Creative, Trendy Wedding Favors Get Personal For 2006
Blake Kritzberg
We all know that today's brides feel free to mix it up. You'll
see electronic RSVPs in place of card stock, and you might find
a handful of tiered key lime pies instead of the traditional
French confection on the cake table. Favors are another spot
where wedding couples put their personal spin on the
proceedings.
The last few years have seen an explosion of favors to match
the explosion in theme weddings -- and to suit all those
weddings that simply don't fit any rubber stamp.
Even so, brides hit the online boards and forums bemoaning that
they haven't found the right favors. When you read between the
lines, you realize that what many brides want is:
- A favor so unique (or so uniquely presented) that it could
practically only show up at their wedding.
- A favor so perfect for their wedding that none other would
do.
In other words, brides want to find the one favor that's just
about as perfect a match as the man they've opted to marry.
** Do You, Jill, Take This Favor ... ?
It wasn't long ago that the ability to order scented pear soaps
or silver-plated salt and pepper shakers came as a huge relief
to brides and guests alike -- what a refreshing change from
five Jordan almonds wrapped up in tulle! But these days, a
multitude of choices just isn't enough. Brides are looking for
uniqueness with a capital U, and they're choosing:
* Favors that are Anything but One-Size-Fits-All.
Instead of two truffles in ballotin box, brides are choosing
"fair trade" truffles with a dusting of chipotle pepper.
Instead a pair of enameled chopsticks, brides are going for
miniature bonsai or tiny Zen garden kits. Fortune cookies in a
takeout box are sleek, but brides really want their cookies to
come in custom flavors and colors (blueberry, anyone?) with a
fortune they've penned themselves. You get the picture --
brides want favors that looks like they came out of a little
shop of elves assembled just for their wedding.
* Favors the Locals Love.
Brides are stealing items from the out-of-town baskets and
retooling them as favors. Miniature gifts with major mouth
appeal include jars of wild blueberry jam for a Maine wedding,
leaf-shaped maple syrup jars for Vermont, cranberry "Bog Frogs"
for Cape Cod, or individual salmon spice rub tins for Seattle
(the "Rub with Love" tins by Tom Douglas are adorable).
* Hi Ho, Silver.
This theme's as old as time, but silver's showing up everywhere
in weddings, from sparkly sandals to silvery satin-lined favor
boxes. It's not hard to go over the top with gold, but silver's
innate restraint makes it a perfect choice for weddings ranging
from ultra-traditional to celestial. Sleek placecard frames and
silver key chains are both au courant and elegant.
* Wild at Heart.
Brides are opting for favors that reflect the current lust for
the outdoors -- and all the weddings taking place on golf
greens, beaches and vineyard hideaways. Favors that offer
tactile reminders of the natural world are hot: engraved sand
dollars, for example, or votives or glass bottles graced with
embedded sand and shells. Favors that reflect popular niches
within the beach theme are strong, too: consider starfish soaps
and coasters that support the increasingly popular starfish
theme, and abalone or paua shell jewelry that's making a big
splash at Pacific Rim weddings and bridal showers.
Of course, it's not just the favors where brides want something
different -- they're putting their individual spin on
presentation too, tucking those unique little favors into
unexpected packages, such as the new pyramid or
triangular-shaped truffle boxes (which double as placecards),
small apothecary jars, or lidded boxes in strong, unexpected
colors like celadon and chocolate, red and black or hot pink
and brown.
So as you can see, it's not that hard to find the one perfect
favor for your wedding. Think local or outdoorsy, think
presentation, or simply ponder your theme until you find the
edges that lead to a fresh and exciting idea. Simply think for
yourself and your favors will show it -- just as if you really
did have your own platoon of elves in the backyard, ready to
turn your dreams into reality.
About The Author: Blake Kritzberg is editor of Wedding Favors
by FavorIdeas: http://sbd.bcentral.com/bc__332058.aspx Learn
everything you ever wanted to know about wedding favors:
http://www.squidoo.com/on-wedding-favors
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