Although weddings vary in the details, there are some constants that rarely vary: a beautiful bride, a reception where someone drinks too much, and wedding favors the guests throw away as soon as they get home. However, giving guests something they will use and enjoy is a sure way to make sure they keep it and remember the wedding fondly. Planning a summer wedding provides several favor ideas.
Summer Wedding Favors that Keep Guests Cool
The first thing that comes to mind at the mention of summer is heat. Giving guests something to keep them cool during the ceremony and reception will help them enjoy themselves, and it is something they can use for the rest of the summer—and future summers as well.
A likely choice for summer wedding favors is hand-held fans. They come in many different varieties, so it is easy to match them to the wedding’s tone. For a fun, casual, poolside type wedding, paper fans with the couples names and date printed on them are cheap and easy to obtain, as are the paper Oriental fans with pretty pictures on them. Small motorized fans that are small enough to fit in a lady’s purse or beach bag can also be personalized.
For a nicer wedding, silk or lace fans are beautiful, useful and they make great reusable keepsakes. Oriental Trading Company (Orientaltrading.com) sells a variety of fans at low prices.
Summer Wedding Favors that keep on Giving
Summer is a time of growth, when gardens planted in the winter and spring are in full bloom. A sweet and memorable summer wedding favor is a small plant that can be transplanted into a garden or planter box. Ideally, the plant should be one that will continue to grow and bloom for years, such as a small tree—if it bears fruit or blooms, that is a nice symbol of the couple’s union. For the environmentally conscious, a tree that is to be planted in the wilderness to aid in reforestation is something that is a gift to future generations.
Alternatively, give a packet of seeds that can be planted in the fall or on a special day that has meaning to the couple. Attach a card with a sentiment that commemorates the day and explains how to use the seeds and what this symbolizes for the couple. They can be the couple’s favorite flower or a vegetable the recipient can eat the following year.
Wedding favors are a way to thank guests for coming, but the right ones remind them of the day for years to come. With a little creativity and thought for the season, summer wedding favors can be something that guests welcome and cherish.
For more summer wedding ideas, read Planning a Summer Wedding.
