We're planning our wedding for next year and honestly can't justify spending money on those little trinkets nobody wants. My mom keeps saying it's expected, but I feel like it's just waste. Do couples still do this or have most people stopped?
Plenty of couples skip favors entirely these days, and honestly nobody remembers those little candles or monogrammed coasters anyway. Your mom's concern comes from older etiquette rules, but wedding expectations have shifted a lot - people are more focused on the actual event and the experience with loved ones than walking away with a tchotchke. If you feel it's wasteful, don't do it; your guests will be fine. If you want to give *something* back without the trinket guilt, some couples do a charitable donation in guests' names instead, but skipping it altogether is totally normal now.
Skip them if you want, but consider that the etiquette shift is less about favors disappearing and more about people being flexible with *what* they give - so if you do want something small, experiential stuff (like a playlist QR code, a seed packet, local candy) actually gets used or remembered, whereas generic trinkets truly do end up in junk drawers. Your guests won't feel slighted if there's nothing, but if the budget allows for something thoughtful rather than obligatory, that's where the real difference lies.
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