"[Surveyed by Gender] The Wedding Favors That Guests in Their 20s and 30s Were Actually Happy to Receive!"

2019.02.13 published

殿堂記事

Can't Escape from the Favor Dilemma!!

To all the brides-to-be preparing for their weddings, have you decided on your wedding favors?

Choosing wedding favors can be so difficult that some brides say, “This has been the hardest part of my preparation!” Especially in years with a wave of weddings, guests often have refined tastes. Of course, you want to avoid duplicates, and you also don’t want them to seem too ordinary…

I Didn't Know, So I Asked Directly!

So this time, I asked men and women in their 20s and 30s who frequently attend weddings what their “favorite wedding favors” were!

There were many opinions that made me go, “I see…” so I'll introduce them by item. I hope this helps brides who are currently choosing their favors! ♡

First, let’s look at what female guests appreciated receiving!

【Women】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ① Brand Tableware

One of the favored wedding favors was branded tableware. I was surprised to see this, as I had come across many opinions online that said, "Tableware is heavy and cumbersome, so I don’t like it."

The key seems to be whether it’s from a brand that raises their spirits. While they dislike unbranded Japanese tableware and rice bowls, they’re happy to receive stylish foreign-branded tableware like ‘Wedgwood,’ ‘Royal Copenhagen,’ or ‘Arabia.’

They mentioned it’s useful for serving homemade dishes to friends or their partner and when enjoying a nice cake!

To check if you can buy brand tableware within your budget for the favors, you can look for it at the imported tableware shop ‘Noble.’

You can find brand tableware available for a budget of 2000-3000 yen, so please give it a look.

➡ Search for brand tableware for wedding favors at “Noble”

【Women】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ② Body Care Products

The second favor was stylish body care products from brands like ‘John Masters Organics’ or ‘SABON.’ Since these are consumables, you can receive as many as you want without any issues, and they also mentioned that they rarely buy them for themselves, which makes them happy.

I’ve personally received a mini size set from 'John Masters Organics' as a wedding favor, and it’s been really useful as travel bath goods!

➡ Search for items from 'John Masters Organics' for wedding favors

【Women】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ③ Stylish Food

A unanimous favorite among everyone was a stylish food gift set.

Packaging is also crucial. Some frankly and harshly expressed that if the packaging of the wedding favor seems cheap while they were soaking in the happy atmosphere of the elegant wedding space, it could bring their spirits down!

They were pleased to receive high-quality juices, drinking vinegar, honey, and other items that seem beneficial for beauty.

A great match would be honey or maple-glazed nuts that can be used as toppings for toast or yogurt.

➡ Check details on honey and maple-glazed nuts here

【Women】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ④ Versatile Seasonings

Continuing with food-related items, women who enjoy cooking favored stylish and tasty seasonings. They preferred items that could be used in daily menus, such as dashi, soy sauce, and olive oil, rather than those that could only be used for specific dishes.

By the way, when I asked the non-cooking women, I heard, “I wouldn’t use it myself, but my mother would be happy if I sent it home, so I’m somewhat happy,” and some also mentioned, “It’s nice because it encourages me to cook once in a while.”

For dashi gifts, ‘Kuhara Honten’s ‘Kayano Dashi’ is a classic.

Additionally, recommend unique seasonings that the guests may not have encountered before.

Here’s a dashi cocktail supervised by a dashi sommelier, which looks adorable and makes you want to cook!

➡ Check details on dashi cocktails here

I’m personally interested in the side miso and dip sauce set from Tanigawa Brewery!

When choosing seasoning gifts, ensure that the packaging isn’t too traditional and is stylish.

【Women】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ⑤ Brand Catalog

Lastly, I’d like to introduce the catalog gifts, which are a classic for wedding favors. Since you can choose what you want, in the end, they tend to offer the highest satisfaction.

Especially popular are catalogs with brand items that guests want. Brands like ‘DEAN & DELUCA’ or ‘BARNEYS NEW YORK’ were mentioned.

‘Afternoon Tea LIVING’ and ‘ACTUS’ also seem to be good choices!

➡ Check details on ‘Dean & Deluca’ catalog gifts

Recently, experience-based catalog gifts, such as relaxation experiences, afternoon teas, or restaurant meals instead of physical goods, seem to be gaining popularity.

It appears that they would bring joy because they are unique.

There’s a different joy in browsing exciting catalogs where you can ponder, “What should I choose?” compared to catalog gifts where you simply receive items.

➡ Interested in experience-based catalog gifts?

Next, let’s introduce what male guests appreciated receiving for their wedding favors!

By the way, I gathered opinions from both single and married men, but there was a sentiment among married men that "it doesn’t really matter since my wife will use whatever,” indicating a lack of preference.

If there are many married male guests, it seems unnecessary to focus solely on what appeals to men!

【Men】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ① Towels

The first item is surprisingly towels.

While towels weren't mentioned by the women, men appreciated soft, luxurious towels, saying they tend to continue using the same old ones they brought from home for years because they have no preference.

Since towels are consumables, having multiple isn’t an issue at all. They’re light, making them easy to take home, so they are a recommended wedding favor!

➡ Check details on Imabari towels for wedding favors

【Men】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ② Brand Handkerchiefs

Brand handkerchiefs were also well-received.

Since they are used daily, having multiple isn’t a problem. Simple designs that can be used in business settings are preferred. Thick towel handkerchiefs are a no-go since they don’t fit in pockets!

【Men】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ③ Wine

The third great wedding favor was a nice bottle of wine. It can be enjoyed alone at home or taken as a gift when visiting a friend's house, which was well-received!

It seems that disappearing items are favored by men in their 20s and 30s for wedding favors. They would prefer food or drinks rather than dishes or décor!

By the way, opinions on wine glasses were mixed. While they were appreciated by those who didn’t have them, those who already owned glasses thought they were challenging to place.

For people that want multiple matching glasses, just one glass is not very practical!

【Men】 20–30s Guests Favorite Favors ④ Catalog Gifts

Lastly, I’d like to introduce catalog gifts. Similar to the 20–30s female guests, they appreciated stylish catalogs featuring brand items. It’s advisable to choose catalogs familiar for men, like ‘United Arrows’ and ‘BEAMS,’ or those featuring food items like meat and alcohol.

Choose Wedding Favors that Guests Will Love! ♡

Here, I shared items that acquaintances found enjoyable as wedding favors. While these are just some opinions, I hope they are of help!

When in doubt, I recommend selecting favors while specifically envisioning whether the guests will use them. May all brides-to-be escape from the favor dilemma!

➡ See the full list of favor articles here＊