Making a faux pas during the wedding ceremony or at the wedding
reception is every bride's nightmare. It is best to acquaint
yourself with the etiquette related to various wedding
traditions so there is no chance of a goof up. Distributing
wedding favors can also get tricky if you don't know what to do.
Here are some tips on handling different wedding favor
situations.
- The classic distribution of wedding favors requires you to
place one favor at each place setting. For this kind of
distribution you need to purchase one favor for each guest
including children. You also want to buy some extras in case of
damage or unexpected guests. An excess of 5% of the expected
wedding guests is recommended. It's better to have a few
leftover favors than to seat guests without favors.
- If your wedding favors budget is a bit tight, why not give out
one wedding favor per couple? This method will cut your wedding
favors budget into half. The way to go about sharing wedding
favors is to place the favor between the couple with a card
stating both their names so they know the favor is to be shared.
If you skip the card, it could cause embarrassing scenes so be
extra careful. In such cases, it is best to choose wedding
favors that have a 'couple' theme like chocolate covered Jordan
almonds in a bride & groom theme or a photo frame with place for
two photos. Children & young adults get their own wedding
favors, as do singles without a date. Please DO NOT expect
siblings to share. That's a guaranteed recipe for failure.
- If your wedding favors are part of a bigger theme like having
a fruit table for desert and giving away chocolate dipped
strawberries as favors, then it might be a wise idea to arrange
for a center display. Place all the favors on a single
beautifully decorated table in fancy baskets or with elegant
decorations. The table could also be part of your wedding décor.
Add a note requesting the guests to help themselves to a wedding
favor each. Make sure you keep extras at the table in case of
damage or double dipping.
- You can also place the wedding favors directly in the cars of
your guests. Ask the valet to place your wedding favor in the
guests' cars. This can get tricky if guests are pooling in and
driving to the wedding together. But what a lovely surprise for
your guests when they think the event is over only to find an
unexpected favor waiting for them.
- In case you are having a buffet instead of a sit-down dinner,
then it is best to place the favors at a table near the exit.
Add a small note thanking the guests and requesting them to take
a favor each. This also saves the guests the trouble of carrying
around their wedding favors during the wedding and the chance
that they could forget it at the table or elsewhere. Of course,
if you plan to do this, you cannot buy wedding favors that are
to be used during the ceremony. Bells to be rung as a signal for
the couple to kiss, server sets to use for the cake cutting
ceremony and bubbles to blow at the departing couple are all
eliminated. So choose your wedding favor carefully.
There are many wedding etiquette do's and don'ts for the
ceremony and the reception and often traditions should be
followed. But keep in mind that the wedding belongs to the bride
and the groom and should they choose to ignore the protocol of
customary wedding etiquette it is a forgivable offense. The day
is after all their celebration of union and joy. Any choice they
make that make them happy is the proper choice.
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