Personalized wedding favors are among the most popular of gift selections made by brides and grooms to show appreciation to the guests sharing in their wedding day. Traditional ceremonies have made wedding favors a part of the celebration since the sixteenth century. Modern technologies have made it affordable for many small gift items to be personalized to reflect the gracious sentiments of the happy couple.

A wedding favor can be personalized to commemorate the wedding day or the individual it's presented to. Wedding supply stores offer items that can be ordered with monograms added at manufacture, which is more cost effective than having them added after the purchase. Most stainless steel items produced as wedding favors such as letter openers and mint julep cups are designed to accommodate engravings, which may be added by the retailer or a private engraving service.

A popular trend in personalization of wedding favors, is for the creation of unique labels for otherwise ordinary food items. The most common personalized item would be name brand chocolate bars with wonderfully designed labels to reflect the bridegroom couple. Other food items such as mints in tins, gourmet coffee beans and quality teas can be branded with an unique label featuring a design and statement from the bride and groom. Independent wineries and micro breweries aware of this trend have provided a method for couples to order privately labeled spirits. Independent candy makers will accommodate couples, by designing special molds to create chocolate bars engraved with text commemorating the wedding day.

Edible favors such as cookies provide a twist on the European tradition of giving confectionery delights, while providing the opportunity for scripting a frosted affection. Cut sugar cookies become the canvas for a full palette of icing sentiments. Local bakeries are readily equipped to work with a design conceived by the bride, or they can provide helpful suggestions for what may be desirable. Most bakeries have the technology to create frosted cookies or miniature cakes with a photo of the happy couple.

Placecards and placecard holders provide additional dcor to the reception table and offer infinite possibilities for personalization. Stainless steel picture frames, designed for use as placecard holders are ideal for a sentimental engraving. Ceramic frames enclosing a recent photo of the couple, creates a simple and excellent means of personalizing a wedding favor.

Bookmarks were one of the first favor items that allowed for personalization by the couple. The bride and groom can select poetry or prose to relay sentimental feelings of thanks to their guests. Recent trends in giving flower seeds as wedding favors has created a new twist to the tradition of presenting bookmarks. An attractive bookmark is created from handmade paper that has been laced with flower seeds. A vellum layer allows the couple to personalize a sentiment that can be preserved, while the seeded portion of the bookmark is planted to for the beginnings of a beautiful and lasting garden.

A majority of brides are quick to decide on providing a gift item that will have a long use and be a daily reminder of the couple's gratitude. Writing pens are an ideal utilitarian item that won't break the wedding budget. Multiple companies provide pens with a wide variety of designs that allow for personalization as a wedding favor. A new version of this traditional token, allows for a floating message inside the pen that can reflect up to four different messages.

Ceremonies or receptions based on specific themes encompass a multitude of additional items that offer the opportunity for personalization. Sport themes invite the inclusion of distinctive golf teas, signed baseballs, swizzle sticks in the shape of golf clubs and miniature surf boards. Asian themes allow for engraved stainless steel or gold plated fortune cookies and embossed chop sticks. Las Vegas themes allow for everything from a private collection of playing cards to imprinted poker chips.

If a couple finds the perfect wedding favor, but the token doesn't provide a space for that personal touch, a small thank you card can be attached with a plain ribbon, or sentiments can be printed directly on to the ribbon. Personalization of wedding favors remains a tradition for many couples. Like the couple themselves, the choice of a wedding favor or the means to add a personalized touch, range from elaborate to simple sophistication.