Creative Wedding Favours: Making Your Own

Wedding favours are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding and can be a fantastic way to save money. From edible treats to homemade crafts, there are plenty of options to choose from that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Whether you're a DIY beginner or a seasoned crafter, there's a wedding favour idea that's perfect for your big day.

DIY Mini Honey Jars

To make these wedding favours, you will need:

• Honey (the amount will depend on the size of your jars)
• Tape
• A glue gun or hot glue
• Mini mason jars (these can usually be found online or at craft stores)

Optional extras include:

• Honey dippers
• Charms
• Ribbon
• Labels or stickers
• Wildflower seeds

First, you'll want to pour the honey into a large glass pitcher to make filling the jars easier. Be careful not to spill, as honey can be difficult to clean up! Have a plate underneath the pitcher to catch any drips.

Next, set up an assembly line with your jars. Carefully fill each jar with honey, using a knife to cut off the stream when it's almost full. Pass the jars along to be cleaned—a damp, hot cloth or tea towel is perfect for wiping away any sticky residue.

Once the jars are dry, you can add your labels or stickers. Design a cute label with your names, the wedding date, and a sweet message or quote. Print these out on sticker paper and apply them to the jars.

Now, it's time to decorate! Cut your ribbon into pieces and tie charms onto them before attaching them to the jars. You can also add honey dippers by tying them tightly to the jars with a double knot.

Finally, display your mini honey jars on a table with a sign. You could pair them with a packet of wildflower seeds for guests to plant, as a way of giving thanks to the bees.

Your guests will love taking home these sweet treats, and you'll have fun making them!

DIY Hot Cocoa Favours

DIY Hot Cocoa wedding favours are a great way to save money and give your guests something they will love. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating these adorable and delicious treats.

Materials:

• Clear glass vials with cork lids
• White Cardstock
• Basic Hot cocoa mix
• Edible dried flavourings of your choice (e.g. dried orange peel, edible lavender, chopped cinnamon sticks, chopped dark chocolate)
• Scissors
• Teaspoon
• Hole Punch
• Gift tags
• Ribbon or gold thread

Method:

Firstly, gather all your materials. This is the hardest part! Once you have them, the favours are easy to make.

Step 1: Fill your glass vials 3/4 of the way with the hot cocoa mix.

Step 2: Fill the rest of the vial with your chosen flavour ingredient. You can use dried orange peel, lavender, chopped cinnamon sticks, and/or chopped dark chocolate to create interesting flavours.

Step 3: Print out gift tags, cut them out, and punch a hole in each. Tie each tag to its coordinating flavour of hot cocoa with a ribbon or gold thread. Push the cork into the vial, and you're done!

Your guests can then mix the whole vial with a cup of hot milk, top with whipped cream, and enjoy.

DIY Cake Pops

Ingredients and Materials:

• Cake mix (boxed or from scratch)
• Buttercream frosting (homemade or store-bought)
• Chocolate or candy melts for coating (white, semi-sweet, or coloured)
• Sprinkles, food glitter, mini chocolate chips, or other desired decorations
• Sucker or lollipop sticks
• Wax paper or parchment paper
• Styrofoam block
• Small plastic bags or containers for packaging
• Ribbon or twine for decorating

Baking the Cake:

Start by preheating your oven and preparing your cake mix according to the package directions or your recipe. You can use any flavour of cake, but if you want a brighter white colour for decorating, use egg whites instead of whole eggs. Bake the cake in a 9x13 pan lined with non-stick cooking spray or butter. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.

Crumbling and Mixing:

Cut the cooled cake into pieces and remove any darker tops or bottoms if you want a consistent colour. Finely crumble the cake into a large bowl, removing any large lumps. In a separate bowl, prepare your frosting, and then add about three-quarters of it to the crumbled cake. Mix the cake and frosting until well combined; the mixture should have a dough-like consistency.

Shaping the Pops:

Roll the cake mixture into balls, approximately 1-1.5 inches in diameter. You can use a cookie scoop or melon baller to ensure uniform size. Place the balls on a tray lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to firm up. After chilling, you can give the balls another quick roll to smooth out any imperfections.

Melting the Coating:

Melt your chosen coating in a double boiler or microwave, following package instructions. Keep the coating warm and fluid while you work. If using chocolate, you can add a small amount of vegetable oil to thin it out and make it easier to work with.

Assembling the Pops:

Dip about half an inch of the end of a stick into the melted coating, then push it gently into the centre of a cake ball, going about one-third of the way through. Set the ball upside down on the prepared tray and repeat with the remaining balls. Chill the tray in the refrigerator if needed to help the sticks set.

Decorating the Pops:

Holding the stick, dip each cake pop into the melted coating until completely covered. Tap the stick gently on the side of the bowl or pan to allow any excess coating to drip off, then carefully poke the stick into the styrofoam block to hold the pop upright while it sets. At this stage, you can decorate the pops as you like—sprinkle with sprinkles, food glitter, or mini chocolate chips, or pipe on additional melted chocolate for more intricate designs. Allow the coating to dry completely.

Packaging the Pops:

Once the cake pops are fully set, place them in small plastic bags or containers. Tie the bags with ribbon or twine, adding any tags or labels as desired. You can also decorate the packaging with ribbon, stickers, or other embellishments to match your wedding theme.

Storage:

Cake pops can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for up to six weeks. Allow frozen cake pops to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

DIY Seed Packets

Step 1: Choose your seeds

Select seeds that are native to your region, or choose shades of blooms that match your wedding theme. Wildflower seeds can be purchased in bulk, which will be enough to make several hundred wedding favours.

Step 2: Prepare the packaging

The key to giving seeds as wedding favours is the presentation. You can create your own custom design or use free printable templates available online. Print the template on card stock, then cut out the template with scissors, following the edges. You can also score the design along the dotted lines using a ruler and a bone folder for a more precise fold.

Step 3: Assemble the packets

Fold and seal the seams of the seed packets using tape, glue, or a glue stick. Tape tends to work best. You can also use decorative tape to add a creative touch and secure the back of the packet.

Step 4: Fill the packets

Add about two tablespoons of seeds to each packet and fold the top flap down. You can also include a personalised message or a fun tagline like "Plant me in your heart" inside the packet.

Step 5: Display and gift

Your DIY Seed Packet wedding favours are now ready to be displayed and gifted to your guests! You can place them at each guest's seat or on a table for guests to pick up. These favours are simple, sweet, and budget-friendly, adding a unique and thoughtful touch to your special day.

DIY Cocktail Kits

Firstly, decide on the cocktail you would like to feature in your kits. This could be a signature drink that is special to you, or simply your favourite tipple. Consider the season – a summer wedding might call for a citrus punch, while a winter wedding could feature a warming cocktail.

Next, source the ingredients. You can either provide everything needed to make the cocktail, or you could opt for a more compact kit, providing the mixers and suggesting a spirit to pair it with. Don't forget to include a recipe card so your guests know the correct measurements!

Now it's time to assemble the kits. You could use a mason jar, a classic copper mug, or a compact, TSA-friendly bag for your ingredients. If you're feeling creative, decorate the containers with stamps or paint pens, or tie a personalised tag to each one.

Finally, present the kits to your guests in a way that ties in with your wedding theme. You could place them at each guest's setting, or display them on a table for guests to help themselves.

Your guests are sure to appreciate the thoughtful and practical gift, and will enjoy recreating your chosen cocktail at home.

Frequently asked questions