Wedding Favor Ideas You’ll Love

Don’t waste your money on wedding favors that will get left behind. Here are our favorite ideas your guests are guaranteed to love.

By Libby MacCarthy

1. Potted Plants and Packets of Seeds

   

   PHOTO BY NEXT EXIT PHOTOGRAPHY

   Pot miniature succulents, cacti, air plants or fresh herbs in creative containers, like vintage teacups, tin pails or modern cement cases, for a playful touch that plays up your wedding’s theme. Or give guests a packet of flower seeds — the same flowers you carried down the aisle.

2. Local Treats

   

   PHOTO BY SHEAULEE NG

   Highlight local flavors with regional specialties or ones that are representative of your wedding’s locale. Send them home with a jar of your favorite Kansas City barbeque sauce, a bundle of sweet Maine maple candies or a bottle of California red.

3. Late-Night Snacks

   

   PHOTO BY KRISTEN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

   Don’t let your guests leave hungry (all that dancing works up an appetite!). A little snack is the perfect way to beat those late-night hunger pangs. Offer up boxes of freshly baked cookies, jars of flavorful popcorn or you can even get a little fancy and bundle up gourmet treats (think: truffles, cheese, crackers and grapes) or comfort food favorites, like burgers, fries and a bottle of soda for guests to take on the road.

4. A Candy Bar

   

   PHOTO BY CLEAN PLATE PICTURES

   The candy bar is nothing new, but this smorgasbord of sweets makes for a fun treat and gives guests the chance to pick and choose their favorites. Dream up a theme for your bar for your own fun twist — whether it’s your childhood favorites or desserts that complement your wedding colors.

5. Your Favorite Homemade Recipe

   

   PHOTO BY KATE HEADLEY

   If you’re up for the challenge, whip up a bunch of your award-winning jam, to-die-for granola or those spicy pickles everyone loves. Edible favors are always a hit, but your guests will love them all the more knowing you made each and every one.

6. Temporary Tattoos

   

   PHOTO BY LITTLE BIT OF LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY BY TABITHA PATRICK

   Have your guests get inked with temporary tattoos! Hearts and flowers are fun, but you can also go custom or choose designs that speak to you as individuals and as a couple.

7. Anything on a Stick

   

   PHOTO BY RUSTIC WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

   You can’t go wrong with edible favors served on a stick — not only are they super-cute, they’re easy to eat too! For a cool weather wedding, hot chocolate on a stick warms guests up without the mess, while delicious dessert pops (think: cake, cookies, pie or even faux ice cream cones) let them enjoy their after-dinner treats on the road.

8. Modern Mixtapes

   

   PHOTO BY BLUE BEND PHOTOGRAPHY

   You might not make mixtapes anymore, but a killer collection of songs is an easy way to make sure guests remember the amazing time they had at your wedding, plus they’ll get to enjoy it again and again.

9. A Great Book or Poem

   

   PHOTO BY JULIA NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

   Books make great gifts, and you can be sure they’re something your guests will actually use. Wrap up your favorite or the latest best seller in kraft paper, tie with string and add a mock library checkout card for an extra touch. You can also order a variety of secondhand reads, bundle them up and let your guests choose their favorites (this can be seriously entertaining when there are romance or sci-fi novels thrown into the mix!).

10. A Donation to a Charity of Your Choice

    

    PHOTO BY PHILIP FICKS

    Skip the favors altogether and make a donation to a cause you love instead. Pick a couple organizations you support and let guests choose their favorite. Make up signs describing each and then have them add a token to the organization’s donation jar.

11. Home Brews

    

    PHOTO BY DARK ROUX PHOTOGRAPHY

    Fancy yourself a bit of a brewmaster? Surprise your guests with bottles of your homemade brews or batches of bitters they can add to their home bars.

12. Cocktails in a Box

    

    PHOTO BY DONNA VON BRUENING

    Put together a kit that lets your guests discover a new drink and master the art of mixing. You can keep it classic and bundle up all the makings for the perfect margarita or introduce guests to new concoctions with fun ingredients, like St-Germain, blood orange liqueur or honey simple syrup. Include a recipe card with instructions and additional cocktail ideas for a gift your guests are guaranteed to love.

13. Cool (or Warm!) Weather Comforts

    

    PHOTO BY JAMES CHRISTIANSON

    Items that beat the heat or keep your guests cozy are not only practical, they’re thoughtful too. Pashminas, blankets or tins of tea are perfect for fall or winter weddings, while sunglasses, nautical beach totes and fans will get a lot of use with the hot summer sun.

14. DIY Kits

    

    PHOTO BY JEN HUANG PHOTOGRAPHY

    We love the idea of gifts that include an activity! Fill up jars or pretty bags with key cookie or scone ingredients that guests can use to whip up delicious treats when they get home. Custom cookie cutters or labels add an extra-special touch.

15. Foodie-Approved Gifts

    

    PHOTO BY CLARY PHOTO

    Awaken their inner foodie. Spice rubs, infused olive oil, bottles of wine from local vineyards or finishing salts are delicious gifts your guests won’t want to leave behind.