by Karen S Musselman

Created on: September 20, 2009

Wedding favors are frequently one of the most overlooked or last minute things that brides consider during their planning. But they should be the very first thing decided on after booking the site and entertainment. Yes, even before you decide on your gown!

But wedding favors don't have to be large or expensive. They can be small, inexpensive gifts or souvenirs that you present to your guests as a way of saying "thank-you for attending our wedding celebration." Do-it-yourself favors are the best way to keep on a low budget.

The favors you give your guests is your unique way of saying 'Thank You for sharing our day with us!'

But I've read some cost-cutting tips where cutting out the favors was one of the ways to cut costs because 'who cares about the favors anyway.' Well, that's like saying you could care less that your guests even showed up!

So again, they don't have to be expensive little gifts. Make them by hand; put some thought into them and your guests will definitely appreciate the fact that you thought about them.

I really didn't think about it until I started looking and researching for my own ceremony, but the cost of all those retail wedding favors, table centerpieces, and decorations can really add up and put a strain on your budget if you're not careful.

So I decided early on what I was going to do and shopped for the supplies before I'd even ordered my gown.

There are a lot of ideas for party favors and decorations that can be hand-made or bought plain and then personalized. In fact, if you can tie a ribbon, use tape, glue and a pair of scissors, you can do just about anything for special, from-the-heart party favors, decorations, wedding invitations and more.

And if you have a computer with a good color printer, or you know someone who does, the options are almost endless as to what you can do.

I made my own bookmarks as favors for our upcoming ceremony using the design template from my invitation kit. I printed them out with my inkjet printer, four to a page, on ivory cardstock. Then I cut them apart with a paper trimmer, laminated them and attached mauve tassels.

I had to make 100 of them so I was busy for a while. But they're finished - and the event isn't until 2010. So each guest will have a nice coordinated favor "package" consisting of a laminated wedding bookmark and a beautifully wrapped and labeled votive candle.

And putting one set at each place setting will give our tables some added color and elegance.

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