With everything that goes into planning a wedding—decisions about location, colors, flowers, music, guests, food and the all-important dress—choosing wedding favors is probably the last thing on any busy bride’s mind. Compared to important factors like the cake and food, favors may seem like a small, even insignificant part of your wedding day that you may be tempted to forgo. However, a seemingly small gesture like handing out favors can help put the perfect finishing touch on your wedding day.

Why favors?

“I suggest brides give out favors because traditionally they provide your guests with an attractive memento of the day,” says the Boulderado Hotel’s Anna Mundale, who has worked with hundreds of brides in her seven years as Social Catering Sales Manager. “Not only do favors have a souvenir quality,” explains Anna, “but they add a punch of color and personality to the dining table while serving as a reflection of the bride and groom’s personal interests and style.” Favors are a great way to liven up simple place settings and are a great way to carry out the wedding’s theme down to the very last detail.

What should I choose?

Anna has seen a wide variety of favors, ranging from traditional to trendy. “Most commonly, couples choose edible favors, such as baked goods or candies emblazoned with their names and the date of the wedding.” Websites such as Beau-Coup.com offer personalized edible favors such as chocolates, mint boxes and cookies. Anna also notes that eco-friendly favors such as flower seed packets, soy candles and potted plants have become more popular in recent years.

For smaller weddings, you may even consider handmade wedding favors. Making small gifts for your guests by hand shows how much their presence means to you. “Recently, I had a bride knit red scarves for all of the women at the wedding,” Anna says. “The project was daunting, but she loved that in all of her wedding photos, the gals were wearing her special creation.” The thought of hand-making all of the wedding favors by hand may seem overwhelming for some brides, but the end result is well worth the hard work.

How Much Should I Spend?

For most couples concerned about staying within their budget, this is the key question when it comes to favors. If you are planning on keeping favors on the table, make sure they are of good quality and high sentimental value. “Don’t waste money on trinkets your guests will almost certainly throw away, or leave at the table setting,” advises Anna. She points out that providing beautiful favors can actually help trim your budget in the long run: “favors can save you money by enhancing the décor at the table and in turn, save you money on flowers and other accessories.”

In weddings, as in life, it’s the little things that make the most impact. Providing favors for your guests on your wedding day will make them feel appreciated and will help them remember your special day for years to come.