Finding the perfect wedding favors for your wedding, and within your budget is possible - but a little planning before you start can be an enormous help. We’ve put together a list of things to consider when you are looking for the wedding favors that fit you best.

1 – DO decide on a theme. There are millions of ideas out there, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Deciding on a color, type, or theme before getting too far into your search can greatly help the “but those look nice too” syndrome that many brides are known for. Stay on target!

2 – DON’T Shop at dollar stores! These places will often gouge you on price, or not deal in the type of quantities you will require. Thrifty stores tend to also have a reputation of mismatching crucial colors, late orders, or worse yet, the wrong items entirely! (Plus, they will often look cheap)

3 – DON’T Shop at wedding stores! These places will overcharge, and mark up seemingly innocuously priced items via sneaky add-ons, “reservation prices” or refuse bulk discounts. Unless you have an unlimited budget, and a wedding planner, these should be your last resort.

4 – DO Use the Internet. There are many sites out there that are easy to search through, can be filtered by colors, type, and budget. While some will specialize in variety, others will specialize in finding you the best price. Regardless of your choice of site, they will save you countless hours of plodding through catalogue after catalogue of uninteresting, over-expensive wedding catalogues, or trudging through the crowded isles of never-ending dollar stores.

5 – DON’T settle for the first “close enough” favor you stumble upon. While there is something to be said for decisiveness, a good website will allow you to bookmark or email yourself a reminder link, while providing useful, similar item options to ensure you get the right favor for you.

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Authored by Renee Banin of Fortune Wedding Favours

Renee Banin is the owner of http://www.fortuneweddingfavors.com which provides high quality custom wedding fortune cookies and picture cookies.  Many of her items are as low as .99 cents each.  Her cookies have been seen on such shows as The Food Network and Good Morning America.  Fortune Wedding Favors is a sister site of http://www.Promiseweddingfavors.com and http://www.treasureweddingfavors.com

In a time when the environment is one of the most important topics on the minds of everyone, even brides are looking to “do their part.”

Giving “green” favors to guests isn’t a trend - it’s a way for a couple to give back. Not just to guests, but to their children, and their childrens’ children. To the world.

As we become more aware of the consequences of our daily lives upon the earth, people are more appreciative of the little things - like the wildflowers they pass in a field while driving to work, or the perfectly blue sky on a clear, sunny day.

No longer looking for China-made pewter that takes extensive gasoline to export and ship, (mainly due to its weight,) guests are happy to receive plantable favors, bio-degradable packaging, and even notes on recycled paper stating that a donation was made in their name to an earth-friendly charity.

Seed packets and seed tin favors are a favorite among 2008 brides, as are lavender sachets among bridal shower hosts.

Companies like bloembox are making headlines on Oprah, the Today Show, HGTV, and FoodTV, and in major magazines like InStyle, Woman’s Day and Family Circle, with their “eco-friendly” floral seed favor tins and boxes

More companies are jumping on board, but it’s not a bandwagon their joining. It’s a movement.A change. A change in the way we’re all thinking. A change in the way we’re all living.

When planning your wedding, no matter what the theme, consider giving your guests an earth-friendly favor at your event, and make your mark on the world while making your vows to your partner.

Not only will you feel good about it, but your guests will appreciate it too!

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Authored by Tiffany Lamothe of Favor Bonanza.

Tiffany Lamothe is owner of Favor Bonanza - an online retailer offering wedding favors, bridal shower favors, anniversary favors, and more.