These days, most brides are looking to save money where possible, allocating the bulk of their budgets to the food, venue and other ‘bigger picture’ costs. However, with a bit of creativity, you can incorporate wedding favours that won’t break the bank, but will leave a lasting impression that helps your guests remember the time they spent celebrating your marriage.
If you’re a crafty and creative bride, you’ll also enjoy getting stuck into an exciting project, putting your love and attention into personalising special wedding favours for your guests to take home.
Stuck for ideas? We’ve come up with a list of 20 wedding favours that are personal, fun, and budget-friendly.
1. Sugared almonds
Also known as Jordan Almonds, sugared almonds are a traditional wedding favour of Italian and Greek heritage. The five almonds given to guests represent wishes for happiness, health, long life, prosperity and fertility.
2. Succulents
Giving your guests a little succulent in a pot can double up as table decor. Guests can then take these resilient plants home as a lasting reminder of your wedding day.
3. Lip balm
When it comes to lip balm, one can simply never have enough! A personalised tube of lip balm is a useful gift that your guests will carry around with them every day.
4. Jars of Nutella
Spread the love with a more-ish jar of Nutella or other chocolate spread. You can personalise the jars by making your own labels with your wedding date and guests’ names.
5. Coffee beans
Who doesn’t love a cup of coffee? A small bag of coffee beans is a great gift for guests, especially if it has a special meaning for you as a couple – perhaps you shared your first date over a cup of coffee? You can also find locally-roasted coffee from your hometown or wedding venue location.
6. Bottle opener
A bottle opener is a super-practical favour that’s small, budget-friendly, simple and easy to get engraved or personalised.
7. Glasses
Here’s a fun three-in-one! These will bring an interesting look to your table decor, your guests use them on the night, and they’re encouraged to take a glass home with them.
8. Luggage tags
Perfect for destination weddings, luggage tags are a useful wedding favour that will remind your guests of your wedding every time they travel.
9. Seeds
A packet of seeds is symbolic of the growth of your love and relationship. Pick a selection of colourful flowers and herbs for guests to take home and grow their own. Another option is to give your guest a seed card – a card that has seeds in the paper that will grow when the card is planted. You could even use these as place settings.
10. Recipe jar
If you are a ‘foodie’ couple, this one’s for you! Buy some little jars and fill them with special recipes – your favourite dishes, or perhaps even a recipe from the wedding menu.
11. Mixtape CD
Go retro with a mixed CD containing a selection of songs that mean a lot to you as a couple.
12. Popcorn kernels
Popcorn kernels are a budget-friendly wedding favour to celebrate that you ‘popped’ the question! Put them into colourful bottle or a simple paper bag with a colourful bow (to match your table decor)
13. Mints
Everyone enjoys having a breath-freshener on hand, particularly on the morning after a wedding! Package your mints in your wedding colours for an attractive addition to your table decor. Because the two of you were ‘mint’ to be…
14. Personalised tube of tea leaves
Are you always found with a cup of tea in hand? Why not make your own special wedding blend by testing combinations of tea leaves to find the perfect flavour? You can then give your special blend to your guests… and keep some for yourself, of course!
15. Macaroons
Macaroons come in all sizes and colours, allowing you to choose the perfect sweet treat that fits with your theme and colour scheme.
16. Foldable Fans
If your wedding is in the middle of summer, your guests will relish any opportunity to beat the heat. So why not help them along the way with their very own foldable fan to maintain the breeze?
17. Jam
Little jars of jam are delicious, inexpensive and easy for guests to slip into a bag to take home. You can make your own labels (maybe even your own jam!) for a personal touch.
18. Bubble mix
Bubbles! Whimsical and fun, bubbles floating in the air also make for wonderful photographs. Your guests can blow bubbles as you leave the ceremony or reception or as you do your first dance. They could also take them home for their kids.
19. Fleece knee blankets
Winter weddings may require some warmth to keep everyone comfortable. Small fleece blankets are useful on cold wedding nights and to cosy up with on the couch at home. You could even have them embroidered with your wedding date and initials or your guests’ names.
20. Glow jars
Creative brides will have great fun creating glow jars, a seriously gorgeous addition to any wedding. Collect jars and paint the insides with spatters and dots of glow-in-the-dark paint. Once dry, fill the jars with tonic water mixed with glitter. Tightly close the lid, shake the jars, and get glowing!
