Yesterday’s Ask Emmaline question about a good flower girl gift idea led to more inquiries in our inbox, so keep ’em coming! We love hearing from you. :) Today we’re tackling the latest: where to place wedding favors at your reception. Breanna, like many brides-to-be, wants to make sure she’s planning her wedding right, right down to where to place wedding favors and how to display them. She writes,

“Hi Emmaline, I need to know where to place wedding favors at my reception. I’m giving jam favors to guests. Do I put favors at each guest’s seat or should I place wedding favors somewhere else? Is there a certain way I’m supposed to give out my favors? Thanks!

Hi Breanna! Great question and one that I’m sure every bride wonders at one time or another. Where to place wedding favors and how to display them always comes down to presentation. How will favors look their best? Individual at each guest’s place setting, or in a larger space grouped together with signage? That’s totally up to you. Most couples place wedding favors at each guest’s seat to ensure it doesn’t get missed by accident, and also because their venue might be tight on space. Likewise, when you decide to place wedding favors in a separate space, it requires you to figure out a visually pleasing display (so couples opt out since it equals more work and, ultimately, more money).

Where to Display Wedding Favors – Tips

For Small Favors
If you are giving a wedding favor that is small in size, as most are — like a jar of honey, jar of jam, coffee favors, etc. — it is perfectly acceptable to place wedding favors at each guest’s seat. If the favors are large or bulky, you will want to place wedding favors on a side table. Obviously, if you are sending guests home with delicious edible wedding favors (such as a donut bar or cookie favors, where guests pick their favorites and put them in a favor bag) or if you’re planning a candy buffet.
Scented Favors
This is an important one: if your wedding favors are incredibly fragrant (i.e. you’re wrapping them in burlap or jute twine that smells very strong, they are fragrant soap favors, or you’re giving scented candle favors, always place them away from dining tables. The scents can sometimes ruin the taste of dinner and also aggravate some guests’ allergies. (Read: Scented Candles at Wedding Receptions for more tips on this.)
Bulky or Delicate Favors
Now, if the favor is bulky or delicate — say, flowers or succulents, or awesome mugs like these, or anything breakable like these cool stemless glasses, you will definitely want to display them on a side table for guests to take on their way home. Some favors look best on a display stand (think galvanized stands, metal wire basket stands, or a wood shelf) or a specialized stand (i.e. donuts, displayed on this neat donut stand or macaron favors on this or inside these boxes). Last but not least, jar favors look great displayed in a wire basket or stand of some sort, and you’ll see some examples below for visuals.
Use your best judgment when deciding where to place wedding favors. You really can’t go wrong either way!

Where to Place Wedding Favors

Now that you know where to place wedding favors, we’ve done some digging on your specific favors — jars — to give you inspiration on how to display your favors. Presentation is everything! Jars are easy to display at weddings because they can stack on top of one another. Use a side table, an old hutch or armoire, bookshelf, crates, baskets, or tiered stands to display your wedding favors. Need visuals? Here are some helpful displays we spotted at wedding jar favor expert, Miss Shelley’s Southern Jams and Jellies!

by miss shelley’s southern jams and jellies

by miss shelley’s southern jams and jellies
Where to place wedding favors depends on your own vision. If you decide to place wedding favors on a side table, make sure your table is near the entrance or near the bar (both areas of heavy foot traffic) to ensure guests don’t miss it. You should also include a sign that tells guests to take one. Use signage that really stands out (something like this is perfect!)

by miss shelley’s southern jams and jellies

by miss shelley’s southern jams and jellies | photo by photographsbyAW

by miss shelley’s southern jams and jellies
Aren’t these jam favors and their corresponding displays incredible? Miss Shelley (maker of the jar favors) is amazing. This one is my favorite:

by miss shelley’s southern jams and jellies