We recently received a DM asking about unique, chic wedding favors, so we thought we’d ask some of the top wedding and event planners what their thoughts are . . . and BOY did we get some answers. All of the below party geniuses were speaking at Preston Bailey’s PB Live!, which gives up-and-coming designers and planners all the tools they need to create perfect weddings. We attended and got the scoop for all the brides- and grooms-to-be out there, who want to make sure their guests leave with a lasting impression that isn’t, “What do I do with this?”

Welcome bag from Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe’s wedding in Positano, planned by Diana Sorensen of Sugokuii Events.

“Welcome bags are the new wedding favors!”  —Bryan Rafanelli

Bryan Rafanelli, trusted planner of Michelle Obama, actually hinted at the wedding favor trend taking a backseat to welcome bags. “While wedding favors have long been a special way for a couple to give their guests a memento of their special occasion, most couples today are opting out of this practice. Instead, we are creating curated welcome bags we can leave in the guests’ hotel rooms that feature lots of little touches that reflect the couple. A fun one we are working on now in New York features bite-sized food products from all of the places the bride and groom have lived, both together and individually. They have had a ball putting it together as they walked down memory lane together!” 

“Charitable or Edible? You decide!”
—Jennifer Zabinski

Jennifer Zabinksi of JZ Events, a.k.a. the planner behind more than a few OTM-featured weddings and Serena Williams’s big day (no big deal!), notes that no one wants a favor that isn’t useful, so think of what your guests would actually like/use. “A donation to a charitable cause is a nice touch to end the evening, but if you’re looking to give something as an actual favor, going the edible way is always appreciated by guests,” she says.

“Experience Over Everything!” —Sonal Shah

Sonal Shah, of Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants and author of The Complete Guide to Planning the Perfect South Asian Wedding, would rather you give your guests an experience in lieu of another monogrammed something. Here are some of her suggestions:

• • Create your own custom perfume station.
  • Stylish caricatures—“Think watercolor or fashion-style drawings instead of the cartoony caricatures,” she says.
  • A decadent dessert station with take-away boxes—“We get comments from guests all the time that they are way too stuffed by the end of the evening to enjoy the dessert, and it becomes a big waste. Whenever we do the ‘take away’ station, it is always a huge hit.”
  • 360 video booths—“There is always a massive line for this,” Shah says. “It is a great way for guests to enjoy the event and have a fun video clip to remember . . . and everyone loves posting this on their Instagram.”
  • “If a couple really want favors, we love mini Jo Malone perfumes or Diptyque candles,” Shah notes. “If you they something decadent and sweet, we are obsessed with Le Grand Louis XVI chocolates by Debauve & Gallais!”

“Give What You Love!” —Lauren Grech

Lauren Grech of LLG Events, the company behind on PB Live, reiterates Zabinski’s suggestion of giving something that will get used. “We once had a client give out engraved iPads, but if that’s not in your budget, then I love suggesting items that people can actually use in their home or while traveling. Think less about the monogrammed accessories with your initials or wedding date and consider what some of your favorite products are as a couple. For example, you could opt for coffee mugs with your favorite beans inside, or olive oil and balsamic vinegar if you’re foodies that love to cook. Perhaps you want to use a few of these products and display them at a ‘gift bar’ for another experience your guests can enjoy as they leave your wedding. And of course, our tagline is to ‘Leave Your Legacy’ and what better way to do that than by giving back? You can incorporate something small even, like charitable lottery tickets from Lotto Love.”