Wedding Favors Next Page >> [ Submit a Favor | Receptions Index ]    It's an Italian tradition to hand-out bombonieres to the guests at a wedding. Bombonieres or as we know them, wedding favors, are meant to provide your guests with a special memento of your special day. Wedding favors are the perfect way to extend your most heartfelt "thanks" to all those in attendance. Today, wedding favors are no longer restricted to the usual "Jordan almond chocolates wrapped in tulle and tied with ribbon that matches your wedding colors." Take a look below at some of the unique and creative ways brides around the nation will say or have said "thank you for joining us on our special day."

Floating Candles Submitted by: CMM of San Francisco, California I attended a friends wedding in September 1997. She had bought white rose floating candles that were already wrapped in cellophane. She hot-glued silk leaves to the back along with ribbon pre-printed with the couples name and wedding date. She also used these same floating candles in the centerpieces, by filling small glass bowls and lighting them. Everything turned out beautifully.

Double-Photo Frames Submitted by: J. R. of Welland, Ontario I am getting married this August, it's coming fast. We went to a dollar store that had really nice double photo frames and bought their whole stock which was about 115 at $2.00 a piece (the singles were only a dollar). Then, I scanned and printed a picture I liked of a little boy and girl walking hand in hand with the boy holding a red rose (which is part of our theme). I put that picture in the left side of the frame and in the right side I printed another sheet that displays our names, the wedding date and a little verse. The frame is really nice and be easily re-used by the guest.

Taper Candles Submitted by: Anonymous We are getting married this July and, as a wedding favor, we have bought a pair of glass candle holders and two white taper candles. Because they are rather large, I boxed and wrapped them, and will have them placed on the gift table. When the cake comes out, each couple can take one as they leave the reception.

Antique Picture Frames Submitted by: Tammy and Lee As our wedding favors, we purchased miniature 'antique' picture frames and attached a piece of candy, wrapped in some tulle, to the back. We doubled the use of these frames by printing each guests name on some colored paper inside the frame so as to serve as our place cards. "Dollar stores" all over the nation sell these little picture frames. We bought ours for a dollar a piece. It just doesn't get any cheaper than this AND it doesn't look trashy.

Homemade Jam Submitted by: Jen M. of Spring Lake, Michigan My husband and I wanted to let our guests know how much they were appreciated. We decided to make 2 ounce jars of homemade jam for each guest. First we searched for a bottle manufacturer, purchasing the little bottles for about 50 cents each. Then, we picked 25 lbs (!!!) of strawberries, making it a fun day by recruiting our families. We spent an afternoon cleaning, mashing cooking and funneling jam into boiled jars. Then, weeks later I had a "girls night" where we covered each bottle with checkered fabric that I had cut into circles with pinking shears and finished it with a ribbon. The work was fun, and hopefully our guests knew they were thought of! SUGGESTION: Make sure your guests realize that this is a homemade, personal gift by using a note or label or simply announce it as such. To our dismay, some of our guests left the wedding reception thinking they were purchased favors.

Grape Vine Bird Nests Submitted by: DM F. of Fairbanks, Alaska The theme of my wedding was a "nature and outdoor" theme. My mother and I wanted to do something very unique and special. My mother went out and purchased small grape vine bird nests and wrapped tulle around chocolate covered almonds then placed them in the nest. I then bought some blank business cards with a nature design and had our message personalized on the cards. My flower girl also carried a small grape vine bird cage decorated with dried flowers.

Bottles of Cider Submitted by: Donna W. of Forest Hill, New York My husband and I got married on August 16, 1997. We were on a tight budget, but still wanted a lavish wedding. My husband and I are not heavy drinkers and we opted not to serve alcohol at the wedding. We liked the idea of the champagne bottle, but instead of alcohol, we contacted local grocery stores and bought small bottles of Martin's Sparkling Cider in bulk. The bottles averaged about $1 a piece. We made our own labels which we bought from Papers Direct. We spent time at Barnes and Nobles bookstore. We made sure every person at the table had a different quote that related to either friendship or love. Then, each of the bottles was wrapped in cellophane and tied with a navy ribbon with a white rose. We also made our own candy and packaged them in silver boxes. We also made candy roses from two Hershey Kisses. Put them back to back, and voila, and instant rose. Wrapped it in foil, attached a green stem and ribbon... beautiful and tasty. Hope this helps someone.

Tulip Bulbs Submitted by: Dina F. of Staten Island, New York My fiancée and I love gardening. We decided to give tulip bulbs for our favor/gifts. We bought a large quantity of bulbs along with boxes, ribbons and some mulch to pack the tulip bulbs. We placed a few bulbs in each box along with a card thanking our guests for coming and for them to plant the bulbs in the fall (Our wedding is also in the fall). In the fall for years to come, when the tulips bloom, our guests will think of us and our wedding day!

Small Gold Bells Submitted by: Susan of Baltimore, Maryland For my September 1997 wedding, I bought small gold bells and tied them with gold-trimmed burgundy wire ribbon and attached a short poem. The guests were handed the ribbons as they left the ceremony and crowded outside. The photographer, a master at group photos, was outside corralling everyone to stand on each side of the doorway. As my husband and I came out (this was all planned, so we knew we had to leave the church again), the photographer had everyone standing around us with their arm raised, ringing in our new life together. This is truly one of my most cherished photographs. I can see every in attendance.

Rubber-Stamped Tiles Submitted by: Elissa S. of San Francisco, California For the wedding favors, my sister and I used rubber stamps to print variations of hearts on small tiles, then wrote the date of the wedding. After glazing and firing the tiles, we glued magnets on the back of each tile. The tiles were then wrapped in gauze and ribbon and placed out as part of the place settings. Everyone loved them and commented on how original and charming they were. Now each guest has a great souvenir from a gorgeous day!

Seashell-shaped Soap Submitted by: Alicia of Flagler Beach, Florida My fiancé and I are having a "Sea Theme" for our wedding reception. Thus, we wanted our wedding favors to reflect on that particular theme. A friend suggested hand-made glycerine soaps in seashell shapes. We are making the soaps in our colors (blue, ivory, and champagne) and we will wrap them in plastic with tulle overlay and tie them with a ribbon. As an added touch, I'm going to glue a tiny seashell to the center of each ribbon. Soaps are shaped as sea horses, sea shells, conch shells, and starfish.

Gold-painted Cherubs Submitted by: Trina of Winnipeg, Canada Our theme is gold cherubs, so I bought a wooden cherub (2.5" x 2") and painted it with different base coat colors. Then, I painted the cherub with a top coat of gold paint. I am having our names and date stenciled on the bottom with two Hershey kisses candy wrapped in tulle and glue-gunned with a tiny rosebud. Lots of work, lots of fun.

Boxes and Seedlings Submitted by: Allyson R. of Regina, Saskatchewan For my fiancé and I, it is important for the wedding favours to reflect us as a couple, as well as being useful after the wedding. I'm crafty, so we're making small fabric-covered hat boxes (3 inches across) for the women and buying tiny tree seedlings from a local nursery (only $1 each!) for the men. We'll attach a poem to the trees, and cover their root balls with the same fabric as used for the boxes.

Christmas Stockings Submitted by: Lyn of Cumberland, Rhode Island Since our wedding will be close to Christmas (November 27, 1999), we want to incorporate some holiday cheer into our wedding. Our favors will be small Christmas stockings filled with candy, including a candy cane that has a ribbon with our names and wedding date tied around it.

Herbs & Candles Submitted by: Amilori of Milpitas, California I am saving money on my "wedding" (vow renewal) by getting double use out of my decorations. I am an avid gardener and herbalist, so I am using tiered stands of herbs & candles in mini pots to both decorate the tables at the reception and to give as wedding favors. I am using potted topiaries and potted mini roses as both altar decorations and attendant/usher/reception-help "thank you" presents. I have painted the pots in my wedding colors & attached a card with our names & the date for the mini pots and have used metallic paint pens to write this information and the name of the recipient on the larger pots. Any "left-over" favors will just go back into my garden!

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