There is absolutely nothing wrong with today’s trend of brides making or assembling their own wedding favors.  With the cost of weddings skyrocketing, it’s no wonder that she and her groom will want to trim a few dollars from the cost in any way they can.  And many companies sell beautiful supplies that require just a bit of effort to make your own wedding favors, the end product being just as stunning as any store-bought item.

But there are some words of warning that should be shared with any bride that is considering making her own wedding favors, as there seems to be some common mistakes that many brides are making these days.

For one thing, while you want to be conscious of your budget, you don’t want to skimp too much on your wedding favors.  Remember, these items are your way of thanking your guests for being there, and while it’s your special day, these guests did to through some effort to be there and to share in your day.  Not to mention the fact that they probably got all dressed up, paid a sitter, and sat through your father’s teary-eyed speech of how he remembers his little girl’s first day of school … and so on.  They deserve a small token of your appreciation for how they’ve made your day all the more special, and wedding favors are your way of expressing that appreciation.  So yes, keep your budget in mind but still plan on spending around a dollar per favor, at least.

Also, it’s tempting to use your computer to make up something personal such as bookmarks or personalized candy bar wrappers as wedding favors.  But be honest with yourself – how skilled and artistic are you with the computer and the creation of this type of thing?  Anyone can slap some clipart and fancy lettering on a page and call it a bookmark, but what does it really look like?  Most people who create those things professionally go to school for years to learn about how to balance things on a page, how to use certain fonts to complement certain designs, when certain styles are too busy versus those that need some more decoration, and so on.  Remember, your wedding favors are going to express to your guests your appreciation for their participation in your special day, and if you give them something that looks like your child created it, well, what will this say about how much you appreciate them as guests?

This isn’t to say that you can’t do this type of thing yourself, but might it be better to approach a friend or even someone you work with that is experienced in graphic arts and that can give you some assistance in this regard?  Or consider just purchasing these types of items online.  Most printed items that are sold as wedding favors such as bookmarks and personalized candy bar wrappers are usually very affordable even when you buy them from a professional company – usually a bit less than a dollar each.  With personalized candy bar wrappers, you can buy your own chocolate bars and assemble them at home, saving you even more money.

To avoid the mistakes of making your own wedding favors look a bit too cheap and even downright tacky, consider dressing up your choices as much as possible.  For example, if you buy candy in bulk and put it in tulle or net bags, purchase some ribbon at the fabric store that you can tie those bags with for a very festive and unique touch.  If you purchase individual bonbons to put in small candy boxes, wrap those boxes with beautiful wrapping paper in gold or silver or some color that coordinates with your wedding colors.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with making your own wedding favors but keep in mind that your guests will remember your wedding even after the day is over, so giving them a beautiful and thoughtful favor to take home is always preferable to anything that’s too cheap or simplistic.