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Ask a Disney Bride – Are Favors Really Necessary?

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Welcome to another edition of:

Ask a Disney Bride

This is where we tackle the difficult questions and situations that most brides find themselves in at some point during their wedding planning.  Today we have a question that applies to all brides, not just Disney brides!  Read on ….

Dear Ask a Disney Bride:


My question is about favors.  Most weddings I have been to had some kind of favors but they’re always silly dollar store stuff that gets thrown out as fast as you can say ‘garbage.’  We want to get decent wedding favors but after you buy them for each guest, it costs an arm and a leg! What are some small budget, but good and functional wedding favors that won’t end up in the trash??


Signed,
Favorless in Florida

Dear Favorless,

Whew, that’s a tough one!  But I know what you mean.  I have accumulated several guest favors from weddings over the years and I’m sorry to say that most of them have ended up in the landfill.  First I just want to point out that you don’t have to get wedding favors for your guests.  If you don’t have favors, most of your guests aren’t even going to notice their absence.  Your guests are there to celebrate YOU and aren’t (or shouldn’t be) expecting presents.

With that out of the way, my favorite kind of favors are ones that are dual-purpose or have some kind of immediate payoff.  There’s nothing more depressing than seeing tables scattered with expensive favors that no one wanted!  Here are some of my favorite kinds of favors:

Disney Disneyland wedding photobooth Mickey Minnie
Photo from DisBoards.com

 

  • Photobooth – Yes, having a photobooth at your wedding totally counts as your guest favors!  Your guests get to take their photos home, don’t they?  This was our “favor” at our own wedding and we are so glad we did it.  Our guests had a blast (immediate payoff) and we ended up getting a disc of all the photos that were taken (dual purpose).  Some photographers and DJs offer a photobooth as an add-on for a low price so be sure to inquire about it!
  • Mickey & Minnie – For Disney weddings only, but this is another option that counts as a favor!  Who doesn’t want to hang out with the famous duo or any Disney characters.  This is certainly a special treat for your guests and something they will never forget.
Wedding candy buffet
Photo from Disney Weddings Blog
 
  • Candy Buffet – Dual purpose because a pretty candy buffet acts as decor AND a take-home favor.  Satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth and let them pick as much or as little of the candy they want, win-win.
  • Homemade Treats – I once went to a wedding where they handed out homemade moon pies made by the bride’s mother as guests were leaving.  It was the perfect treat to eat while walking to our car after working up a sweat on the dance floor.  Plus, guests are less likely to toss something they know is homemade, and DIY items or baked goods are usually cheaper than their store bought counterparts.  Just make sure to check with your venue first to make sure they allow outside food!
 
 
photo frame wedding favor kate aspen
Kate Aspen Photo Frame from Amazon.com
 
  • Photo Frames – Little photo frames are great because they can act as escort cards, too!  Just print out each guests name on a piece of paper and slip it in the frame!  When the wedding is over, mail each guest a picture of them from the wedding for them to put in their frame when you mail the thank you card.

 

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What are some of your favorite favors you have received from a wedding?  I would love to hear about them in the comments!
About Mindy

Mindy Marzec is a life-long Disney fan who grew up in Los Angeles. She started This Fairy Tale Life to share Disneyland travel tips for adults. When not at Disneyland, you can find Mindy at home snuggling with her cats and re-watching Thor: Ragnarok for the billionth time.