Lyla Dejesus
Wedding favors are small gifts given to guests as a token of appreciation, a memento, or simply for fun. The tradition dates back to the classical Graeco-Roman era, where food or flowers were gifted to attendees. In modern times, wedding favors are diverse and often complement the wedding's theme or season. They can include food, candles, soaps, coasters, bookmarks, and more. While not mandatory, wedding favors are a thoughtful way to thank guests for their presence and contribute to the overall wedding experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Edible gifts, candles, soaps, coasters, bookmarks, lottery tickets, charitable donations, CDs, etc. |
| Presentation | Gift bags, boxes, mason jars, tins, etc. |
| Purpose | To show appreciation or gratitude to guests |
| Timing | Placed in advance on guests' chairs or on a table at the exit |
| Cost | Within your budget |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding favours are not mandatory
Wedding favours are small gifts given to guests as a gesture of thanks for their attendance, a memento of the occasion, or simply for fun. The practice of giving party favours has its roots in the classical Graeco-Roman tradition, where food or flowers were gifted to event attendees.
While it is a nice touch to give your guests a little something to remember your special day by, wedding favours are not a mandatory part of the wedding ceremony. If it doesn't fit within your wedding budget or you don't feel it's right for your wedding, you can skip this tradition. Guests are there to share your happiness and celebrate with you, and while they will cherish any gifts you give them, wedding favours are not expected and are not what they are looking forward to.
If you do decide to give wedding favours, it is important to choose something that is meaningful to you and useful or enjoyable for your guests. Edible wedding favours are popular as they are something everyone can enjoy, and you can include a personalised note or message. However, if you are giving food as favours, be mindful that some items cannot be prepared too far in advance as they will spoil. Alternatively, you could give candles, soaps, coasters, or even something related to a shared hobby, like a book or a bookmark.
If you are concerned about the cost, you can consider donating to a charity that is close to your heart instead of giving physical gifts. You can let your guests know with a note at each table or choose not to announce it at all.
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Edible gifts are popular
Sugar-coated almonds, or Jordan almonds, are also a common edible favour, symbolising fertility, longevity, wealth, health, and happiness. In Italy and Greece, it is traditional to gift these almonds to represent the indivisibility of marriage. In the Netherlands, "bridal sweets" are distributed in tulle bags.
Other edible wedding favour ideas include gummy bears, botanical lollipops, and shot glasses filled with coloured candy. Couples can also opt for personalised candy cubes or miniature jars filled with natural honey. These jars can be customised with names and cute messages, such as "I found my honey".
Edible wedding favours are well-liked because they are enjoyed by everyone and are a fun way to thank guests for their attendance. However, they may not be prepared too far in advance, as they can spoil.
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Gifts can be personalised
Wedding favours are small gifts given to guests as a gesture of thanks for their attendance, a memento of the occasion, or simply for fun. They are not mandatory, and guests are mostly there to share your happiness. However, if you want to give your guests a little something, there are many ways to personalise your wedding favours.
One way to personalise your wedding favours is to complement the wedding theme. For example, if you have a nature or forest-themed wedding, you could gift your guests potted plants or succulents. You could also give out rustic candle wedding favours with different scents, or even personalised metal candle tins with labels that include details about your special day. If you're having a small destination wedding, you could surprise your guests with colourful beach towels.
Another way to personalise your wedding favours is to give gifts that are meaningful to you and your guests. For example, if you and your partner love reading, you could give out personalised bookmarks. If you have a favourite hobby or shared interest, you could incorporate that into your favours. A crafty friend could even help you make personalised gifts, like mason jars filled with candles, olive oil, or sugar scrub.
You can also personalise edible wedding favours. Miniature jars of natural honey can be personalised with your names and a cute message, like "I found my honey". You could also add dippers so your guests can sample the sweetness. Hershey's Kisses are another edible favour that can be personalised with coloured foil and stickers. If you want to give out chocolates, avoid doing so at a summer wedding, as they will likely melt.
Finally, you can personalise your wedding favours by adding a special touch, such as a personal note or a thank-you tag. You could also leave a note at each table to let your guests know about a charitable donation you've made in their honour. It's important to pick something within your budget and to remember that the best wedding favours are useful or meaningful for both you and your guests.
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Candles and soaps are good options
Wedding favours are small gifts given to guests as a gesture of thanks for their attendance, a memento of the occasion, or simply for fun. They are not mandatory, and guests are primarily there to share the couple's happiness.
Soaps are also a good option, as they are easy to wrap in unique ways. If you are worried about your guests' skin sensitivity, you can choose hypoallergenic and fragrance-free options.
Candles and soaps can be prepared in advance, which is not always the case with edible wedding favours. For example, chocolate gifts for a summer wedding are not recommended as the chocolate will melt and ruin the design.
You can also add a personal note to candles and soaps, and even choose to complement your relationship with them. For example, if you met your partner in a particular place, you could choose candles or soaps that reflect that location.
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Gifts can complement the wedding theme
Wedding favours are small gifts that are given to guests as a token of appreciation for their attendance. They can be anything from edible treats to personalised items, and are often chosen to complement the wedding theme.
Nature/Forest Theme
If you're going for a nature or forest theme, consider rustic wedding favours such as potted plants or succulents. You could also opt for something edible, like miniature jars of honey with personalised messages such as "I found my honey". Another idea is to give out seed packets with a sweet message like "Watch our love grow".
Destination Wedding
If you're having a destination wedding, choose favours that reflect the location. For example, mini jars of olive oil for a wedding in Santorini or fresh oranges for a celebration in Florida. You could also give out colourful beach towels or airplane-shaped luggage tags.
Nautical Theme
For a nautical-themed wedding, anchors fashioned out of rope or compass souvenirs are unique and memorable gifts. Heart-shaped chopsticks are another option, especially if you want to incorporate a traditional Chinese style into your wedding.
Elegant/Sophisticated Theme
If you're going for an elegant or sophisticated theme, personalised compact mirrors or macrame keychains can be both practical and stylish. You could also offer gourmet chocolates, such as personalised truffles or custom-illustrated chocolate bars.
Literary Theme
If you and your partner love reading, you can incorporate this into your favours. Bookmarks are a simple option, or you could give each guest a book that reflects your relationship with them.
Remember, it's important to choose favours that align with your wedding theme and your personalities. You want your guests to love your gift, but it's also essential to stay within your budget.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not mandatory to give out wedding favors. If it doesn't fit your budget or you don't feel it's right for your wedding, you can skip this tradition.
Creative wedding favor ideas include:
- Heart-shaped pie pops in assorted flavors
- Lottery tickets with a cute note like "we hope you get lucky tonight"
- Mini bottles of homemade limoncello
- Potted succulents or cacti
- Hangover kits with mints, Advil, Emergen-C, instant coffee, or liquid-IV
Edible wedding favors are the most popular type of favor. Some ideas include:
- Miniature jars of honey with a dipper and a tag that says "I found my honey"
- Hershey's Kisses with personalized stickers
- Botanical lollipops in unique flavors like lavender-lemongrass and strawberry-basil
- Chocolate bars with illustrated labels
- Bags of seeds with flowers that were used throughout the wedding
Some non-edible wedding favor ideas include:
- Matches or retro matchboxes
- Candles, such as miniature Jo Malone candles or those in different scents
- Soaps, especially hypoallergenic and fragrance-free options
- Bookmarks, especially if you and your partner love reading
- Shot glasses with a fun phrase like "Take a shot, we tied the knot"
According to The Knot's Real Wedding Study, the average couple spends about $450 on wedding favors. Couples with 50 or fewer guests spent $299, while those with over 100 guests spent $529.
