When you want to make your celebration memorable, choosing quality wedding favors for your guests is a great way to do it. But it can be difficult to know exactly when to order wedding favors. This article will teach you the best time to buy favors to ensure yours arrive on time for your wedding day.
When to Order Wedding Favors
As a rule of thumb, you should order wedding favors 3 months to 1 month before your wedding date, especially if they require assembly.
This may be as simple as placing in bags and tying ribbons, or as complex as pouring bulk coffee beans into sealable envelopes and then adding sticker seals.
When to Start Shopping
Shop early! You only get one chance to give the best wedding gifts to guests. Once the big ticket items are completed — the date, venue, color palette, and theme — you’re ready to shop. Find favors that work with your style, celebration, and your budget.
Bonus points if you find something that resonates with you as a couple or reflects a hobby you enjoy!
The ideal time to order favors for a wedding depends on these three factors:
Freshness
► Is the wedding favor edible?
If so, you’ll need to order them as close to the wedding date as possible to ensure freshness. But it’s important to refer to the supplier’s notes to determine when it’s best to order.
For instance, if you’re chocolate favors, find out how long they are able to be stored. These popular chocolates are a hit this season and have a freshness of 9-10 months, so you can order early and store properly to keep them fresh.
You will want to have them packaged and ready no sooner than a few days prior to the wedding day.
On the other hand, olive oil, honey favors, or coffee allows greater shelf life on freshness, so you can order early.
Assembly
► Will the favor require a bit of assembly to put it together?
One month should give you plenty of time to assemble favors. It’s also helpful to have a little time if something arrives damaged or you need to order an additional quantity.
The final weeks ahead of the wedding get very busy, so order ASAP to get them off of your checklist.
No Assembly Required
Favors such as matchboxes or magnet bottle openers require zero assembly, which is nice for you! Plus, they’re incredibly useful favors for guests. These are great options if you’re running short on time and need to order wedding favors quickly.
Demand
► Are they popular wedding favors?
And last but not least, if the wedding favor is extremely popular right now or is seasonal, i.e. wedding blankets in bulk during the fall and winter months, pine trees for Christmastime, jelly jam favors in the summertime, etc., you’ll need to order as early as possible based on the retailer’s schedule.
Some Etsy shops will have their own calendar to fulfill and ship orders on time. You’ll want to refer to their calendar and submit your wedding date and they’ll explain when to order based on their shipping deadlines.
In addition, if they are being shipped far away, it’s important to know when to order wedding favors based on the shipping schedule of the shop. When in doubt, just ask!
How Many to Order
Typically, each guest receives one favor. Try to avoid giving favors to couples, as this can be difficult to do when there are single guests without a plus-one. In addition, it’s best to give each guest their own so they don’t have to share and it won’t look skimpy. For more on this topic, read: How Many Wedding Favors to Order.
Tips for Buying in Bulk
When possible, buy wedding favors early and in bulk to save money. When you purchase a large quantity at once, you’ll typically be given a discounted rate based on how many you order. Furthermore, you can save money by combining shipping rather than ordering a few batches at a time.
One major way to save money when buying in bulk is to look for a discount code, or order during special times of the year when items are on sale. Experts agree that wedding favors are typically on sale during the “off-season”, which is traditionally in the winter.
Another way to save money is by waiting for a sale to occur or applying a coupon code at checkout.
A wedding favor is a perfect way to thank your guests and send them home with a small token of your appreciation. Start shopping as early as possible and be sure to consider the colors, theme, and season when you order. Finally, don’t forget to buy favors in bulk and get the best deals with discount codes and coupons.
Now that you know when to order your wedding favors, find the best ones for your celebration! Browse 50 Best Wedding Favors [2023] for a detailed list of the most popular favor ideas for weddings.
