Choosing and customizing the party favors for your wedding can help to create a memorable take-away gift for guests. Wedding favors can be decorative or useful; they can be theme-oriented or printed with the name of the bride and groom. Think of these little items like the "goody bags" that are used at kids' birthday parties, except with an upgrade to suit the formality (or lack of formality) to match the tone of your wedding event.

The printers that create wedding invitations usually offer a line of other printed items, such as pens, pencils, match books, and refrigerator magnets. The bride and groom's names, date of the wedding, and any other special message can be printed on these items. They are often placed on a table as guests are leaving the reception hall, or grouped with table centerpieces near each guest's dinner setting.

Some of the more unique and interactive party favors for weddings can include photos taken at the reception. For example, a carnival-type photo booth can be rented so that guests can take humorous photos of themselves (alone, in couples, or in small groups). When the photographs print out a few seconds after taking the picture, the date of the event is often printed on the photo border. Guests take the instant prints with them as a keepsake, but the photo booth pictures are also available later to the bride and groom, as a way of documenting who attended the wedding. These pictures often turn out surprisingly well, as anyone who has visited such a booth at a carnival can attest. Guests often keep this type of customized party favor for a long time after the event, helping to remind them of a particular time and date where the celebration was unique.

Other options for wedding favors are small bags of candy or jelly beans placed near each table centerpiece. Small bags of mesh with beads and satin ribbons are available at many craft stores for this purpose. They usually come in packs of ten or twenty. The candy can be purchased in the bride's favorite color in order to create a tie-in with the table decor. If the reception is not in an air conditioned environment, be careful to pick candy that does not melt easily. Also, consider whether or not there will be insects present if the event is to be held outdoors. Sometimes a nonperishable item is better for outdoor receptions, such as a small jar of honey or jelly with ribbons and a customized label added.

Another option for wedding favors is a decorative item that ties in with the theme of the reception. For example, in coastal locations brides may have the option of a beach and seashell theme, with name card holders that are made from shells. These are placed with the guest's name at the spot designated for their dinner seating. For the very creative, these can be handmade by the bride herself, bridal party, or family members. They can also be purchased online through shell wholesalers. Some seashell stores have a complete bridal decoration line, including candle holders and wreaths made out of shells.

Whether your preference is for something edible, decorative, or both, the party favors at a wedding can help to make the guests feel welcome. When they leave the event with a sentimental or humorous item, the wedding favor will remind them of what a magical event was staged on the occasion of your marriage.