Sears Canada will be on hand highlighting their wedding registry and will be showcasing their line of wedding favours now available. Yes, boutique inspired favours by Artisano Designs at Sears Canada (Yes, wedding favours at Sears!) for Canadian brides across the country.

No longer the domain of high-end boutiques, Sears has partnered with Canadian designer Artisano Designs to bring you the latest in guest favours in bulk package sizes to meet the needs of brides and event planners – whether small receptions or for those requiring hundreds of keepsake gifts.

Brides not able to attend the National Bridal Show need not worry, Sears Canada sells the entire collection of wedding favours online at Sears.ca.  Further, the range of keepsake party favours extends to bridal shower party gifts, too.  For brides wanting to shop Canadian and find a truly one stop shop, Sears’ registry plus expanded offering of wedding favours provides brides and event planners everything they need, in store and now online at Sears.ca.  That means brides can pick up their guest favours at one of almost 2000 stores or pick up outlets across Canada. Also, fast home delivery service is a click away for the ultimate in convenient wedding shopping. After all, this is a Made in Canada connection.

Check out these wedding favour “finds” at the National Bridal Show, plus much much more – see you there!

This post was submitted by Canada Weds Contributor.

If you are thinking of ‘unique’ wedding souvenirs, then you can probably give confectionery boxes bearing your personal name as well as the name of your bride. In addition, you can also etch the name of your guests on the confectionery boxes to give a more personalized feel. Cuff bracelets with names etched on it, or locket bracelets in the shape of a heart and even photo frames in a variety of designs can turn out to be amazing little wedding ideas. Understanding the mentality of guests and sheer innovation is a must when choosing wedding gifts.

Wedding Gifts for Guests and Bridal Parties

Collectibles make great wedding gifts for the wedding party guests. There are several types of gifts that are unique and make everybody who attends the wedding feel great. Here are some of the most enchanting gift ideas that could make your wedding truly special and memorable to everyone:

· Bridesmaid Necklace – Who doesn’t like wedding  jewellery! A gold or silver necklace accented with diamonds or precious stones makes for a perfect piece of jewelry for the bridesmaid to wear. The bridesmaid necklace looks terrific and it adds to her allure. If you are the lucky bridesmaid, try embellishing your neck with the necklace and you’d definitely feel the difference.

· Groomsmen Lotions, Perfumes, and Aftershave Packs – These are creative wedding gifts which are designed for guests at the groom party. A pack of perfume and after shave with the signature from the bride and groom is the best gift that any wedding party guest would love to have. There are many personalized options that make all your guests feel important.

· Photo frames and Cosmetic Boxes – These are perfect wedding party gifts for the bridal party. Your friends and family will be sure to use picture frames and display them with photos of your wedding day, or insert pictures of their own for display in the own home. 

No matter what party gift or wedding favours you choose, take the time to plan ahead and make every detail perfect!  If you have wedding party gift and favour ideas you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them!

Bridesmaid Gifts

Being a bridesmaid is hard work, especially if you are the maid of honor, so it is important for the bride to show their appreciation by offering a present to each member of the bridal party. Fortunately, there is plenty of selection to be found out there in stores around Canada, enough to satisfy all tastes and personalities. From bags to clothing to jewelry, finding the perfect gift for the bridal party is almost as easy as shopping for wedding shower favors.

Groomsmen Gifts

When it comes to the groomsmen, the best man and the ushers, there are also a wide number of gifts available from Quebec to Victoria that will be a hit with young and old alike. Personalized bags, hip flasks and sports memorabilia are all recommended as a way for the bride and groom to show their appreciation for the hard work of those men found behind the scenes on the wedding day. As you can see, shopping for both sides of the wedding party is actually very easy to do.

Flower Girl Gifts

As one of the most important members of the wedding party, it is essential that the flower girl receive a nice gift from both the bride and groom! With hair accessories, bracelets, tote bags and more available from your local shopping center, there should be no difficulty in finding the perfect present for the littlest member of the wedding procession. After all, she will have put in a lot of work too and should be well rewarded for all of her effort.

Gifts for Parents of the Bride and Groom

Finally, the happy couple should not forget their parents, especially if the father of the groom has paid for the wedding itself. Something classy will always be suitable here, and you can purchase anything from engraved photo frames to Japanese tea sets to mahogany clocks. You will know what your parents like though and will be able to choose a gift that will show them how thankful you are that they have helped you organize wedding cake decorations, reception caterers and the like.

If you have any gift ideas that are suitable to be given out at any Canadian wedding, please let us know by leaving a comment below. We are interested in all kinds of tips and techniques, especially those about presents that were a hit and those which were not so well received.

A Classic Candle Favor Favourite

Candle wedding favors are among the best wedding favor ideas for your reception. There is nothing quite as romantic as a flickering candle at night and you can let your guests share in the love and togetherness felt at your wedding by giving them their very own candle to take home and use afterwards. After all, everyone loves a bit of romance, meaning that these keepsake gift ideas will be a surefire hit. Whether your guests are married, dating or single, there will definitely be a time in the future where they will require the soft light of a flickering flame.

These types of gifts are also recommended because they complement most wedding decorations that you have chosen to use during the big day. If you opt to have candles on the tables at your wedding reception, why not include a few of them as presents to thank all those who have attended as well? In this way, you can accomplish two goals at the same time. Find the perfect decorations for your marriage ceremony and purchase gifts that everyone will love without having to visit two different stores.

An Ideal Wedding Reception Fit

Candles are also very versatile and fit in with a variety of wedding types. Whether you are getting married outdoors in the Canadian Rockies or are hosting a more formal hotel wedding reception in Toronto, you can find candles that will enhance the party atmosphere and make it even more romantic. From simple tea lights and holders to elaborately carved wax sculptures, there is a large variety out there and you can certainly find a candle or two that matches perfectly with how you’ve envisioned your wedding.

Affordable Wedding Favors

Finally, candles are very affordable, allowing you to purchase wedding giveaways for everyone who attends the wedding and the reception without costing you a fortune. This is especially useful for those marriages where you are expecting a hundred or more people to attend, as you can then purchase something that is both meaningful and useful while still having enough money for other things. Candle wedding favors are certainly recommended for those on a tighter budget, but who still want to show their guests that they really appreciate them taking the time out to celebrate an important day of love and romance together under the one roof. Saving on favors means more budget for wedding accessories!

If you have any special wedding day stories about candles and wedding favors, or if you would like to recommend anywhere in Canada that sells these types of gifts, please leave a comment for our readers below.

Brides and grooms are facing a tough go in this economy, as are their parents. Although the number of weddings appears to be hardly slowing, attention to budget limitations are now heightened. Typically, couples-to-be seek out the help of family to help cover wedding expenses. Yep, the parents who have typically said “I Do” to funding your dream fairytale wedding are struggling to recover from a recession that has seen a good chunk of their child’s “wedding reserves” wiped out.

Cutting Back on Wedding Costs

With some effort brides, typically the wedding organizers, are finding creative ideas to save on wedding costs. Perhaps the release of doves at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony will go, as might driving away in an exotic sports car (sorry grooms!). Many couples still feel that giving an inexpensive keepsake favour to reception guests is still a must. But how about that wedding budget?

Elegant Yet Cheap Wedding Favour Ideas

Whether you need 20 wedding favours or 300, there are plenty of choices that won’t leaving you feeling cheap! Of course, I’m not suggesting you run out to the nearest dollar store for cheap wedding favors as giveaways that will leave guests saying, “Oh…(long pause)…thanks”. OK, they wouldn’t be obvious but you do want to make a great impression – after all, it’s your wedding. So what are these great ideas? Here’s some great favors – ideal for weddings or as bridal shower favors – that typically sell for under $3.00 Canadian each and their some of my personal favourites at any price!

1. ‘Memories Forever Frosted Glass Photo Coasters Favors (Set of 4)
2. Falling Leaves’ Fall Leaf Photo Coaster (Set of 2)
3. Sand and Shell Tealight Holder
4. ‘Double Happiness’  Bottle Stopper Favor
5. ‘Double Ring Romance’ Photo Frame Favor

Memories Forever Frosted Glass Photo Coasters

Smart Brides Wedding Shop Online

Brides, you don’t have to drag your fiancee away to bomboniere stores to browse for wedding party favours – just bring the laptop to him! Get wedding favour shopping online to see for yourself what’s out there and get great, cheap wedding favours right here in Canada (and you might be doing your parents a “favour”, too!).

There’s no doubt that you’ve been knee-deep in planning for your special day, the stress of the holidays mixing with tasting cake and picking out bridesmaids dresses. In the mix of it all, it is incredibly important to let the little details go by the wayside. These details are often the elements of our weddings that make the most profound statement, and should be addressed in due time. Whereas the focus of the day should be you and your to-be spouse, showing your appreciation for the support of your loved ones is an incredible part of the process, and using wedding favours you can do this almost effortlessly—with fun spring flair.

Because wedding souvenirs are intended to serve as a reminder of your day, it’s best that you purchase them according to one of these rules:

• Purchase keepsake party favors that are useful. With springtime party favors, this is an incredibly easy rule to follow. Spring is a very action-oriented season, and favors that symbolize cultivation and growth of love can be easily manifested in gardening and flower-related wedding party favors. You could think as small as a wine bottle stopper adorned with cheery blossoms to gardening gloves or an apron. So often, the bomboniere just gets stored away just to be forgotten. Sending your guests off with practical wedding favours is a great way to show your appreciation and inspire.
• Purchase wedding souvenirs that are attractive. As mentioned, wedding party favors may have a short life on a shelf somewhere in your guests house before being relegated to a box in the attic. Sentimental value is great, but if your keepsake favors have aesthetic value, they’re even better. Think about beautiful little tea light holders with a sailboat motif, or perhaps a versatile botanical print. For spring, floral designs and flowers are entirely appropriate—as are wedding favours that feature butterflies, ladybugs, bees, or any other symbol of spring. Keep your favors simple, but elegant.
• Purchase unique favors that make a statement. Novelty is a beautiful thing, and the same goes for keepsake favors. Giving your guest something a bit different makes your wedding fun and lighthearted. Think function and creativity, such as a ceramic honey pot to compliment your spring-themed décor—or if you decided to go with a gardening theme, a tool belt for your guests. Birdhouses are quaint and unique, and likely to last. There is such variety out there, so finding affordable wedding favors that are also unique and memorable is not as big of a challenge as it may initially seem.

Embrace this opportunity to celebrate your new beginning with the perfect wedding souvenirs that stand as a symbol for this new chapter in your life. With all of the wedding favors in Canada available, there is no doubt that you will find the one that is perfect for you—and your perfect day.

Keeping it practical

So often, keepsake favors become merely that: a keepsake that gets thrown into a box where sentimental items are stored unseen and forgotten. When we provide useful and unique favors, however, they become a part of the guest’s household and are so much more. For those that harbor an incredible love for espresso, these favors make grace day-to-day use, but for most they will be used on a special occasion—entirely appropriate given that it was gifted to your guests on a very special day. Even though many only drink espresso on occasion, having those adorable little espresso cups on hand is incredibly practical.

Keeping it original.

With the overwhelming amount of wedding favors in Canada available, finding one that is original may seem daunting. Wedding party favors are so often looked over in the planning process as a last minute detail—all of the attention falling to the bigger elements, such as the dress and the cake. Because your family and friends are likely integral to the success of your relationship and future marriage, it is important to show your appreciation for their support. Your appreciation will resonate through original wedding souvenirs. Your guests will appreciate the thought and the practicality of the gift regardless of whether they are espresso drinkers—as these little souvenirs make great decorative items as well.

Exuding your style.

Wedding party favors may be a giveaway at the end of the wedding, but they can be just as useful in the decorating process as well. Because they come in a variety of colors, espresso cup wedding favours are versatile as decorative table pieces (just make sure your guests understand that they can take them home). Having Mr. and Mrs. espresso cup favours is a fun way to organize your tables, and a variety of styles from an elegant Damask print to a playful contrasted type print will give you flexibility in your coordination of décor to your favors. Having an espresso cup wedding favour at every place setting will give your reception a friendly atmosphere that is conducive to conversation between guests and is a unique style for your special day.

The bonbonniere may not be the focal point of your wedding, but it is certainly an important element of the experience. Coffee themed wedding souvenirs are a great way to address that need and show your appreciation to your friends and family. Love may be what makes the world go round, and adorable espresso cup wedding favours are the perfect reminder.

For summer weddings, it is important that details such as your wedding favours also reflect the time of year. The weather is pleasant and the colours are vibrant. As your reception guests arrive, welcome them with a small memento to reflective of this warm occasion.

In general, summer wedding favours will focus more on the outdoors and the positive feelings that we receive from nature during the warmer months. These gift ideas will usually have the following themes:

Bees & Butterflies: Celebrating the spirit of nature’s beauty and efficiency. Give your guests mobiles with butterflies so that they think of you each time the summer breeze moves their wings.

The Seaside: A reminder of the warmth of the sun, sand and surf. Fill miniature glass bowls with sand, shells, water and floating candles that your guests can take home after the event. Beach favors make great keepsake giveaways!

Travel: Symbolising true freedom and having the world at your fingertips, give your guests guest books for the area around your Canadian wedding location as favours.

Flowers: Experience the colours and fragrances of summer. Print place cards on flower seed paper that your guests can plant and enjoy for years to come.

Garden Favours: Bright and colourful is the idea, and garden wedding favours like seed favors are a beautifly expression…where love grows as will the love of a happily married couple. A fairtale wedding, after all, is the seed of something that will grow stronger and more precious in time. 

Your wedding favours should also match the atmosphere and tone of your wedding as well as its location. Of course, the best stores will help you to make the right purchase as they provide you with the variety that you need to find a suitable present for your guests.

If you have any suggestions for summer wedding favours in Canada or questions about how to shop for them, we would love to hear from you so, please, leave a comment below.

Wedding Favour Selection In Canada

When you are buying wedding favours or bridal shower favours, your first goal is to find a store with a large enough selection for you to choose from. Fortunately, your favourite brands can be found right here in Canada. When you picture your dream wedding your favours, gifts, and decorations are important. When you can buy unique wedding favours in Canada, you remove one of the biggest stresses of planning your big day.

If you find your favourite wedding decorations, but they are located in a store from the United States, you may be subject to a number of border fees to import them into Canada. This can make that special deal you found useless, as you wind up paying a lot in fees. By buying Canadian, you avoid all those transportation fees and use that money for something else. Even better – you can buy the perfect favours and not compromise because of the price – yes, get more for your wedding budget! This makes the entire experience more enjoyable, as you now know you don’t have to sacrifice your budget for these wedding decorations and accessories.

Budget Friendly Party Favours – Less Wedding Planning Stress!

All of this boils down to one single point: less stress in planning your wedding day. With the complications that come from dealing with vendors, renting halls, getting dresses, and the inevitable family issues, the last thing you want from your wedding favor shopping experience is more stress. In fact, wedding favors are considered to be the fun part of your wedding! These are the little keepsakes that you place at a wedding party receiving table for when guests arrive, or leave at individual guest place settings. They add to the wedding experience, and they give your guests that extra dose of fun. When you choosing your keepsake gifts, it should be a fun and happy experience for you as well, so that you can choose the ones that you know your guests will love.

By keeping away the troubles of finding the right wedding favours in Canada and avoiding the excess fees that you might incur when importing them from elsewhere, you can relax and enjoy the process of finding the wedding favour bomboniere that demonstrate the love you have for each other and the joy you want to share with your guests.

Getting great party favour ideas can be difficult, especially when shopping for wedding favours. In Canada, you don’t need to worry about looking for perfect keepsake giveaways outside of the country. There are plenty of great favours here that your guests will love, and you can avoid a little more stress in planning your wedding day.

My Italian culture might have something to do with me making a career out of wedding bomboniere. My creativity is unlocked as favour ideas are endless, from practical wedding favours to keepsake gifts that are just oh-so cute. I remember growing up, my parents used to come home with all kinds of things – from tea pots to wonderful porcelain figurines. Most all these bomboniere went on display – often along the top of the kitchen cupboard uppers (ring a bell, anyone?). I’ll be honest, the funnest part for me for a while was eating the sugar coated almonds that often accompanied the bomboniere – the confetti!

When I launched my wedding favour business many years ago, I loved the fact I’d be dealing with brides excited about their upcoming wedding, and that I had a hand in creating their fairy tale wedding experience. Always very selective about the favours we’d stock, I always asked – is this “good enough” – would my Italian relatives approve and is it worthy of the kitchen cupboards? Fast forward a few years and I’ve learned that there are all kinds of tastes when it comes to wedding bomboniere – some guests adore practical favours while others love something they can put on display. The bomboniere I love most do both.

These days, relatives often ask about the latest bomboniere designs and styles, and what brides are asking for the most – after all, we talk to thousands of brides each and every year! I love giving favor suggestions. For those that will ask, as I’ve been many times, “What bomboniere did you have at your wedding?”. A set of four shot glasses – great wedding bomboniere still today if you ask me (and many brides). They’re one of those practical bomboniere that you can actually use among friends, and when not in use proudly displayed in your bar or glass kitchen cabinet (ok, so you won’t see them on top).

Today, though, I seek out more and more favours that are European inspired sure to please my Italian and other European friends who share very similar favour giving traditions. With items like hand painted olive oil bottles, customized espresso coffee cup sets, and even display-grade espresso makers, we’re finding that the world has emraced “bombonieres” as the Italians invented – or so at least I thought as a little girl!

Whether you’re looking for Italian wedding bomboniere for your wedding in Toronto or New York; or giving wedding bonbonniere a la my Montreal, Quebec cousins – make sure to do your famiglia proud and give party favours that are worthy of the kitchen cabinets!

About the Author:

Mary Maesano is a wedding favour industry veteran expert. Mary is the Founder and President of Greater Toronto Area based online wedding favour retailer In Casa Gifts. www.InCasaGifts.com

This post was submitted by Mary Maesano.