Favor Ideas for a Geeky Wedding? 173
Rachel Grey asks: "I'm getting married in September to a fellow geek (in the MIT chapel, no less), and we're trying to find geeky wedding favors to give at the reception. Ideally these would cost $4 or less and would provide some instant fun for the guests, so that it doesn't matter if they actually take them home. Some good ideas we've had so far are tangrams (available in bulk for a little under $1/set) and micro Hoberman spheres ($4 apiece). Any more ideas?"
How geeky? (Score:5, Insightful)
So how geeky is this going to be? Did you propose on slashdot? Is the wedding going to be webcast?
Re:How geeky? (Score:5, Funny)
Is the wedding night going to be webcast?
Re:How geeky? (Score:3, Funny)
Yo DO know that's how geeks orgasm, don't you?
Re:How geeky? (Score:3, Funny)
Ooh, ooh... I know; a wedding cake.
:-)
Re:How geeky? (Score:2)
You're referring to his wife, right? If you are, I'm there.
Re:How geeky? (Score:2)
(Braveheart [amazon.com] reference)
Manual Dexterity Tests? If that doesn't work... (Score:3, Funny)
I've been watching too much Futurama lately...
How about mini Rubik's cubes... (Score:3, Interesting)
not that much.. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:How about mini Rubik's cubes... (Score:1)
+---+---+---+
| A | B | C | Initials
+---+---+---+
| D | E | F | Initials 2
+---+---+---+
| D | M | Y | Date/Month/Year
+---+---+---+
done on a side in the appropriate color (white, or whatever). Of course, this could put the price out of the $4.00 range.
If you really want to be devious, you can scramble them all before the wedding and see who (if anyone) can solve their cube before the end of the reception. Or something.
Piles of lego type building blocks (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Piles of lego type building blocks (Score:3)
At a New Years party, I brought a bowl and they were a hit. The candy stacks like regular Legos, comes in the basic block sizes (2, 4, and 8), and taste like smarties. Sugar...gooood!
Note: If your guests start to get naked, it's not my fault. Blaim the boose.
Re:Piles of lego type building blocks (Score:3, Informative)
Candy Blox multi-pack box [discountcandy.com]
Same, different store [madal.com]
Concord also makes Bubble Blox, though I don't know if these are Lego shaped or not.
Trivia: Concord also makes Doubble Bubble.
Re:Piles of lego type building blocks (Score:2)
Not THAT geeky - YoYo (Score:2)
Silly Putty (Score:3, Interesting)
How about different colors of silly putty? You can buy bulk quantities of putty from Crazy Aaron's Puttyworld, http://www.puttyworld.com/index.html [puttyworld.com]. You could then give everyone a portion, and they could play with color mixing and other fun uses for putty.
Re:Silly Putty (Score:2, Funny)
Dunno about you, but all I use it for is sshing into my home machine when I'm stuck on a 'doze box.
Re:Silly Putty (Score:1)
Some people went "What is this?" others went "This is cool!"
mini remote control cars (Score:1)
Re:mini remote control cars (Score:1)
Nintendo Watches! (Score:1)
Re:Nintendo Watches! (Score:2)
Re:Nintendo Watches! (Score:1)
go to home depot (Score:1)
Re:go to home depot (Score:1)
--RJ
the wedding pics (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:the wedding pics (Score:1)
Ideally guests would leave with a bootable distro on CD where the backgrounds and screensavers would be from the wedding itself. The one drawback is the potential that some guests have Macs.
Friends of mine filled the wedding hall with all sorts of family photos and photos of the time since they got together, but of course the guests couldn't take these home with them. With advance planning these could be scanned and added to the Distro/picture CD.
Re:the wedding pics (Score:3, Insightful)
Also, people will have their own software for viewing pictures and movies. Why force a slideshow on someone who'd rather view the pics in Photoshop, MS Photo Editor or Gimp?
Re:the wedding pics (Score:2)
All you'd need to do is mount the
Re:the wedding pics (Score:2, Interesting)
We thought about this for our wedding, but ultimately decided it was too much hassle. Besides, the Mac was busy playing our hand-picked playlist of ceremony and reception music. ;-) Our favors were just nice little bags of blue and white M&Ms (our wedding colors) that everyone enjoyed. Some of the other suggestions here might have been pretty cool, but that's ok.
Instead, we made up CDs and sent them out with the thankyou notes. That gave us time to put some polish on the CD, making them friendly to our non-geek guests too. Because music is my hobby, I wrote and recorded 5 songs that were used in the ceremony. So we actually made enhanced audio CDs, containing those 5 songs plus a data track with all of the pictures, MP3s of the reception playlist, and a 5-minute video sample from the DVD (still working on completing that). For navigation, we used a mini version of our website [mikeandbev.org] pointing to all the files on the CD. The CD was then setup to auto-start the web browser in either Mac or Windows, and we even included QuickTime installers for anyone who might not have it.
We've gotten a lot of compliments, especially from the non-geek guests, so I'm glad we didn't rush something less polished to hand out at the reception.
My parents got married there.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Matchbox? (Score:2)
Does you budget stretch to $6.50? (Score:2)
(Maybe you can get a bulk discount?)
Multi-meters? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:duct tape? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm sorry dear, I didn't realise what my geek friends would do with that much duct tape. We can try apologising to your brides maids again, can't we? I know those photos didn't make it too far on the internet, the link just got posted to a little visited site called slashdot. I'm sure those photos will never again surface to embarass your best friend. But you have to admit, they were right about being able to duct tape your father to the ceiling and the sticky would hold him in place. Honey, please tell me you are going to use that carving knife to cut me loose from all this duct tape, right? Please!
Some day we'll all look back on this wedding, laugh nervously and change the subject.
the AC
American Science and Surplus (Score:4, Informative)
Re:American Science and Surplus (Score:3, Informative)
My Big Fat Geek Wedding (Score:4, Funny)
We geeks need to do more procreating or we'll just die out!!!
Re:My Big Fat Geek Wedding (Score:1)
Why do you think geeks invented In Vitro Fertilization? ;-)
Re:My Big Fat Geek Wedding (Score:1)
mini laser pointers (Score:1)
Re:mini laser pointers (Score:2)
Rock! (Score:2, Interesting)
Kinder Eggs (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Kinder Eggs (Score:1)
Re:Kinder Eggs (Score:1)
Re:Kinder Eggs (Score:1)
Custom CDs of music or Free Software (Score:1)
Or if you want to be legal, you could burn and give out your favorite Linux distribution, or that GNUWin2 cd.
Mini Tetris (Score:3, Informative)
Another option is the Rubik's cube. You can buy a mini cube or a 2x2x2 cube for pretty cheap at www.hessport.com. Just remember to make a small initial purchase to get 10% off all subsequent purchases.
Congratulations and good luck!
Re:Mini Tetris (Score:2, Informative)
On ebay they're $8.50 each + shipping http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item =3002036744 [ebay.com]
but I found them here for only $4 each http://www.oshealtd.com/tetrisjr.htm [oshealtd.com]
Mod up the parent for good links! (Score:2)
As for spending a fortune, isn't that what weddings are for? Seriously. Also the article suggests that $4 is an acceptable price point. I can guarantee you that EVERYONE will take home their mini tetris. Even if they don't want it they will know someone who does.
Modified Kids Toy (Score:2)
What sorts of geeks? (Score:1)
Weird but neat (Score:2)
NOSE FLUTES!!!! (Score:2)
They're a blast!! You can get them here [tuvatrader.com] (click on Miscellaneous Stuff), here [musichouseshop.com], here [thewhistleshop.com], or any of these places [google.com]. Adults and kids love them!
A Contrarian Suggestion (Score:5, Insightful)
Remember that favors are NOT gifts from the couple to the guests. They are tokens and remembrances. They should trigger fond memories when viewed in the future, not provide a distraction for the attention span challenged during the toast.
Re:A Contrarian Suggestion (Score:2, Funny)
Where can I get free Italians for my wedding?
*snicker*
Re:A Contrarian Suggestion (Score:1)
Bookmarks. (Score:4, Interesting)
Another idea is to use a love letter or something you sent him/her on the book mark. In retrospect I could have used the first email I asked my wife out on a date with. It went something like this:
int ask_for_date(char *me, char *you) {
if (boyfriend(you) == true)
return APOLOGY;
if (!free_friday(you)) {
rain_check(me, you);
} else {
return wanna_head_out(me, you);
}
}
But if you have anything similar to that, like a love letter or something that you both share and put it onto/into a bookmark I think its pretty cool.
(btw, that all compiled down into the wrong byte code when it ran, she did have a boyfriend, but I still got a rain check.
Re:Bookmarks. (Score:3, Interesting)
But how did you know... (Score:1)
Re:Bookmarks. (Score:2)
In other words, what's ask_for_date()'s return value if !free_friday()? Clearly you just didn't want to interpret the result...
Cheers,
Ian
Re:Bookmarks. (Score:2)
Re:Bookmarks. (Score:1)
Granted replying to and AC who probably still downloads his women from usenet... anyways.
Actually, Slinkies are looking good (Score:3, Interesting)
Anyway, sometime yesterday we also got the idea of slinkies. They provide a nice range of nerdiness depending on the user... to some they're just something fun to flip from hand to hand, but you can get as deep into the physics of the things as you want. And if people get sozzled enough they can run slinky races down the stairs at the hotel.
Re:Actually, Slinkies are looking good (Score:2)
Three words for you:
"Dry Ice Fog."
(Or even two words: "Smoke generator". :)
Both go very well with laser pointers, day or night. (I suppose keeping the kids from aiming the laser pointers at nearby aircraft would be a problem, though. A smoke generator and a pile of laser pointers would be great at the reception, though.)
Re:Actually, Slinkies are looking good (Score:2)
Makes for some really nice memories (and some funny ones) because you'll get shots of more guests than just your photographer would take.
One per table is about $7.00 plus another $7 or so to get it developed) is less than $4/guest.
Plus, cameras interest and entertain both geeks and non-geeks alike!
wedding customized... (Score:5, Funny)
Ideally these would cost $4 or less and would provide some instant fun for the guests, so that it doesn't matter if they actually take them home.
i'm sure you could get these for under $4 a piece...and hey, the reception could definetly become "instant fun" if people start using them!
Re:wedding customized... (Score:2)
>"Dave & Rachels Wedding, January 24th, 2002", or whatever is applicable...
Better still, print that down the length of the condom. When it says "DaRWin2" it's time to remove it...
Matt
quasi-geeky toys (Score:1)
The other good cheap but fun one would be to hand out kazoos and hope that a critical mass of people end up inspiring the crowd to play a piece together.
Other kinds of party favours... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Other kinds of party favours... (Score:3, Funny)
This is Slashdot. The answer is "And that goes double if you're talkin' about the funky blue ultra-bright LED kind."
Swiss Army Knives (Score:1)
.. and which hasn't already one ? (Score:1)
Re:.. and which hasn't already one ? (Score:1)
I count three in the immediate vicinity: pocket, jacket pocket, desk drawer. There's SwissTool out in the bandymobile in the parking lot as well.
The made-in-America equivalent is a Maglite of one stripe or another. Can't have too many flashlights, either.
Make them do something with it (Score:2)
The tardition at weddings (at least around my area...) is that the couple kisses everytime someone bangs their soon on their glass. Many recient wedding have required the guests to instead sing something, which is a lot more fun. (more so if they can't carry a tune. Anyone over 7 should be shot for attempting the Barney song though)
In your wedding make them do something with the gift instead. Mess up all the rubiks cubes, and only kiss when shown a solved one for example. Warning, make sure half the cubes are something simple like the donut holes, people will be mad if it can't be done, but if there is something simple, and they can try a few neighbor's cubes until they remember the trick they will think it fun.
Re:Make them do something with it (Score:1)
'Ware getting cute with this. My brother tried to modify this custom by proclaiming that instead of clinking glasses, a toast should be offered. Of course, he had a bunch of tables filled with college buddies, so it got kinda ugly. Toasts like "To Jennifer!" (NOT his wife's name), etc.
Legos (Score:3, Informative)
What we did was buy some $9 2000 piece lego crates and dump them on the tables. They were colorful enough for the non-geeks to appreciate, and kept the geeks/nerds and kids busy while those who were more "sophisticated" could talk. Our reception had the fewest kids crying at it that I've ever heard of for 100 people -- and people stayed later than average, too.
If you're sponsoring an open bar, don't do the legos.
Hopefully, Mike will forgive me. You can see a few pics of our reception here [mikesusan.com].
Re:Legos -- GREAT wedding cake (Score:1)
Re:Legos (Score:1)
Archie McPhee's!!! You have to call them!!! (Score:1)
You have to call this place!!! Tell them that you are putting together a geek wedding, they will be able to help out. They have TONS of stuff that would be awesome.
Here's the link. [mcphee.com]
I'd also get some Futurama items too.
Dolemite
LINUX!!! (Score:1)
Sexual favors are free (Score:2)
Maybe you can invite lots of desperate elementary education coeds and serve lots of alcohol!
My Big Fat Geek Wedding? (Score:2, Funny)
Seriously, though, I thought of those little XXX In a Box things that they sell at the checkout registers in bookstores. Like Zen Garden in a Box, and so on. I'm not sure if you could get them for your target price, but they would make cool favors. You could pick one that you like, or get a variety. They might be cheaper if you could get them in bulk.
You could try these:
Desk Toys [yahoo.com]
Mini Kits [runningpress.com] - this appears to be the original source for the kits.
Congratulations and good luck with your wedding!
Don't buy anything: Make a donation (Score:1, Interesting)
Do what my wife and I did: don't buy silly trinkets. Instead, we placed cards on each table stating that we'd spent the equivalent amount of money ($1000) on donations to two charities (The Canadian Cancer Society [cancer.ca] and the Huntington Society of Canada [hsc-ca.org]).
You could do the geeky thing and make a donation to the EFF [eff.org] or something.
Don't know if it's geeky (Score:2)
Got to have the right kind of friends to appreciate them though.
dar
Boutonnieres or Wedding party gifts (Score:1)
Surely you can find something wonderful at (Score:2, Informative)
chocolate (Score:2, Interesting)
We handed these out 1.5 hours into the reception, and geek and non-geek friends made lots of puns about them, and had fun with the idea.
We made enough extra to bring to workplaces for people whom we hadn't invited to the wedding.
Bleah... (Score:2)
J.
Re:Bleah... (Score:1, Funny)
Hershey's Kisses ... (Score:3, Funny)
I myself had one in my pocket and gave it to my bride. Definitely confused her.
Here is an idea (Score:1)
Of course, if Richard Stallman is there, he'll want to call her GNU/wife...
Not Really a Party Favor But..... (Score:1, Interesting)
Judging by all the laughter and other comments everyone had a good time and at the end of the evening a substantial number of tableclothes were missing.
Best of luck getting spliced.
Ed Almos
Custom T-Shirts (Score:1)
I had custom T-Shirts made up. A friend who is an artist did a Hershfeld-style characature of my wife and I. We only had enough printed for the rehearsal dinner (which was still 50 people).
However, they were a big hit and in retrospect would have been great to give out to everyone. And as an added bonus, if I need to remember my anniversary I just look in the closet -- the date is on the shirt!
AOL CD's (Score:2, Funny)
Mcphee! (Score:2)
It's geeky in a non-technical way, in a social-engineering sort of way. But, unless everyone at your wedding abhors pop culture entirely, it is certainly a lot of fun. My wife and I (I am a geek, she is a non-geek) had pink flamingos (her idea) and 2' penguins (guess who's idea?). For party favors, we had all kinds of bendies, nuns, and other fabulous things.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun.
What every geek getting married needs (Score:2)
Re:Why are you (Score:1)
Am I missing something?
Re:But I am the bitch (Score:2)