The tradition of thanking your wedding guests and showing your appreciation through gifts of wedding favors goes back centuries. European nobility would provide their guests beautiful bonbonnieres as both a token of thanks to delight their guests, but also to symbolize the giver’s wealth and position. A bonbonniere was a small box often crafted of porcelain, crystal, or gold and encrusted with precious stones that would open to reveal confectionery delicacies. Sugar was quite expensive and being able to give such gifts at various celebrations was a mark of prestige. Over time the desire to show gratitude to attending guests has not changed, but the variety and type of favors available has significantly changed. Most brides seek out favors that will compliment the various themes of their weddings, and others look to bring in favors that reflect cultural traditions. In either case, it is important that you carefully consider the type of favor that your guests will appreciate and treasure. The planning team at Uniquely Yours hates to see brides waste money, and far too many favors end up in the trash can as guests depart the reception.  Enter the chotzke favor. During a time period where we are all trying to be cognizant of decreasing clutter and waste, the last thing you want to do is spend money on something that could be considered chotzke and tossed aside as rubbish. As wedding planners we see a lot of favors come and go with the wedding trends.  However, the most popular and treasured favors have been those that are edible (think candy buffets, treasured family cookie recipes, or boxes of custom chocolate), cultural and heritage linked, or those that reflect a passion of the bridal couple such as donations to charitable/non-profit organizations. Some couples opt out of giving a favor all together and instead invest their money in providing more food/beverage options or higher quality entertainment thus giving their guests a richer experience.  Give as much thought to the favors you are offering your guests as you have to the other details you have planned.  Your entire wedding should feel cohesive and well thought out.  Remember to ask yourself when shopping or designing the perfect favor what you would like to leave as a lasting reminder of your wedding day.

Recently I heard a new “wedding planner” had come on the scene in our local area. Within a matter of weeks, this “planner” booked several weddings and secured deposits in exchange for services. And just as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared, leaving behind many disheartened brides several thousand dollars out of pocket and without a planner. Upon doing some research, it was noted that the planner’s company was not registered with the state as a legitimate business and did not have the necessary licenses with the county to provide services. Unfortunately, we see this happen more frequently than not. Many people decide to pursue wedding planning as a career without giving any consideration to gaining any professional knowledge or skills prior to starting a company, and many don’t even give any consideration to the legal requirements, not to mention the business acumen that is involved in setting up a company. It is so much more than designing a website and printing up business cards. When you are looking for a wedding planner, it is easy to trust and get swept up in the emotion of the entire wedding planning experience. It is important, however, that you do your research on every professional you are considering. Ask them how long they have been in business, but be warned that several years in business does not mean the person you are considering is a competent wedding planner. Find out what industry affiliated organizations they belong to as this is an indicator of adherence to a strict code of professional ethics and performance standards, request references from former clients and other industry professionals as this establishes experience and helps promote trust. Also request to see their licensing paperwork to confirm they are legitimate business owners. Carefully consider the investment required. Wedding planning on any level requires much time and attention to detail. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Professional, experienced, and credentialed planners will offer you the peace of mind that is required for a seamless planning experience, and you can rest assured they take your wedding seriously and have your interests at heart. True, their prices will be higher but they are also familiar with the time and attention required to make your wedding vision come to life. Many are also willing to work with you to structure a package that will meet your needs as well as work within your budget parameters. If not, they will know other trusted professionals in the area to which they can refer you. Every bride wants a beautiful wedding, and we recommend you do your homework and seek out the best professionals available. They will deliver a wedding experience that you and your guests will not soon forget long after the actual wedding day has come and gone.