Some of our favorite OLAS wedding favors!
Recently, while perusing Facebook, I noticed that one of our fabulous OLAS brides-to-be, Brooke, posed the question: what are some fabulous wedding favors? I love questions like this, because it really gets me thinking about the wonderfully creative ideas that all of our past brides have made a part of their wedding day, and how that creativity and love translates to some pretty fantastic wedding favors. So, I spent the morning revisiting some of our couples, their spectacular weddings, and, of course, their favors! Here are a few of my favorites – some actually were favors, and some were part of the wedding day in other ways, but items that I think can double as a favor. Hope you brides-to-be (especially YOU Brooke 
) get some inspiration from OLAS brides that have come before you!
First, from Ashley + Damian’s stunning New England wedding (shot by Graham!), a bottle of delicious Limoncello! It’s not only beautiful (by itself and in pictures) but it’s also something your guests can enjoy for months to come, and with every sip they can remember the amazing time they had at your wedding!
From Melanie + Rorie’s wedding (shot by our wonderful Southeast team!), this is one of those favors that can both serve a purpose during your big day, and then something your guests can take home and use again. I love the vintage inspired fans with a lovely green ribbon; not only are they filled with Southern charm, but who doesn’t love a great fan to not only serve as a pretty little decoration around your home, but also to cool you down while you’re sipping lemonade on your back porch?? I do declare, perhaps even Scarlett O’Hara had this fabulous favor on her wedding day!
“A Thousand Paper Cranes” is one of my favorite ideas, from Emily + Daniel’s Chicago wedding (shot by our lovie Roya!) I was drawn to these not only because they’re beautiful and colorful, but also because of their symbolism. According to Japanese legend, anyone who creates 1,000 origami paper cranes is promised a wish by a crane, such as a long life filled with immense happiness. How neat would it be to create something like this with your sweetheart, and then give a paper crane to each of your guests? Of course, it doesn’t have to be exactly this, but I love the idea of working tradition and legend not only into your wedding day, but also into favors that you give your closest family and friends!
Another awesome idea is to treat your guests like kids in a candy store….literally! I love when our couples (like Tea + Jesse, whose wedding was shot by our marvelous Michael!) create an amazingly yummy spread filled with their favorite candies, provide baggies, and let their guests have at it! It’s a great little midnight snack for after a long night of dancing and having an amazing time celebrating your I Dos!
Another sweet treat (from Lora + Joe’s amazing Goat Farm Wedding) is a really lovely little jar of honey (from Lora’s home state of Kentucky) for guests to savor by the spoonful or in their afternoon tea. Not only is the actual packaging just so pretty, but this is another favor that can be used for such a long time (with each taste reminding them of your wedding day!), and then saved because it’s just so cute!
Another take on the cocktail-as-favor, but this one (also from Lora + Joe) I just love because 1.) It’s in a mason jar 2.) Has a doily label and 3.) Is something that you and your husband-to-be (or maybe even your bridesmaids!) can spend a Sunday afternoon creating and then let marinate until your wedding day. Even though it’s 12:37pm, I sure do feel like a Vodka infused with elder blossom, rose petal and lavender. Yumm.
I know I’ve spotlighted this awesome idea from Emily + Dan’s wedding in another post about a DIY photo-booth, but I have to say, I LOVE polaroids. Love them. They’re so vintage and just plain awesome. So what if you had some extra film not only for your DIY guest book, but also for your guests to take home as a favor? Perhaps you could even create little polaroid-picture sized frames with your names and date that are colorful and would look great with these fun black and white pictures inside. Easy and creative, I think that would be so fun!
Lots of our brides and grooms are such wonderfully generous people that we see a lot of amazing organizations benefitting from their donations in lieu of wedding favors. And I have to say, I just adore how Lauren + Jonathan (shot by Graham) took this one step further. Both Lauren + Jonathan volunteer each summer at Camp Rising Sun which is a FREE camp in Connecticut for children with cancer, and in lieu of favors, they made a donation to this phenomenal organization. BUT. They also had one of their amazing campers make cute little “shrinky dinks” for guests to keep (or even put on a key chain!) to constantly remind them not only of Lauren + Jonathan’s big day, but also of how we can all make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. This is another favor that could be used not only during your day, but also something to be kept and used later by your guests. From Heather + Chet’s beach wedding, I just love these wooden umbrellas provided to shade the sun during the ceremony. Who wouldn’t love a little extra shade on your next walk on the beach, or as a cute little addition to a romantic picnic? I know I would
And remember…half of the favor is the packaging. I love how Emily + Daniel had their favors sitting right at their guest’s seats before the reception even started! The twine and the tag are such wonderful little additions, and make for some really great pictures too!
So, OLAS brides-to-be, I hope you got some ideas from this post, because I definitely had a great time writing it! We are so blessed to have so many incredible brides and grooms with huge hearts and such creative minds. If you’re thinking about working with us, know that we can’t wait to start working with you and hearing all about your super creative favor! xoxoxLauren
