Jamming For Joy: Homemade Wedding Favors

Homemade jam is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your wedding. It's a simple, affordable, and charming favour that your guests will love. With a few basic kitchen supplies and some fresh fruit, you can create adorable souvenirs that are perfect for any wedding theme. Making jam is also a great activity to do with your family and friends, creating sweet memories leading up to your big day.

Sterilising jars

Step 1: Wash the Jars

Start by washing your jars in hot, soapy water. You can do this by hand or use a dishwasher if it has a high-temperature setting or steam function. If washing by hand, make sure to rinse the jars well to remove any soap residue.

Step 2: Dry the Jars

After washing, dry the jars completely. You can do this by placing them on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to between 120-140°C (250-275°F) for about 10-30 minutes. Alternatively, you can place the jars in a large pan, cover them with water, and bring it to a boil for about 25-30 minutes. If using an oven, line the shelves with a few layers of newspaper and leave a little space between each jar.

If your jars have rubber seals, remove them before placing the jars in the oven or pan. Instead, place the seals in a separate small saucepan, cover them with water, and boil for 2-3 minutes to sterilise.

Step 3: Fill the Jars

Once your jars are sterilised, it's time to fill them with your homemade jam. It's important that the jam is still hot when filling the jars. Be careful not to add cold food to hot jars, or hot food to cold jars, as this can cause the jars to shatter.

Step 4: Seal and Label the Jars

After filling the jars, seal them with a lid and label them accordingly. If using wax discs, place one directly over the surface of the jam before securing the lid. You can also add pretty fabric tops and ribbons if you're giving the jam jars as gifts.

Important Notes:

• Always sterilise one or two more jars than you think you'll need, in case you have more jam than anticipated.
• Start preparing your jars when your jam is about 20 minutes away from being ready.
• Do not touch the inside of the jars or the lids after they have been sterilised to avoid contamination.

Jam recipes

Jam is a great wedding favour as it's both delicious and cheap! You can make the jam well in advance as it keeps for a long time.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 package powdered pectin
• 5 cups white cane sugar

Instructions:

• Prepare the canning jars by soaking them in boiling water for several minutes. Keep the water hot.
• Combine pomegranate juice and pectin in a 6-quart pan. Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring continuously.
• Add sugar and boil for 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand for a minute. Skim off foam.
• Fill the jars to 1/2" from the top.
• Screw on the lids and place the jars upside down for 5 minutes.
• Once placed right-side up, the lids should be sucked down and pop as the jam cools, indicating it has been correctly sealed.

Ingredients:

• 1kg fruit (strawberries or apricots work well)
• 1kg white sugar
• Juice of one lemon

Instructions:

• Mash together the fruit and sugar and let stand for 2 hours.
• Add lemon juice to the fruit and sugar mix.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring continuously.
• Allow to boil for 30-45 minutes, stirring as needed to prevent sticking.
• Scoop off the foam that forms on top of the mixture. You will need to do this a few times.
• When the jam is thicker and a deeper colour, it’s ready.
• Pour the jam into your jars. The jars should be freshly sterilised and still hot.
• Screw the lids on tightly and flip them upside down. Let stand like this for ten minutes to seal, then put the jars into the fridge.

Choosing labels

When it comes to choosing labels for your homemade jam wedding favours, you have a few options. You can create your own unique labels using software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or a free online tool like Canva. This allows you to personalise your labels with your own designs, colours, and text. After designing, you can either print the labels on high-quality card stock or sticker paper. Using card stock gives you the option to tie the labels to the jars with string, twine, or ribbon, adding a rustic charm to your favours. On the other hand, sticker paper provides a quick and easy way to secure the labels to the jars.

If designing labels from scratch seems daunting, you can opt to have them provided for you. Many online wedding stationery companies offer labels and stickers that can be customised and matched to your wedding theme. Embellishments such as foil stamping, raised foil, or letterpress can also be added for a luxurious touch. When ordering your wedding invitations, enquire about adding labels or stickers to your order for a seamless and time-saving experience.

Regardless of the option you choose, ensure that your labels complement the overall aesthetic of your wedding and reflect your personal style. You can incorporate your wedding colours, motifs, or a cute stamp to make them stand out. Adding a thoughtful message or your wedding date is another way to make your labels even more special.

• "Spread the Love" labels with a heart design
• "Jam Packed with Love" stickers with a whimsical font
• Personalised round stickers with your initials and wedding date
• "Please Take Jar Home And Spread The Love" labels with a modern minimalist design
• Custom vintage-style labels with a "Homemade with Love" message

Remember to include the flavour or type of jam on the label, especially if you plan to offer a variety of flavours. You can also add decorative elements like dried lavender or a ribbon to enhance the visual appeal of your favours.

By choosing labels that reflect your style and theme, you can create elegant and memorable wedding favours that your guests will adore.

Filling and sealing

Sterilising the Jars:

First, ensure your jars are clean by washing them in a dishwasher or with hot, soapy water. Then, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line the oven shelves with a few layers of newspaper and place the jars and lids inside, leaving a little space between each one. Sterilise for about half an hour. Alternatively, you can boil the jars and lids in a pot of water for 15 minutes. Handle the jars and lids with care after sterilisation to avoid introducing new germs.

Making the Jam:

For a classic jam, you will need 1kg (2lb) of fruit (strawberries or apricots are recommended), 1kg (2lb) of white sugar, and the juice of one lemon. Start by mashing the fruit and sugar together and letting the mixture stand for 2 hours. The sugar will react with the juice, softening and sweetening the fruit. Next, add the lemon juice and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring continuously. Allow the mixture to boil for 30-45 minutes, stirring as needed to prevent sticking. Foam will form on the top, which you should scoop off and discard. The jam is ready when it is thicker and deeper in colour.

Testing the Consistency:

To check the consistency, use a teaspoon that has been chilled in the freezer to scoop out a small amount of the jam. Allow it to cool for a moment, then check if it has reached your desired consistency.

Filling the Jars:

Pour the jam into the jars while they are still hot. Fill the jars to about 1/2" from the top. Do not pour hot jam into cold jars, as this can cause the glass to shatter.

Sealing the Jars:

Screw the lids onto the jars tightly and flip them upside down. Let them stand like this for ten minutes to seal. Then, place the jars right-side up in the fridge and allow them to cool. Depending on the size of your jars, this recipe should fill about ten.

Your jam will keep for about a month in the fridge, but you can also store it in the freezer to extend its shelf life. Keep in mind that your guests will need time to store and consume the jam, so it's best to choose a recipe with a longer shelf life if possible.

Decorating

Homemade jam wedding favours are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding. Here are some ideas for decorating your jam jars to make them extra special:

Labels

You can create your own unique labels using software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or a free online tool like Canva. You can then print them out on high-quality card stock or sticker paper. If you're ordering online wedding invitations, you could also ask the vendor to provide labels or stickers that match your wedding stationery. Consider adding embellishments like foil stamping, raised foil, or letterpress for a luxurious touch.

Jars

Small jars are ideal for wedding favours as they are easy to fill and won't require a large amount of jam. You can purchase these jars online or from a local shop. Remember to sterilise your jars before filling them to prevent bacteria from growing in the jam. This can be done by washing them in a dishwasher or with hot, soapy water, and then baking them in an oven at 180°C (350°F) for about half an hour. Alternatively, you can boil the jars and lids in a pot for 15 minutes.

Ribbon, Twine, or String

After your jam has cooled and you've filled your jars, you can attach your labels with a piece of ribbon, twine, or string. This adds a charming, rustic touch to your wedding favours.

Extras

To make your jam jars even more special, consider adding a few extra decorative elements. For example, you could include a dried lavender stem or a sprig of fresh herbs. You could also tie a small spoon or spreader to each jar as a useful keepsake. For a more luxurious feel, you might want to wrap each jar in tissue paper or place them in decorative bags.

Frequently asked questions