Just Get Engaged? Do Yourself Some Favors to Save Money: Cost Cutting Wedding Favors Tips for Newly Engaged Couples

With the economy in a recession, an average wedding costing nearly $30,000, and many couples footing the bill themselves, newly engaged brides and grooms are looking for ways to save on their wedding budgets. The Historical Chocolate Company offers tips to be creative on a budget with wedding favors.

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The Historical Chocolate Company (http://www.historicalchocolate.com) specializes in reproducing America's historic landmarks in milk, dark, and white chocolate for wedding favors, special events, corporate gifts, and gift/retail shops.

Quote start"Finding a perfect wedding favor doesn’t have to be hard or expensive," Barbara Post, the Historical Chocolate CompanyQuote end

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) January 4, 2010

One in five couples get engaged in December, according to Fast Company. This means thousands of couples are about to start the wedding planning process in January. The average wedding costs nearly $30,000 and with almost a third of couples paying for their weddings themselves, keeping costs down is important, especially in these tough economic times.

One budget item that newly engaged couples can find creative ways to save money on is wedding favors.

"Finding a perfect wedding favor doesn’t have to be hard or expensive," says Barbara Post, owner of the Historical Chocolate Company, based in Fairfax, Virginia. "I got married about a year ago and we paid for it ourselves. I can certainly relate to having to plan on a budget and doing things myself to keep costs down."

With the price of the average wedding favor between $2 and $8 and the typical guest list totaling nearly 160 people, costs can add up quickly.

To get creative on a budget, brides to be should consider these tips:

1. Think location. Use favors as a way to share the character of the wedding locale. Wedding venues themselves can provide inspiration, or a visit to a local souvenir shop. “Many of our customers pick our favors because they match their ceremony or reception location, but others choose sentimental reasons like it reflects where they met or where they got engaged.” says Barbara, whose company makes chocolate wedding favors modeled after historical landmarks. “One couple that got married in Savannah used Lincoln Memorial chocolates for favors because that’s where the groom proposed.”

2. Look at guest list. Choose something you know the guests would enjoy. Make favor giving like gift giving so that your favors won’t be left behind or go unused.

3. Err on edible. People love food. Make the memory of your wedding cake linger by sending guests home with an edible treat. “Edible favors are great because if you as a guest don’t like the favor, there is bound to be someone at the wedding who will gladly take it and it won’t go to waste,” says Terri Eaves of Bash LLC, a Washington, D.C. area wedding planner.

4. Double up. Incorporate favors into a centerpiece. Pile chocolates or candies in square glass vases.

5. Make it travel friendly. Guests will appreciate being able to stash their gift in a purse or pocket on their way out of the reception. Keep it small and beautifully wrapped.

6. Go simple. Instead of splurging for a costly item, spruce up the presentation of a simple item.

7. Nix printing costs. Skip custom engraved boxes and other printing costs by decorating with a sticker or a simple tag attached by a ribbon that matches your wedding colors.

8. DIY. Ask your friends and family to help put on the finishing touches. "While we are happy to customize our chocolates with cute personalized boxes, ribbons to match your wedding colors, or customized tags, brides can use our chocolates in a ‘do it yourself’ project with their bridesmaids to customize their favors with those personal touches." says Barbara.

9. Look for deals. Vendors will periodically run promotions or offer quantity discounts. “To help newly engaged couples and make favor costs lighter on the wallet, the Historical Chocolate Company is offering 5 percent off all wedding orders placed in January,” says Barbara. “It’s our way of helping brides and grooms with their bottom line.”

By following these simple tips, couples planning their “big day” can save money while still adding a fun and elegant way to thank their guests for being a part of it.

About The Historical Chocolate Company:
The Historical Chocolate Company specializes in reproducing America's historic landmarks in milk, dark, and white chocolate for wedding favors, special events, corporate gifts, and gift/retail shops. Visit us at http://www.historicalchocolate.com, http://www.facebook.com/HistoricalChocolate and twitter.com/HistoricalChoc for more information.

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