Moving beyond the traditional sugared almonds, wedding guests are increasingly offered unique wedding favors, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. New unique wedding favors include personalizing anything and everything, from totes filled with bath salts for bridesmaids to flasks for the groomsmen to dog bones for the guests. A truly unique wedding favor must reflect not just a fabulous wedding experience but the personalities of the bride and groom. Bridal magazines, the tradition bride bibles, offer unique wedding favor ideas, often helpfully reflected in the advertisements around the articles. More varied interests from camping to football, bird-calling to renaissance fairs can be met through online stores, which offer unique wedding favors catering to every conceivable interest.

A unique wedding favor is one that will be remembered by the guest or at least make it to the car. The item should invoke memories of the couple or of the wedding. Destination or themed weddings offer obvious routes for the unique wedding favor, such as coasters in the shapes of sandals. Pictures of the couple in snow globes, or as Star Trek action figurines can pull double duty as decorations and even bring a bit of humor to the table.

Don't be afraid to look outside of the wedding favor market. The wedding couple can give anything small and within their budget, so look for things that strike your interest. Considerations such as buying locally and buying green are increasingly being taken into account in the search for the unique wedding favor. Remember for destination weddings to have them sent ahead or travel well if not buying locally.

A unique wedding favor can be no favor at all- some couples give a charity in loo of a favor, though this should be explained with a note on the table. Couples can also include a picture or two of the guest at the wedding with the thank-you notes, framed/decorated as preferred, as unique and cheaper option for the wedding favor.

Cheap wedding favors are a must for most people, and hitting a price range from $1-$3 per guest is a standard goal. A popular way to have cheap wedding favors is to combine functions. Table decorations, candy, drinks or even cake boxes can be both souvenirs and part of the decor. For example, decorations hanging in the hall can be removed as guests leave make a cheap wedding favor and a Christmas ornament.

Another way to cut costs is to make your own cheap wedding favor. Traditionally, cheap wedding favors ranged from "well, it's the thought that counts" to the "wow, I didn't know something so beautiful could be made with macaroni." Newer trends concentrate on the packaging. Wrapping your cheap wedding favor with plain paper and a gorgeous ribbon, or stamping a small paper bag, using maps or even comics can add tasteful (or quirky) simplicity. Recruiting family and the wedding party into making these wedding favors can conserve the all-valuable time. To make a cheap wedding favor, and a unique wedding favor, let it be part of the wedding experience, producing a true memento of your happy day. Providing a decorated box for the guest to fill with candy themselves can be both less time-consuming and provide something for the younger guests to do. A simple and cheap wedding favor can just be candy stamped with the date or a meaningful phrase that the guests will be sure to enjoy.

Wedding favors offer a token of thanks for the guest for participating in your ceremony. You've wined and dined them; they've traveled, dressed up and bought you a blender. A unique wedding favor is an admirable goal; a cheap wedding favor probably a necessity, but when in doubt, give drinks or candy, have fun and take lots of pictures.