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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to like these wedding favours?

166 replies

Sweetpea01 · 20/10/2014 16:19

Okay, you caught me, not really an AIBU but I enjoy the varied responses on this board Grin

Best friend's getting married, no idea what her favours will be but the boyfriend and I were talking about what we'd like (as you do when you're bored Hmm Grin )

Anyway, I really like the idea of simple venetian style masks for each guest as a keepsake. Especially if it fit into the overall look of the day.

What are your favourite (or most hated!!) favours received at a wedding?

OP posts:
CalamitouslyWrong · 20/10/2014 17:13

DS2 used to be absolutely terrified of masks.

Remember when everyone used to give out the vile abominations that are sugared almonds as wedding favours. Bleurgh.

Personally, I don't see the point of favours. That said, I was very glad that there were bags of sweets for favours at DH's cousins wedding where the theme was starving your guests.

ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties · 20/10/2014 17:14

Oh yes upduffed we were very happy with the flowers! They were beautiful! My DC also loved the pebbles the bride had painted with everyone's names on them.

waithorse · 20/10/2014 17:14

I never understand why anyone would want a keepsake of somebody else's wedding. Hmm Anything edible or disposable such as a scratch card is best.

eltsihT · 20/10/2014 17:15

I liked getting tulip bulbs at one, but some of our friend collected enough from people to plants the bride and grooms name on their front lawn, so obviously no everyone thought they were nice.

We had handmade paper cranes (they did the fold 1000 crane thing) at another which were lacquered and put on pins, I still have these

I think it's a nice idea and could make dancing a bit later fun.

I am a big fan of sweets as favours too.

WhoDaresWins · 20/10/2014 17:16

Best one we got was a little slim tin of mints, with the couple's names and dates. It was USEFUL - perfect size for carrying around in my handbag, they lasted ages and I thought of them everytime I had a mint Smile

minipie · 20/10/2014 17:17

Home made pork pies. Ideal as a snack for the journey back home and no clutter or tat.

So I'd say something consumable... Or maybe something that could provide some fun/ice breaker at the dinner itself. If you want masks, then comedy masks of the bride and groom maybe?

pippinleaf · 20/10/2014 17:18

Really can't see the point of favours. Some poor bugger has to make them, they provide two seconds of conversations and then get shoved in handbags / bins. We didn't have them at our wedding at all. There was plenty of food and drink to keep everyone happy without a bit of tat on the side.

momb · 20/10/2014 17:19

We had a (mostly outdoor) barn wedding and didn't have table plan/speeches so no particular favours per person, but we gave out pashminas to people in the evening and there were games on the tables for everyone to take home. Also everyone had a cupcake in a box to eat on the bus on the way home. There would have been rain ponchos for everyone but it didn't rain!

whois · 20/10/2014 17:20

There are only two good types of favours:
Mini booze.
Something edible.

Everything else is pure tat.

BadtzMaru · 20/10/2014 17:23

I wouldn't go for the masks. My friend had fancy napkin rings as her favours, lovely except what use is one napkin ring afterwards? Mine languished in the kitchen drawer for ages and eventually got chucked out.

PedantMarina · 20/10/2014 17:23

Longdistance, do you think you might be renewing your vows soon? and invite me, please... Grin

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 20/10/2014 17:25

The only one I've ever kept is a tiny Welsh love spoon as I'd never seen one before (being English). We had sugared almonds Grin.

I'd leave a mask on the table I'm afraid. Or give it to DD for her dressing up box.

ShadowKat · 20/10/2014 17:28

I wouldn't like a Venetian style mask as a wedding favour. It would either be "accidentally" left at the venue, or binned shortly afterwards. I got a cheap handbag once as a wedding favour and didn't like that either.

Very close friends / close family excepted, I'm not really interested in getting keepsakes from weddings.

So I'd say a consumable wedding favour is best, i.e. sweets / chocolates / booze / soap.

WipsGlitter · 20/10/2014 17:32

Masks = tat, straight in the bin. Ditto candles or anything with the date and b&g's names on.

Two decent ones: mini aromatherapy associates stuff and a Christmas decoration.

WipsGlitter · 20/10/2014 17:32

A handbag????

Knottyknitter · 20/10/2014 17:33

Friends of mine did Biros personalised with their names and the wedding date. Brilliant idea IMO as there was a quiz during the meal, so needed a pen to fill it in, and useful afterwards (I ended up with about 6 of the things as was a bridesmaid, so kept getting handed them by people). I took them to work and used them for months as really distinctive (bright purple barrel) but wrote in black.

ShadowKat · 20/10/2014 17:41

Yes, a handbag. Made with very cheap looking, obviously fake neon blue satin with stuck on plastic jewels. Not my style at all so I disposed of it as soon as possible (I tried to leave it behind but DH picked it up on our way out because he thought I'd genuinely forgotten it and wanted it).

angeltulips · 20/10/2014 17:42

Masks would be binned instantly. We didn't do favours other than the fact we had a photo booth so people could take their photos home.

Things I've received and like - olive oil (popular for Italians getting married), chutney made by the bride's family (country wedding), USB stick with music on it, bay leaves (California wedding).

Things that went into the bin - fake pearl earrings (have real ones), photo frame with b&g name on it, a tea towel with picture of couple on it...basically anything monogrammed

PinkyAndTheBump · 20/10/2014 17:45

Best one I saw was wine glasses used as placeholders with the guest name on one side, and the wedding date on the other.
Can be hand done using those gel pens that cure in the oven, and any wine glass you like!

QueenofallIsee · 20/10/2014 17:47

Christ, you just know that the handbag thing was supposed to be seen as an overwhelmingly generous gesture that would be much admired. Bit cringe

CitronVert · 20/10/2014 17:48

The thing is that even though nobody seems to like the sugared almonds, that is what wedding favours traditionally are. I think the tradition is from Italy. There should be 5 almonds and each almond represents something different (health, fertility etc.) Also they're only supposed to be given to female guests and not eaten.

WipsGlitter · 20/10/2014 17:50

Foodstuffs - all good in my book!

TheWitTank · 20/10/2014 17:50

Agree with everyone about the masks-sorry OP. I would have left mine or chucked it.
The only good favours are edible, drinkable or usable. Nobody wants engraved or personalised items with the B&G names or wedding date, they only mean something to the B&G and their very immediate family.
We had gold foil chocolate hearts and party bags for the children with crayons, colouring book, sweets and stickers.

Original poster
Sweetpea01 · 20/10/2014 17:56

Loving the responses grins] some interesting favours recieved!

I'm nowhere close to being married so I'm not offended if people don't like my idea lol.
I think as I have a large yet close family, my choices would be much more personal as there would be very few/no outside acquaintances invited save close friends (due to family being so large!)

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 20/10/2014 17:58

Yeah, I still wouldn't want a picture frame with my sisters name and wedding date on it!