Wedding Souvenirs: A Tradition Worth Preserving or a Waste of Money?

Wedding souvenirs, also known as wedding favors, are small gifts that the newlyweds give to their guests as a token of appreciation and gratitude for their presence and support on their special day. Wedding souvenirs can range from edible treats, such as chocolates, cookies, or candies, to practical items, such as mugs, candles, or fans, to personalized items, such as keychains, magnets, or coasters. Wedding souvenirs are usually displayed on a table near the entrance or exit of the wedding venue, or placed on each guest’s seat at the reception.

But are wedding souvenirs really necessary? Do they add value to the wedding experience, or are they just a waste of money and resources? In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of wedding souvenirs, and provide some tips on how to choose the best ones for your wedding.

The Pros of Wedding Souvenirs

There are several benefits of giving wedding souvenirs to your guests, such as:

They show your appreciation and gratitude. Wedding souvenirs are a way of saying thank you to your guests for taking the time and effort to attend your wedding and celebrate with you. They also show that you care about them and value their friendship and relationship.
They create a lasting impression and memory. Wedding souvenirs can serve as a reminder of your wedding day and the joy and happiness that you share with your guests. They can also reflect your personality, style, and theme of your wedding, and make your wedding more memorable and unique.
They can be fun and creative. Wedding souvenirs can be an opportunity to express your creativity and have fun with your wedding planning. You can choose from a variety of options, or even make your own DIY wedding souvenirs that suit your taste and budget. You can also personalize them with your name, initials, wedding date, or a meaningful message.

The Cons of Wedding Souvenirs

However, there are also some drawbacks to giving wedding souvenirs to your guests, such as:

They can be expensive and time-consuming. Wedding souvenirs can add up to your wedding expenses, especially if you have a large number of guests or opt for more elaborate or customized items. They can also take up a lot of time and energy to source, order, package, and distribute them.
They can be wasteful and cluttering. Wedding souvenirs can end up being thrown away or forgotten by your guests, especially if they are not useful or appealing to them. They can also contribute to environmental waste and pollution if they are made of plastic or non-biodegradable materials. Moreover, they can create clutter in your guests’ homes if they already have too many similar items or do not have enough space to store them.
They can be impersonal and generic. Wedding souvenirs can lose their meaning and significance if they are not chosen carefully or thoughtfully. They can also be impersonal and generic if they are not customized or tailored to your guests’ preferences or interests.

How to Choose the Best Wedding Souvenirs for Your Wedding

If you decide to give wedding souvenirs to your guests, here are some tips on how to choose the best ones for your wedding:

Consider your budget and guest list. Before you start shopping for wedding souvenirs, you need to determine how much you can afford to spend on them and how many guests you need to cater for. This will help you narrow down your options and avoid overspending or underestimating.
Consider your theme and style. You also need to consider the theme and style of your wedding when choosing your wedding souvenirs. You want them to match the overall look and feel of your wedding, as well as reflect your personality and taste. You can also choose items that relate to the season, location, or culture of your wedding.
Consider the usefulness and appeal of the items. You want to choose wedding souvenirs that are useful and appealing to your guests so that they will appreciate them and use them after the wedding. You can opt for items that are edible, practical, or decorative, depending on what you think your guests will like and need. You can also ask for their feedback or suggestions beforehand if you are unsure.
Consider the personalization and customization of the items. You want to make your wedding souvenirs more personal and unique by adding some personalization and customization to them. You can include your names, initials, wedding date, or a meaningful message on the items themselves or on the packaging. You can also choose different colors, designs, or sizes for different guests if you want to make them more special.

Wedding souvenirs are a tradition that many couples follow when planning their weddings. They can have both pros and cons depending on how they are chosen and given. If you want to give wedding souvenirs to your guests, you need to consider several factors, such as your budget, guest list, theme, style, usefulness, appeal, personalization, and customization of the items. By doing so, you can ensure that your wedding souvenirs are a tradition worth preserving and not a waste of money.

FAQs

What are some examples of wedding souvenirs?

Some examples of wedding souvenirs are chocolates, cookies, candies, mugs, candles, fans, keychains, magnets, coasters, reed diffusers, room sprays, leather pouches, tumblers with metal straws, bath soaps, hand sanitizers, and fans.

How much should I spend on wedding souvenirs?

There is no fixed rule on how much you should spend on wedding souvenirs, as it depends on your budget and preference. However, a general guideline is to allocate around 2% to 3% of your total wedding budget for wedding souvenirs.

How many wedding souvenirs should I order?

The number of wedding souvenirs you should order depends on the number of guests you have and whether you want to give one per person or one per couple or family. A general guideline is to order 10% to 20% more than the number of guests you expect to attend your wedding, to account for any unexpected guests or damages.

When should I give out wedding souvenirs?

The best time to give out wedding souvenirs is at the end of the reception when your guests are leaving. You can either place them on a table near the exit or have someone hand them out to your guests. You can also attach a thank you note or card to each souvenir to express your gratitude.

What are some alternatives to wedding souvenirs?

Some alternatives to wedding souvenirs are donating to a charity in your guests’ names, providing a photo booth or a caricature artist for your guests to take home their pictures, offering a dessert bar or a candy buffet for your guests to enjoy and take home some treats, or creating a playlist of your favorite songs and sharing it with your guests online.