Wedding favors are often an after thought for a lot of wedding couples. You can be overwhelmed with ideas or blocked of thoughts of how to incorporate your wedding into such a small item! Cost is another major factor keeping couples from providing that extra treat for their guests. Here are some new ideas for 2011, cost efficient options, and also some of my favorite favors no matter the theme! Keep in mind that all favors should be personable, useful, and/or tasteful. If this can't be accomplished in a way that you are satisfied then don't offer them. There is nothing worse than a tacky favor! As fond of your new initial as you may be, no one really cares to drink out of one wine glass at home that has your initial on it, or a coffee mug for that matter! I have also seen homemade muffins get turned away because of their packaging alone! If you go to the trouble of making something, make sure your guests will want to accept them. If they can't tell what is under the purple cellophane and they got squished by family members who piled them into a basket, most people will decline to take one no matter how delicious they may taste. Presentation is everything!

Make them yourself- A common trend these days is DIY. Either option is very personable and rewarding, but it can also be time consuming. Brides today are working full time, some have children from a previous marriage or some are trying to wrap up school so the idea of spending several nights a week on favors isn't realistic. That's where Etsy comes in handy! This site is fabulous for all items hand made! Also consider if you don't make the favors by hand you can certainly package them by hand!