Okay so the whole wedding favor etiquette thing is kind of not a humongous issue in my book. Yes it is an age-old tradition to gift a favor to each individual guest at your wedding but in today’s day and age people are getting very creative with their little commemorative tokens they provide for those who have come to share in one of the most special days in a couple’s history. Some give gifts to couples or even entire families, some don’t give anything. Even though I don’t think it’s as obviously important as having a beautiful wedding cake, I still think it is important to offer up something gracious and meaningful to your guests – just nothing that stresses you out. We’ve all heard the stories (or have actually witnessed the chaos) of brides and bridesmaids completely freaking out over their wedding favors. Don’t do that; keep it simple and thoughtful. Whatever you decide on though, remember it doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate – simply meaningful. And unless they have some significant importance to the bride and groom, be sure to stay away from those little tchotchkes that are always either left behind on the table or taken home and eventually thrown away. Seriously, how many of those mini picture frames or mini figurines does someone need?! Just put some thought into it and find something that is relevant.

Here are a few examples that may spark some creative ideas for you:

· For my wedding, in lieu of handing out gifts, we made a donation in honor of all our guests to the American Cancer Society. My stepfather had just finished his radiation therapy not too long before the “Big Day” so it meant a great deal to our family as well as all of the friends that were in attendance. I received so many compliments on that gesture because it was something that struck so close to home.

· A friend and her husband created music CDs full of love songs and meaningful songs to them for all of their guests. The CDs are very inexpensive and all you need to do is invest the time to burn the CDs and create a simple insert that has your names and date of the wedding on it. That was well over 7 years ago and I still have the CD and still listen to it. And yes, I think of them when I listen to it.

· Magnets are always needed in every household. Try to stay away from the cheesy stuff. Stick with a loving quote and then in smaller font at the bottom have your names and the wedding date.

Of course your budget will also have a large impact on what you ultimately decide. Remember these key things: thoughtful, significant, meaningful, and personal.

All of us at East Valley Bridal Affair would love to hear your creative ideas on favors and personalized accents on weddings. Email us with your thoughts and come join us on October 4, 2009 at the Windemere Conference Center for the 3^rd Annual East Valley Bridal Affair to find some more inspiration.

Here’s to your creativity!