Director of Sales, Marketing and Public Relations for the Aspen Brands Company, parent company to Kate Aspen, a leading designer and wholesaler of wedding favors, states, “We stay in touch with our brides via online surveys, and “practical” is the word we hear most often. Brides want favors that reflect their own personal style, but they want to go beyond the traditional almonds tied with tulle and offer something that the receiver can use again and again, with a fond memory of their special day attached.”
To aid the creative brides and wedding planners utilizing their favors as part of the décor, the Kate Aspen Company has added a category to their website, kateaspen.com, called “Table Décor” where favors particularly suited to table enhancement are featured.
The Extraordinary Wedding
Thinking outside the box when it comes to wedding favors can turn ordinary wedding events magical. Wedding favor designers, manufacturers and retailers are responsive to the wishes of brides and tailor their products accordingly. Today’s brides have many unique decorating possibilities available to them, and with the cornucopia of wedding favors growing every day, they also have many opportunities for creating the extraordinary wedding of their dreams.
Resources:
- Quotes from Cherie Johnson and Donna Laurent were obtained exclusively for this article.
- Permission to use photographs of Kate Aspen wedding favors was granted by the Kate Aspen Company. (Clicking on photos below will enlarge them.)
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