Winter-Themed Wedding Favors

Summer may be the accepted peak wedding season, but there is just something magical about a winter wedding. The calm nights with the shimmering, crunching snow and cold, opaque breath lend a layer of romance and whimsy to the setting. Arrive in a horse-drawn sleigh and your fantasy wedding is complete.

Unfortunately, with the economy as frozen and fragile as the ice-covered tree branches, you may feel that your extravagant wedding will have to remain a fantasy. Luckily, almost anything for your wedding can be done beautifully on a budget.

Here, tips for winter-themed wedding favors that will dazzle your guests and let you stash away more money for that horse-drawn sleigh.

Do-it-Yourself Essentials

Before starting out, decide on a color theme of no more than three colors. This will prevent spending extra money on decorations in a variety of colors. A common winter theme is light blue, white and sparkling silver. Consider buying some decorative favor boxes or bags and classy ribbon (personalized ribbon is an inexpensive way to add a personal touch). The trick to making inexpensive favors look expensive is wrapping them in rich packaging—it’ll make them look like a million dollars.

Shirley’s Tip: Wrap a tiffany blue favor box in white satin ribbon, or tie a shimmery organza favor bag with a light blue satin ribbon. Fill the boxes with snowflake candy or some other winter-themed treat. Another option is to wrap winter-themed candles in the organza bags. Candles bring warmth to any cold winter room.

Inexpensive Winter-Themed Favors

If you do not have a large amount of time to dedicate to actually making your favors, you can still save money. Order lovely favors that adhere to a winter theme (snowflakes, snowmen, shimmery favors and favors with embedded crystals top this list), and wrap them yourself in the pretty ribbon and packaging. You will save time by ordering ready-made favors, and you will save money on fancy prepackaging.

Shirley’s Tip: A silvery, snowflake-shaped bottle stopper in pretty packaging is something wintery that guests can actually use.

Double the Use

Many favors are stylish enough to use as extra decoration. Use ornamental place card holders that double as wedding favors. Guests can later use the favors to display their favorite pictures. If you do not have a sit-down dinner, place favors on a multi-level tier in the middle of the table, saving on expensive centerpieces.

Shirley’s Tip: Buy silver or glass snowflake-shaped picture frames and place a picture of each guest in the frame. Hang around the reception hall, and allow guests to take their particular snowflake home at the end of the evening as a favor. Hang over each guest’s seat to combine place card holder, decoration and favor.

Warm Hearts & Souls

In the dead of winter, nothing cuts through the cold better than a tasty, soothing, warm drink. Fill the winter-themed favor boxes or favor bags with hot chocolate, coffee or loose-leaf tea. Guests will have a steaming cup of deliciousness to enjoy when they return home from your fabulous wedding.

Shirley’s Tip: Put these materials in winter-themed favor bags, or order prepackaged coffee, hot chocolate and tea. Attach a whisk with a wintery ribbon or personalized ribbon for a complete package.

You deserve the whimsical, fanciful wedding of your dreams. When you imagined this day, the current state of the economy was undoubtedly the last concern on your mind. However, by following these easy, money-saving DIY tips, you won’t have to put your flawless winter wedding on ice.

Shirley Tan, CEO of one of the top wedding favors websites, is considered the go-to guru of all things wedding favors. She was featured in InStyle Magazine and on the popular TV show Designing Spaces, and she recently authored The Bridal Handbook, to be released in January 2009.