As the night of your special day comes to a close, it’s customary to express gratitude to your loved ones by sending them off with a thoughtful wedding favor. These small tokens can be as simple as a sweet treat or a memento that captures the essence of your celebration. The key is to avoid trinkets that will collect dust on a shelf or end up in a forgotten drawer. If you’re struggling to decide what to give, consider some practical and memorable options from our list below.
Sweets
When it comes to sending guests home with a sweet treat, the possibilities are endless! From classic candies and doughnuts to decadent cupcakes, there’s something for everyone. To make things easy, consider packing each item individually so that guests can enjoy them on the ride home or save them for later. And why stop at plain old packaging? Take your treats to the next level by adding custom labels, tags, or bags with personalized touches that reflect your event’s theme or style.
Popcorn
Consider an alternative sweet treat that still delights your guests: specialty popcorn! Look for local shops or online options that offer customizable labels. Add a personal touch with your names, wedding dates, or a special message that matches your celebration’s style. As the evening winds down or in the days following the big day, these thoughtful favors will be appreciated by your loved ones.
Mini Champagne Bottles
To keep the celebratory atmosphere going strong after the main event, consider gifting a miniature champagne bottle to your guests. This thoughtful gesture is easy to execute and is often met with appreciation. Choose a premium brand or get creative by customizing the labels with your special day’s details, such as the wedding date or your names. If bubbly isn’t your thing, this idea can just as easily be applied to beer, coffee, or other favorite beverages.
Candles
A wedding favor that’s both practical and sentimental, candles offer endless possibilities for personalization. Select a fragrance that resonates with your special day – perhaps something evocative of the season or tied to your unique theme – and consider adding a meaningful message or the date of your celebration. This thoughtful gift allows recipients to cherish the memory or repurpose it as they see fit, freeing up space in their homes without becoming a lingering reminder.
Garden Seeds
As the perfect complement to an alfresco celebration, personalized seed bombs can bring joy to your guests long after the ceremony has concluded. Opt for varieties that thrive in diverse conditions, such as sun-kissed lavender, fragrant basil, or hardy wildflowers that require minimal upkeep. This thoughtful gesture not only honors the couple’s love of nature but also encourages a sense of community and shared growth.
Handmade Soaps
When it comes to selecting unique and meaningful wedding favors, artisanal soaps have become an increasingly popular choice. Their versatility, affordability, and universal appeal make them an attractive option for couples looking to leave a lasting impression on their guests. The ability to personalize these soaps with custom scents, colors, and designs featuring the wedding date, couple’s names, or romantic phrases adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness and whimsy.
For those who enjoy getting creative in the kitchen, artisanal soaps can also be crafted at home, while others may prefer to support local artisans or online retailers offering unique and one-of-a-kind creations.
Flowers
By repurposing your wedding flowers as favors, you can breathe new life into what would otherwise be a fleeting gesture. One creative way to do this is to provide small vases or metal containers that complement the aesthetic of your special day. This thoughtful touch allows guests to hand-pick their own blooms and create personalized mini-arrangements to take with them.
Not only does this idea ensure that your beautiful flowers don’t go to waste, but it also provides a unique and memorable keepsake for your loved ones to cherish. To make the most of this gesture, consider using wholesale flowers or repurposing centerpieces to create a one-of-a-kind experience.
Mugs, Wine Glasses, Shot Glasses
Consider gifting personalized drinkware that resonates with the tone and style of your special day. Whether it’s a customized coffee mug for a morning pick-me-up or a wine glass for an evening toast, this thoughtful gift will be cherished by your guests long after the celebration has ended. The sentimental value of using their unique wedding favor on a daily basis will surely bring a smile to their faces and a reminder of the joy you shared together.
Succulents
Succulent gifts offer a thoughtful and low-maintenance way to show appreciation for your wedding guests. Much like flowers or seeds, succulents have become increasingly popular as decorative elements in their own right. Their ease of care makes them an ideal choice for busy hosts, who can simply place the small pots on each guest’s table or seat without worrying about constant watering and pruning.
To make the gift even more personalized, consider customizing the tiny containers with details like the wedding date, the couple’s names, or a special message that ties in with your big day.
Local Flavor
When it comes to choosing wedding gifts for your guests, consider incorporating a local twist that reflects the place where you’re tying the knot. This could be as simple as a specialty food item or drink that’s unique to the region. For instance, if you’re getting married in Vermont, a small bottle of maple syrup or some artisanal cheese would make a thoughtful gift.
The idea is to choose something that’s authentic and meaningful to the place where your wedding took place, whether it’s a gourmet goodie, a craft brew, or even a locally-distilled spirit. If you’re hosting a destination wedding, this personalized touch can be especially appreciated by out-of-town guests who may not be familiar with the local culture.
To take it to the next level, consider adding a personal touch with customized labels and stickers from Etsy that reflect your wedding’s theme and style.
Hand Sanitizer
In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a new wave of practicality when it comes to wedding party favors. One such item that has gained immense popularity is a small pocket-sized hand sanitizer, carefully designed to fit easily into a purse or car glove compartment. This thoughtful gesture not only shows your appreciation for your guests but also provides them with a useful item they can use in their daily lives.
To make it an even more special and memorable keepsake, consider personalizing the hand sanitizer bottles with your names and wedding date, or choose a fragrance that perfectly captures the essence of your big day’s theme.
Sunscreen
When planning a tropical-themed wedding, beach wedding, or destination wedding, consider gifting mini bottles of sunscreen as unique favors. Not only are they practical, but they can also be personalized with your special touches, such as custom labels featuring your wedding colors, names, and date. The added bonus is that guests may even use them before departing the celebration, making it a thoughtful and functional memento to commemorate your big day.
Hot Chocolate
For a winter wedding, a thoughtful and cozy wedding favor idea is to provide small hot chocolate kits for your guests. These can be presented in charming containers such as mini mason jars or test tubes, adding an extra touch of whimsy to the gift. The typical contents include rich hot chocolate mix, fluffy marshmallows, and other optional flavorings that allow guests to customize their beverage.
As a lovely gesture, this favor allows your loved ones to enjoy a warm and comforting mug of hot cocoa the day after your special day, serving as a sweet reminder of your celebration.
Personalized Matches
For a thoughtful and practical wedding favor that won’t break the bank, consider gifting matchbooks to your guests. These small yet mighty tokens can be easily customized to reflect your special day’s colors, names, and date. The best part? Guests are sure to put them to good use, making this a unique and memorable memento of your big day.
To elevate this idea, consider pairing the matchbook with a candle for a more substantial and romantic wedding favor that will keep on giving long after the ceremony is over.
Customized Bottle Openers
When it comes to wedding favors, consider gifting customized bottle openers or corkscrews. These practical yet thoughtful gifts are bound to be used by your guests time and again, making them an excellent choice. Take it up a notch by personalizing the bottle opener with your special day’s date or names. If you want to make it even more convenient, opt for keychain bottle openers that can be easily carried and used on-the-go.
What’s more, these simple yet elegant favors are surprisingly affordable, making them an ideal option for couples looking to create a memorable experience without breaking the bank.
Deck of Cards
For couples who share a passion for card games or want to incorporate this theme into their special day, a customized deck of cards can be an ideal wedding favor. This unique gift offers a practical and fun keepsake that guests can treasure for years to come. To make it even more special, consider personalizing the deck with your names, the wedding date, or a romantic message. Alternatively, opt for generic playing cards and place them in a beautifully designed tin or box.
This creative solution allows you to add a touch of personality without breaking the bank. By doing so, you’ll ensure that each guest departs with a memorable token of your appreciation and love.
Donations
When it comes to charitable couples, one approach is to redirect the funds typically allocated for wedding favors towards a worthy cause. By doing so, you’re not only making a positive impact but also providing transparency to your guests. You can explain that the cost of their wedding favor went towards a specific charity or organization that resonates with your values, and even consider making the donation in their names as a special thank-you.
Coffee Beans
For coffee aficionados, a thoughtful gift is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion like a fall wedding. One unique idea is to offer freshly sourced coffee beans as a favor that reflects the couple’s love for their morning cup. Consider partnering with local roasters or selecting specialty blends that complement your wedding theme. To make it an even more memorable experience, you could pair the coffee beans with a matching mug, allowing guests to enjoy their favorite brew in style.
Essential Oils and Diffusers
When it comes to wedding favors, you don’t have to break the bank or compromise on uniqueness. A simple clay-based essential oil diffuser can make for a thoughtful and personalized gift for your guests. Just add your favorite essential oil and include some basic instructions for those who may not be familiar with using them. This is especially great if you want to incorporate a personal touch without going overboard. But, it’s also important to consider the safety of your furry friends.
Some essential oils can be toxic to pets, so make sure to do your research and provide guidance on which oils are safe to use around cats and dogs. This way, you can ensure that all of your guests can enjoy their diffusers without putting any animals at risk.
Mints
Imagine presenting your wedding guests with a thoughtful gift that they’ll actually use long after the celebration is over. A personalized mint favor with custom labels matching your wedding’s theme is a unique and practical way to show your appreciation. For an added touch of romance, consider ordering heart-shaped mint tins that will make the gesture even more memorable.
Not only are these favors functional, but they’re also budget-friendly, making them an excellent choice for any couple looking to give their guests a special memento of the big day.
Chopsticks
For couples celebrating a sushi-filled love story, offering personalized chopsticks as wedding favors is an innovative and meaningful gesture. This unique token of appreciation not only honors their shared culinary passion but also provides a memorable take-home keepsake for each guest. To elevate the experience even further, consider incorporating chopsticks into your reception by allowing guests to use them throughout dinner.
Alternatively, distribute them at the end of the night as a special memento of the evening.