31 Days, 31 Questions About Weddings...Help Me Please! Day 9: The Favors

Day 9 Question:

What kind of favors can we offer that won't be wasted or thrown away?

I just can't STAND the idea of waste, especially when it comes to money. I've been to more than my fair share of weddings, and I've tossed away more than my fair share of wedding favors. 

In the interest of being "green" in both the environmental sense and the saving sense, I'm looking for some ideas for multi-purpose favor ideas. I'm thinking something that can serve as the table decoration and the take-home favor...without being a cheapskate. 

Ideally it would be some kind of plant or something that our guests would use in their homes or lives and think of us when they see it.

Do you have any ideas to share with me?

31 Days, 31 Questions About Weddings...Help Me Please! Day 8: The Cookie Table

Day 8 Question:

Do we have to have a cookie table?

Well, I suppose I should back that up a step: is the cookie table a Pittsburgh thing, or does this occur at weddings in other places? Of course I know that we aren't required to have one, I'm just asking more for "will it be expected" purposes.

Don't get me wrong: I love cookies. Probably a little bit too much. The cookie table has lots of appeal: the guests seem to love it, extra treats, wide variety, and something yummy to take home. I just don't know if we want to go to all of the expense and trouble to get all of those cookies made, them displayed, then wrapped, then ultimately thrown away when they don't all get taken or eaten. Thoughts??