Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weddings

Chat to other Mumsnetters on our Wedding forum.

Original poster

Wedding favours

147 replies

ButterflyOne1 · 29/08/2019 14:28

Hi all

My sister is getting married and has asked me to organise her favours (I've offered to help and she'll pay). I was trying to think of something different but wanted to ask your thoughts. What's your best favours, here are my ideas so far.

  • Soap for the women
  • Miniature bottle of whiskey for the men
  • Bottle openers for both men and women
  • Love heart sweets (personalised) for both
  • Luggage tag (couple loves to travel)
  • Tote bag
OP posts:
sorrythisusernameistaken · 01/09/2019 16:43

We had welsh cakes as im Welsh and DH family are from all over the world so had never had them. They were lovely and really nice that my mum made them. I've had Yankee candles, seeds etc in past tbh everything that you can't eat or drink straight away will get wasted

FinnBalorsAbs · 01/09/2019 17:06

Worth checking with your venue whether you can give alcohol miniatures - ours explicitly told us it was in contravention of our contract. They said it was for licensing reasons, although I’m suspicious it was more out of either concern for excessive drunkenness from spirits or people spending less at the bar!

Lamentations · 01/09/2019 17:10

Favours are just unwanted crap, it's true. Scatter a few sugared almonds on the table and be done with it.

HotChocolateLover · 01/09/2019 17:11

I wouldn’t even bother with favours, we didn’t. If the budget can stretch to it then a welcome cocktail would be fab. If not, then work out what you would have spend in total on the favours and buy the equivalent in wine for the table. The lack of favours will not be missed. Extra booze will be noticed!!

hazandduck · 01/09/2019 17:16

@Lamentations Favours are just unwanted crap totally agree. Especially personalised things, I got a wine glass once and the couple split up within a year. What the hell do I want a glass with this now divorced couple’s name and the date of their wedding on for lol.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 01/09/2019 17:16

We didn't have favours. We did have a paid for bar instead. The guests seemed very happy.

Bloomburger · 01/09/2019 17:22

A scratch card each.

I hate wedding favours, complete bloody waste of money, especially if it's plastic tat that no one actually wants.

BeanBag7 · 01/09/2019 17:23

Just get something edible. Macarons, petit fours, sugared almonds. People can eat them then and there or give to someone else if they dont like them.

Nobody really needs tiny soap or luggage tags or ornaments and they will end up in the bin/junk drawer/bottom of the handbag

HeadintheiClouds · 01/09/2019 17:27

What is this thing with dispensing packets of seeds?! Just why?

BeanBag7 · 01/09/2019 17:28

Some of these things would cost a fortune! A pashmina each, a set of personalised measuring spoon? That's got to cost at least £5 per head (being conservative). Adding £500 to the wedding bill for something people won't even remember the next day!

OllyBJolly · 01/09/2019 17:37

Oh God, bowls of celebrations instead of flowers!! Now that is something that belongs at a 5 year old’s birthday party, how unutterably tacky at a wedding

How very rude! No class, Headintheclouds

I think some posters were at my wedding!* I had Tunnocks Teacakes, Caramel Logs and Fintry Tablet on the tables.

*(Not really, got married in the US as most of my family live there and it was a wee piece of home)

Longdistance · 01/09/2019 17:43

I had miniature bottles of drink on the table with white ribbon bows on them. Then we had our favourite sweets in organza bags on the tables. This was eleven years ago, but have been to weddings and events where they have a pick and mix stand of sweets. Nothing wrong with sweets at a wedding, everyone scoffed the lot.

hazandduck · 01/09/2019 18:03

@Longdistance sweet tables/carts etc are par for the course at weddings. I don’t think I’ve been to one without one actually! It was my favourite part of getting married - picking out all my favourite sweets and chocolates for the jars and not feeling guilty about the sheer volume I was buying!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/09/2019 18:09

I'd either go for a fancy couple of chocolates for them to enjoy post meal, or whatever They are using for their name place cards make it something they can keep.

elQuintoConyo · 01/09/2019 18:18

I've received at weddings:

Set of 3 candles (binned)
Box of retro sweets (candy cigarettes, eaten)
Soap (binned)
Mini photo frame (charity shopped)
Candied almonds (binned)
Fan (broke after a few months, binned)

I think they're a giant faff for the organiser and for the guest to take home. Not to mention they're basically landfill tat - we could all go with less of that.

elQuintoConyo · 01/09/2019 18:18

do with less of that

neighbourssitu · 01/09/2019 18:21

Favours from wedding I've been to

Chocolates
Charity donations with pin badge
Small wooden decoration for Xmas tree with names and date
Hand made tablet
Miniature spirits
Sugared almonds

Personally I prefer edible

You'll never please everyone whatever you choose 🙄

kenandbarbie · 01/09/2019 19:01

A donation to a charity close to the couples heart and a chocolate. Anything more than that is a bit tacky and wasteful.

HeadintheiClouds · 01/09/2019 19:05

Why would you donate to charity as a party favour for your guests? Just donate to your favourite charity, don’t leave everyone a little note saying you’ve done so Confused. That really is tacky, with or without a chocolate.

Bookworm4 · 01/09/2019 19:07

*- Soap for the women - nope

  • Miniature bottle of whiskey for the men - and women
  • Bottle openers for both men and women -eh?
  • Love heart sweets (personalised) for both -twee
  • Luggage tag (couple loves to travel) - odd
  • Tote bag* -too much
Bookworm4 · 01/09/2019 19:08

Popular in Scotland is tablet and/or a miniature spirit.

HeadintheiClouds · 01/09/2019 19:09

And sorry to be a Grinch, but why would anyone want a Christmas decoration with your name and the date of your wedding inscribed on it?
It’s a bit of a grandiose gesture, really; I wouldn’t even want one with my own.

ZenNudist · 01/09/2019 19:12

No to most of these except sweets or luggage tag provided its not got the couples details on in which case no one will use it. Good idea to put the couples details in the insert. But to be honest most people probably have luggage tags already. Bright identifying tags are good to distinguish your bag.

I bin everything but I enjoy seeing what favours are so dont think they are a total waste. Id often take them home for my kids. Maybe a nice gin miniature would be better than whisky, could get different flavours and give to all not just men. Scratch card always good. Seeds are the worst!

kenandbarbie · 01/09/2019 19:14

Why would you donate to charity as a party favour for your guests? Just donate to your favourite charity, don’t leave everyone a little note saying you’ve done so . That really is tacky, with or without a chocolate.

Usually to remember a deceased or sick family member who had the relevant disease.

ZenNudist · 01/09/2019 19:15

girly but nice luggage tags could be pricey