Wedding favors are not a required part of your planning, but they are definitely a nice touch. Most couples give something to their guests, even if it’s just a small item because it shows that you appreciate their presence at your event.

However, even though the wedding favors aren’t mandatory, if you do decide to pass them out to your guests, make sure you avoid some of the most common errors.

Common Mistake #1: Too Few Wedding Favors

One challenge of purchasing wedding favors is to get the right number for your needs. You probably need to start ordering your favors before the guests start responding to your invitations so you can’t wait around for an exact count. Instead, you may want to make an estimate. On average, 80% of your guests will attend your wedding. However, you may want to plan for a larger number of guests. After all, running out of wedding favors for your guests can be a huge mistake. Your best bet is to purchase favors for all of the guests you invite. If nothing else, you can mail the extras to people who couldn’t make it or send them along with some of your wedding announcements.

Common Mistake #2: Not Being Prepared to Make Your Own

Making your own wedding favors is a great idea whether you’re on a tight budget or just want to get them a personal touch. However, if you make that commitment, you need to be prepared for the consequences and that means devoting plenty of time to the endeavor. Consider recruiting friends and family members to help you. Also, start as early as possible. You won’t have to stress as much if you give yourself a lot of time and can work on them in small batches.

Common Mistake #3: Overspending

Wedding favors can be one of the most misleading items in your entire budget. When you’re shopping around and you see an estimate for $10 per item that may sound quite reasonable, particularly when compared to other wedding purchases. However, when you multiply that by 100, 200, or even 300 guests then you’re looking at a sizable bill. Before you start shopping, set your budget and know how many favors to purchase then divide those numbers to determine how much per favor you can spend. That way you’ll be less likely to go over budget.

Common Mistake #4: Not Picking Wedding Favors That Fit Who You Are

You have your own personality as a couple and your wedding – all aspects of your wedding – should reflect that unique personality. Make sure the favors you select communicate that personality loud and clear. And remember it’s okay to be creative, as long as you are also being yourselves.