river rocks as place cards/favors??

[enbcfsobe]

Before I waste any more time researching/trying this idea, I''d love your feedback as impartial observers. We are trying to have some sort of "park" theme -- something like the parks here in Philly, with things to evoke trees and sculptures and ponds and such.

My newest idea was doing flat, smooth river rocks, about 2-3 inches in diameter, and using paint/paint pens and maybe a custom stencil (I looked at etching/engraving the rocks but it is WAY too expensive) to do a logo/date on one side and the name and table on the other side. Then they would double as favors.

Does this suck as a favor?

The only other choice FI even remotely liked for favors was doing a CD. He is generally anti-favor and annoyed that people want something more (esp. since our catering is quite expensive and we are going to end up inviting more than half of the wedding guests to the rehearsal dinner).
I personally don''t think much of most of the wedding favors I''ve gotten. I have no idea what I did with the CD my best friend gave out at her wedding. I would rather put my DIY energy into the favors than anything else, but I don''t want to make something that people will think sucks. Thoughts??

 

[Gypsy]

I''d donate to charity. Something environmental... like somplace that plants trees for reforestation. Put on each placesetting. It''s a favor, it benifits the environment, goes with your theme, and is generous so no one can complain about it.

 

[Mandarine]

I love the idea!!!!!!!...specially with Gypsy''s ideas too!

Where are you finding these big rocks?

I want to use some as my guestbook...where guests actually just write their names and maybe one short word. I plan on then using these in a vase at home with some branches for decoartion!

M~

 

[enbcfsobe]

Mandarine, I love your idea. I wish our guest list was short enough to do something like that! I haven''t looked around too much for rocks, but this option looked pretty good -- the ones in the third category look like the most reasonable bet.

http://www.stonedecorative.com/decorative-stones-products/corporate-gifts-events.htm

Gypsy -- I am torn about the donation thing. I think it is nice, but I think some people are kindof offended by it and feel it is a non-favor favor. Maybe a combination of the two would be good and we could give to something really local, like one of the "Friends Of" groups for one of our local parks (often these groups, not the city, pay to make the city parks pretty). Part of me would also love to have time to paint the stones to look like kitties and donate to a cat rescue, but I don''t know that FI would go for a kitty-themed wedding. I''m not sure I''d be into that either. But it could be so cute -- look: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9039112

I only wish I was talented enough to do something like that!!

 

[door knob solitaire]

I like the thought...but I summit the idea of something that adds to the environment, as apposed to removing from it? Not sure if you are searching for a budget friendly idea or an enviro idea. If the latter...

Here''s an idea

Different site

And another

Yadda Yadda

Looks like these are close to the same...but here is another

I tried to find tree seeds. Something that would really make an impact. And when looked at it could be a reminder of how your marriage has grown. §

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/22/2008 12:07:58 PM
Author: Gypsy
I''d donate to charity. Something environmental... like somplace that plants trees for reforestation. Put on each placesetting. It''s a favor, it benifits the environment, goes with your theme, and is generous so no one can complain about it.

I agree with Gypsy-I think that donating to an environmental charity would be a great idea. While I like the sound of the river rock one, honestly, I know that it will just get thrown in a drawer somewhere at home.

 

[Gypsy]

The last three weddings I''ve been to have done charities and they''ve warmed my heart. I don''t go to weddings for the food, for the entertainment, and I CERTAINLY don''t go to weddings for the favors! I go for the couple, because I am happy for them. So if your guests are messed up in the head enough to consider a donation to charity somehow unworthy, they have their priorities screwed up, beg your pardon. My mother already purchased my favors, 3 years ago, from Iran and they are a meaningful nod to my heritage. But if it wasn''t for the heritage thing, I would be doing donations. Probably for animal rescue, or cancer for John''s father, or reforestation. Things that mean something to us. I vote rocks plus donation. Or just the donations.

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.ran.org/

http://www.arborday.org/

http://www.idofoundation.org/welcome/favors/

Some links.

 

[enbcfsobe]

Gypsy -- I agree that people''s priorities are silly, and I don''t think that the guests we are actually excited to have there will be offended. I barely even notice favors (or the absence thereof) at parties, which is why I thought that making a unique escort card into something people might want to take home might be a good alternative.

Part of me feels like anything I give out, whether it is something commemorating a donation or something or a trinket or candy, will end up in the trash or left behind or in a drawer. The whole thing is just frustrating and rather impersonal. I guess we could try to find something philadelphian. Our heritages are so mixed that i don''t think there''s one thing that we could have that would be representative. I''m so annoyed with the whole thing right now that I''m tempted to give out little jars of herring in cream sauce (not sure why, but that''s something both our parents grew up eating -- I can''t stand it).

Maybe I should donate to different charities for each guest based on their interests?? Maybe I should check with my accountant and see if I will be able to itemize my deductions next year? The whole thing is driving me nuts. Aaaagh.

 

[ringster]

Date: 1/22/2008 2:47:35 PM
Author: enbcfsobe
Gypsy -- I agree that people's priorities are silly, and I don't think that the guests we are actually excited to have there will be offended. I barely even notice favors (or the absence thereof) at parties, which is why I thought that making a unique escort card into something people might want to take home might be a good alternative.


Part of me feels like anything I give out, whether it is something commemorating a donation or something or a trinket or candy, will end up in the trash or left behind or in a drawer. The whole thing is just frustrating and rather impersonal. I guess we could try to find something philadelphian. Our heritages are so mixed that i don't think there's one thing that we could have that would be representative. I'm so annoyed with the whole thing right now that I'm tempted to give out little jars of herring in cream sauce (not sure why, but that's something both our parents grew up eating -- I can't stand it).


Maybe I should donate to different charities for each guest based on their interests?? Maybe I should check with my accountant and see if I will be able to itemize my deductions next year? The whole thing is driving me nuts. Aaaagh.

i really can't stand favors - all of mine end up scattered around the house. i can't throw them away because i feel bad but i feel like they are just a waste of money and resources. the intention is great but i really don't need them as a guest of a wedding. i am there to see people i care about celebrate their new life together and they were willing to invite me to this special event so i am more than grateful.

i think since you have a park as a theme it totally makes sense to do as gypsy suggested - making a donation to something that benefits the environment. i don't know if one of gypsy's links had anything to do with this but you could sponsor a tree being planted in your favorite park and give your guests a card that tells them about it and has the website link to the charity.

i think someone suggested giving seeds and personally i don't care for that type of favor - we got that once for a wedding and yes it is somewhere in the house not being planted. seeds are just work for your guests who don't have a green thumb.

and putting a donation for each of your guests favorite charity is A LOT of work and A LOT of money. how much are you planning on spending on favors? i think most cost around $1-5 so that amount is not going to go very far. a lump donation to a good charity is a better way to go for your sanity and for the charity ... and for guests like me - you'd be doing me a favor

ETA : since you live in philly maybe something like this


http://phillyorchards.org/

or

http://www.treevitalize.net/

we're going to give a donation to a charity that i've been active with

ETA : and if you really really want to do favors, i think chocolate is always safe. i like that i can eat it and then it doesn't end up somewhere in my house. maybe chocolate shaped like a leaf. DIY things sound like too much stress to me. put a tag and ribbon on the chocolate and you are done.

 

[gtn]

Date: 1/22/2008 2:12:46 PM
Author: door knob solitaire
I like the thought...but I summit the idea of something that adds to the environment, as apposed to removing from it? Not sure if you are searching for a budget friendly idea or an enviro idea. If the latter...


Here''s an idea


Different site


And another


Yadda Yadda


Looks like these are close to the same...but here is another


I tried to find tree seeds. Something that would really make an impact. And when looked at it could be a reminder of how your marriage has grown. §

I really like this idea.


The rocks are really cute, but I worry about the cost... You could buy small river rocks cheap, but I haven''t seen larger one that are affordable. Then add other supplies and your time... I fear that it might be very stressful.

 

[enbcfsobe]

at the moment, my PMS-fed inclination is to give herring to all the guests that I didn''t really want to invite and chocolate to the people I like.

ringster, i''m totally with you on the favors, including the seeds (no offense, dks, it was a good thought, but those i''ve received are out there somewhere making a landfill pretty or something) but i think my very traditional fmil really wants us to give something out. i guess i just feel a little weird about the charity thing. i''m trying to think about how i would feel if someone did that for us as a wedding gift. in theory, i should think great -- how thoughtful of them. but really, then they get the tax deduction and i still don''t have a damn mixer. maybe that makes me selfish. but at the end of the day i want to do something thoughtful that won''t be a total waste. maybe charity is the best answer. i don''t know. i''m obviously going around in circles and should think about this at a time my wedding planning does not make me think of herring.

 

[ringster]

Date: 1/22/2008 3:15:15 PM
Author: enbcfsobe
at the moment, my PMS-fed inclination is to give herring to all the guests that I didn't really want to invite and chocolate to the people I like.


ringster, i'm totally with you on the favors, including the seeds (no offense, dks, it was a good thought, but those i've received are out there somewhere making a landfill pretty or something) but i think my very traditional fmil really wants us to give something out. i guess i just feel a little weird about the charity thing. i'm trying to think about how i would feel if someone did that for us as a wedding gift. in theory, i should think great -- how thoughtful of them. but really, then they get the tax deduction and i still don't have a damn mixer. maybe that makes me selfish. but at the end of the day i want to do something thoughtful that won't be a total waste. maybe charity is the best answer. i don't know. i'm obviously going around in circles and should think about this at a time my wedding planning does not make me think of herring.

yeah, i wouldn't worry about the favors right now. you probably have bigger fish to fry. i think of (sorry guests!) favors as low priority and i'll tackle it after all of the more important details are sorted out. like i think it is more important for me to figure out what the table decorations are and if i have any out of town guest if i will do anything special for them and what is going to be the order of things at the reception and what dress am i going to wear and what is the ceremony going to be ....

sometimes too if i hit a wall with ideas or get frustrated and overwhelmed, i just stop and take a day or two off of the subject and let my brain take a breather

ETA : since FMIL is the one who wants to do the favors is there anyway to unload this task on her, with you having final approval and veto power of course. just a thought.