Need help with the favor...

Okay, I really want to get a favor for my guests that will be useful. I hate it when I go to a wedding and although the thought is always nice, I wind up taking something home with me that I will NEVER use. So, I have been toying around with some ideas.

My flowers as well as other accents throughout the wedding are sunflowers. I was thinking of giving sunflower seeds (not the edible ones but ones to be planted) in mini terocotta plants wrapped in cellophane with a ribbon saying Jessica and Carmine 9/17/05. Enclosed include some form of saying like 'today we would like to thank you for being a part of our wedding; the beginning of our life together. please plant these seeds in symbolism as the flower blooms so will our love' but MUCH better wording, that was just off the top of my head. My fear is my wedding is mid sept. which means people would have to hold onto until the NEXT season.

Do you think guests would hold onto it?

-OR-

Should I just make a donation to a charity of our choice and leave cards on the table stating so?

I know they are two opposite sides of the spectrum, but those are really the only two ideas I've come across and like.

Sorry this is so long, but i really appreciate any thoughts, comments, suggestions!!!!

Re: Need help with the favor...

I think those are both lovely ideas. Seeds are something really special because something can come out of them, but so too in a way are donations. I really like both ideas a lot.

Re: Need help with the favor...

Thanks for your opinion Deb! But instead of making it easier you made it harder you were supposed to pick one or the other not both!

Re: Need help with the favor...

No opinions?

Re: Need help with the favor...

We gave tulip bulbs as a 'plant a memory' for our engagement party and it was a big hit. We are thinking of doing a donation too as our wedding favor. Which means - I think both are nice. Sorry, I am not help either

Re: Need help with the favor...

Well, at least you guys approve of both ideas haha

Re: Need help with the favor...

Sorry I wasn't more of a help - but I have experience with both at least and both go over well

Re: Need help with the favor...

Now realize that I say this one because I kill plants... I would do the donation. Are the seeds going to be in the dirt already? If I had a plant in my house Ifrom sept to the following summer would kill it... I don't know why I try so hard.. they all die..
i would talk to someone at a nursery and see if sunflowers will even survive indoors for that long. I think they need full sun to live.

Also If guests don't have a place to plant the sunflowers (like and apartment) they can't use them because they will get too big for the inside.

but If they are not in dirt.. I doesn't matter.. They can stay fine and people will plant them in the summer...

I think a donation is just so nice.. Pick something that says something about yourself and wrap it up with some chocolate or almonds or just do it by itself.. I love favors, no matter what they are..

Re: Need help with the favor...

i love the seed idea personally...i love sunflowers!

Re: Need help with the favor...

OK, then I vote for donation. Figure some good people will do the planting but many won't and with a donation, everyone feels good and some worthy folks benefit. I say B!!!

Re: Need help with the favor...

I vote for the donation also... not everyone will plant seeds (me)
Donation is a very nice idea

Re: Need help with the favor...

i don't know if your willing to look at other ideas, but I think the most useful thing i ever got was a wine stopper. You can find them for under $2 each. I use mine all the time.

Re: Need help with the favor...

I am doing plantable daisy seed pods.. I'll give you the link.. I am also doing terracotta pots with them.. I am wrapping it up in tulle and a bow.. I actually just made a sample toinght and it looks so nice all together.. I got the terra cotta pots on sale in May (I couldn't resist) for 20 cents each.. they were all sizes on sale.. they go on sale every so often..

Re: Need help with the favor...

I think it is a great idea, by the time I get around to planting it most likely it would be spring already...

I went to a wedding a few years ago and the bride had small tiffinay type boxes on each table with 3 or 4 bulbs in it and instead of match books had flower packets that looked like matches on each table.. They all had a saying something similiar to what you want. Please plant these sends and watch a new life start as we start our new life together.

I thought it was the best favor I got.

Re: Need help with the favor...

I dont know how helpful this will be but if you do the flowers, are they definitely sunflowers? The reason I ask is because I planted sunflowers in my garden last year and they grew to be 4' tall Just a little big for a small terracotta pot. Donations are always great as favors too.

Re: Need help with the favor...

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ADVICE!!!!

SFP0214, I will not be planting the seeds myself. The seeds will be enclosed in a small ziploc bag. And I was thinking id enclose a small amount of soil in another ziplock bag. and put the two bags in the terocotta pot put some cellophane or toole or something and dress it up. make it like an at home garden kit kinda. well, thats the idea anyway...

azoodie2, sunflowers are my FAVORITE!!!! my centerpieces are sunflowers as well as my bo-k and the deco. on my cake! my BM dreses are yellow in memory of sunflowers! IM CRAZY!

So, for all that suggested a different flower i dont think i could accept flower substituiton!

Laura1976, i got one of the wine stoppers as well. its siler and like a heart or whatever. i liked it, nice thought. but not something id give. i want the favor to be a little unique. so at least, even if the guest will never plant the seeds or whatever at least there is the possiblity that they walk out saying'you know, a lot of thought was put into this' or something.

belle31125, any info you have id totally appreciate!! tia!!

Re: Need help with the favor...

Just out of curiousity since I am thinking of doing this as a favor too, would you do a donation in someone's name? My uncle recently died of cancer (and we were thinking of doing a donation in his name to the American Cancer Society. Would you do something like that or a general donation?

Re: Need help with the favor...

We are making a donation also. It just so happens that we are going to do it in my fathers name since he died of cancer, but its not completely required.

Like for example....I was thinking of a also doing a donation for Breast Cancer because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but I don't know anyone who has died of breast cancer. I'm pretty lucky in that respect being like 1 in 4 women in NY has been a victim of breast cancer.

Its all for a good casue . I LOVE this idea! I think our guests will too.

Re: Need help with the favor...

I would do it in a persons name. Especially one involved directly into the family, its sad when a friend passes but if its family at least majority of your guests will know of that person. For example FHs Uncle was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago. He is still alive but they gave him 6 months to live. I think he will make it to our wedding because hes a fighter. if i do the donation i would do it in his name.

and i feel like if i do the donation everyone that is directly or indirectly related to him would appreciate the generous gesture on their behalf. it will make everyone feel good, you know?

the only aspect of the donation i am questioning is the amount the donation should be. do i base it on the amount of guests. ill probably have about 125, so is it like $5 per person? less? more?

Re: Need help with the favor...

I live in an apartment, so while I think seeds are a nice idea, I would probably give them to someone who had a yard or more space.

I love the donation idea - I'm not particularly into favors when I'm a guest at a wedding - I usually don't take them - I appreciate the thought behind them, but still, I usually leave them on the table. . . (don't mean to offend - I promise!)