Tag: Weddings

One thing that makes your wedding day so special is the fact that friends and loved ones have traveled — whether from across the country or just across town — to share in your joy. It’s no wonder, then, that the small remembrance, the wedding favor, is such a popular way of giving your guests a token of your thanks, allowing them to take something home to commemorate the special day.

If you are having a fall wedding, now is the perfect time to select and order your wedding favors. “Whether you’re planning a sustainable or eco-friendly wedding or you just want to be environmentally conscious, choosing an option that’s easy on the earth is one way of making your autumn wedding memorable,” explains Sandra Di Domizio, a certified Green Wedding Professional who runs Green Fox Events & Guest Services in California.

With that in mind, here are seven eco-friendly fall wedding favor ideas that will send your friends and loved ones home happy.

Small succulents

Nothing says “green” like something that’s literally green! Succulents are among the most sustainable and easy-to-care-for plants in the world. They require very little water or attention, are non-toxic to cats, and do well indoors — making them the perfect addition to any desk, shelf, or windowsill.

A trio of mini-succulents is a low-maintenance gift, and they come potted in trendy ceramic containers that provide a sense of sustainable style that matches any décor. Choose from several different themes, including safari animals and inspirational messages. There’s even a trio that comes in magnetic planters!

Seed balls

Allow your friends and loved ones to seed your love throughout their gardens with seed balls, which you can make yourself or buy online. These seed balls are made from recycled materials and seeds specifically meant to attract pollinators, including insects and birds. Once your guests return home, all they have to do is place the balls on top of soil, either in a container or garden, and water them. After a few weeks, they’ll have fresh flowers, green thumb or not.

All-natural hand creams

While you’re being pampered on your honeymoon, let your guests enjoy their own at-home spa-like experience. The Lovery Hand Cream & Mask Set is a set of scented creams and hand masks that will keep your guests’ hands soft all winter.

These all-natural creams are gently crafted with healthy botanicals from one of 10 natural sources, including oatmeal milk, eucalyptus, green tea, avocado, jojoba, and carrot. Better yet, they’re free of parabens and harsh chemicals, and are not tested on animals. With 10 tubes and five masks in each package, you can easily divide them up and put one of each (or more!) in a small gift bag.

Beeswax candles

Bees are one of the most environmentally important insects, and their populations are threatened across the United States. In addition to moving pollen between plants, allowing them to flower and reproduce, bees also produce honey for us to eat and bee pollen, a nutrient-rich superfood that has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.

“Bees are a symbol of sweetness, wisdom, and prosperity in many cultures, so a beeswax candle is a wedding favor that’s not only sustainable but also meaningful,” Di Domizio notes. This particular candle is shaped like an old-fashioned beehive (a.k.a. a “bee skep”) and is unscented, so it will please even those guests who are scent or allergen sensitive.

Fall-themed cookies

“Food gifts make terrific eco-friendly wedding favors because there’s no waste,” Di Domizio explains. “Frosted cookies travel well, and nothing tells guests how much the couple appreciated their presence like a sweet treat.”

An autumn-themed cookie card is perfect for the season. It is a delicious and charming remembrance that is sure to make guests smile.

Popcorn treats

Caramel is one of those classic fall flavors that is always a crowd pleaser. Another hassle-free (and sweet!) thank-you option is a popcorn card, which comes in a variety of designs and contains delicious caramel popcorn. You can personalize the greeting on the front of the card to tie into your wedding theme, or to express love and gratitude in a way that best reflects your personalities.

Homemade jam

Raspberries are in season from June to October, and if you live near a pick-your-own (or a farmer’s market in a pinch), you can easily procure enough berries to make your own homemade jam favors. These require only three ingredients: raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice. You can find small jelly jars in most craft stores or online for less than $1 each. Add a custom label to finish the look (e.g., “Thank you berry much for celebrating with us!”).

No matter which favor you choose for your fall wedding, a sustainable or eco-friendly option shows your friends and loved ones that they mean as much to you as the planet does.

Summer ‘I do’ season means steaming the wrinkles from your wedding guest attire, responding to invitations promptly, and choosing a gift for the couple they will cherish for years to come. And even though every wedding is different and every married couple is unique, there are still certain guidelines to follow when picking a present.

Here are 10 of the most commonly asked questions regarding wedding gift etiquette, along with answers provided by three wedding experts.

How much should you spend?

The registry gives guests a general sense of what the couple is looking for but is in no way a mandatory list of required gifts. If you’re close to the couple and want to get them something personal, don’t let a registry deter you from doing so!

elaine swann

Founder, Swann School of Protocol

Experts agree guests should stick to their budgets. Meg Critchell, founder of Meg Critchell Event Planning in Greenwich, Connecticut, suggests her clients register for a range of items to accommodate different-size budgets. “Someone may need a $60 gift or a $600 gift, so put a few of those on as well,” she says.

The proper amount to spend depends on your relationship with the couple, says Elaine Swann, founder of the Swann School of Protocol in Carlsbad, California. “I use what I call ‘the onion method.’ This is where the closer to the core of the onion — the closer the person is to you — the more you spend on the gift.”

A way to give a gift of significance when your budget is tight is to participate in a group gift. “Group gifts work well for younger folks who are in the early stages of income earning,” Swann says. “Come together and give a group gift of an experience.”

Do you have to ‘cover your plate’?

The rule of covering your cost via a wedding gift is not followed today. “I don’t think there is that expectation anymore,” Critchell says.

Swann agrees the old adage is outdated. “The amount of money you spend on a gift depends on your relationship with the couple,” she says. Start at a lower amount for a coworker, somewhere in the $50-$75 range. For a closer family member, spend a bit more; $100 is a reasonable starting point.

Is it necessary to double the gift if you’re bringing a date?

Critchell and Swann agree this is a big “no;” the gift is still coming from the invitee. Remember to always choose a gift that fits your budget, while also taking into account how close you are with the couple. There’s no need to go into debt to send your good wishes.

Do you have to stick to the registry?

While you don’t have to buy a gift from the registry, you should start there. “Couples register for a reason,” Critchell says. Guests know buying registered gifts means the items are things the couple wants. “I encourage brides to register for something special. Everyone needs a vacuum, which you’ll buy for yourself, but you probably won’t buy 12 high-end crystal glasses for a dinner party.”

Swann agrees. “The registry gives guests a general sense of what the couple is looking for but is in no way a mandatory list of required gifts,” she says. “If you’re close to the couple and want to get them something personal, don’t let a registry deter you from doing so!”

Should you give traditional household items, such as sheets and place settings?

When deciding what to buy the couple, think about where they are in life, Swann suggests. “You might have an older couple who is getting married for a second time, so give a gift of an experience,” she says. “But if they’re just starting out, a gift for their household could fit right into their stage of life.”

Is money an acceptable gift?

Yes! “Etiquette dictates it’s acceptable to give money as a wedding gift,” Swann says. A 2019 Zelle study found 84% of couples want money as a gift. Send cash electronically, rather than bringing a card with a check or money, which could get lost.

While cash may be king, it sometimes can get whittled away, Critchell says. “Many couples might save for a house or a big purchase,” she says. “But if things aren’t going well and they need money, suddenly the wedding gift of $200 just went toward groceries.” Getting married is one time in the bride and groom’s lives when they can really indulge, so consider giving them a tangible item they would never buy themselves, Critchell suggests.

One way to know your gift of money is going toward something special is to contribute to a special event. Some wedding websites allow this, says Jamie Mussolini, destination wedding planner and founder of Beachfronts Travel. “You can put in a dollar amount and put it toward a honeymoon, massages, or a romantic dinner.”

One grandmother contacted Mussolini and said she wanted to give the couple something for the honeymoon. “The bride and groom were going to Hawaii, so she bought a luau for them,” she says. Thinking outside the box is something the couple will remember always.

Should you bring your physical gift to the wedding reception?

You do still see gift tables, or a box for cards, at a wedding, but they have gotten smaller. “People are taking advantage of online shopping,” Swann says. “It helps the couple because they have less to worry about the day of the wedding.”

Critchell suggests not physically bringing gifts. “Send gifts to the home,” she says.

Do you need to give a gift if you’re attending a destination wedding?

While a gift is always appreciated, brides and grooms don’t expect them, Mussolini says. A couple is often sensitive to the financial burden attending a faraway wedding puts on guests. “Friends and family spend so much to go, and that means a lot to couples,” she says.

If you do want to give a gift, do not bring it to the destination wedding, Critchell says. “You don’t want to add anything to the bride and groom’s plate. They don’t need extra stuff,” she says. “Mail it to them when they get home.”

Do you have a year to send a present?

Yes. But if you choose not to buy right away, registry lists might be picked over and options become fewer or more than you want to spend.

Do I have to get a present if I decline to attend?

Even if you decline a wedding invitation, a gift is the polite way to show you care about the couple and their new life together, Mussolini says. If you are not particularly close to them, however, you are not required to get a gift. That said, a nice gesture would be sending them a card or calling them on the phone to congratulate them on their marriage.