The 10 best DIY & Cheap Wedding Favor Ideas
For our wedding party recently I really struggled with what to give our guests as favours. How do you keep the 18 and the 83 year old happy, whilst also giving them something useful, pretty and not ridiculously expensive?!
We went through various different ideas and nothing that we came up with quite fit with our theme or budget. After lots of google searches, Pinterest scrolling and wandering around Hobbycraft, I finally decided on little bottles of maple syrup with DIY maple leaf stickers (our main wedding was in Canada) as the perfect fall wedding favour. My Mum did take some convincing on those as she didn't trust our guests not to open and spill them after a few drinks, so we compromised and put them in a box near the door rather than on tables...
If you’re struggling like we did, here are 10 wedding favours ideas that will keep everyone happy and shouldn’t break the bank…
1. Little bottles of alcohol or shots
Photo: http://www.soyourethirty.com
This one is perfect if you have a no kids policy. You could match the alcohol to what is in your signature wedding cocktails, add a label with a funny pun on or do a mixture of drinks so that everyone on the table can swap and take home what they like.
Tip: Rather than buying minis, buy one big bottle of something from Costco or elsewhere and decant it into smaller, prettier bottles. Just remember to add a label with what is in it – you don’t want your Aunty Doris to think it’s juice and take too many swigs.
2. Donation to charity
This is such a great idea if you’re not quite sure what to do, but know you want to do something. If you have a charity that is close to your heart then put little cards on each table with a message about your donation. If you don't have a specific place in mind, have a look online for charities who sell wedding favours.
Dogs Trust UK have little dog pins and cards you can put on each table for example. They are so cute.
Photo: Dogs Trust UK
3. Personalised candles
I never trust anyone who says that they don't like candles! So personalised candles wedding favours should a big hit.
Photo: InspireMeCandlesAust
You can get wholesale batches of small candles and all you need to do is add your own label or tag. You could even make your own candles with some wax and empty jars, although maybe only if you have a lot of time on your hands or a small guest list. I went through a phase of candle making and it took a bit more time, materials and burnt fingers than it was worth, but it was very fun.
4. Wedding Soundtrack CDs, memory sticks or a Spotify playlist
I keep seeing this on pinterest…
Photo: http://www.planyourperfectwedding.com
...like, all the time. And it is the cutest idea. The problem is, as much as I would love to re-listen to my spice girls albums on a quarterly basis, I don’t actually have a CD player, so it would be totally lost on me.
As an alternative, if you don’t have too many guests, why not give them a wedding USB stick with your wedding soundtrack on. Or maybe if you're doing everything else the digital way, drop them a thank you email after the big day and include a spotify or apple music playlist along with it so they can relive those terrible dance moves forever more.
5. Personalised Candy
There are a few different companies that will print photos on marshmallows or candy – perhaps do a different one for each of your guests with a photo of you and them on it. Or get some personalised chocolate wedding favours if you're more of a chocaholic type.
These also make great gifts for bridesmaids or family if you don't want to spend too much and are the perfect childrens wedidng favours if you have lots of little ones coming to your big day.
These are from Food Digital in the UK - http://www.foodigital.co.uk/#!prettyPhoto
6. A little succulent
I'm not sure if succulents are still 'in', or maybe they're timeless, but either way I know they make a super cute wedding favour. If you are having a botanical themed wedding then especially so.
Photo: MintStudioSD
Why not make your centre pieces or table decorations succulents and then the favours will be a miniature version.
7. Hot Chocolate Spoons
I can picture it now - a day spent at a beautiful winter wedding on Saturday, and then Sunday spent snuggled up with a hot chocolate favour to remind you of the day before. Perfect.
Photo: PikesPeakLemonadeCo
They are super easy to make yourself or cheap to buy. If you don't want to do spoons you could also make hot chocolate jars or bags instead.
8. Seeds
I love this idea for a garden, or outdoor themed wedding. You could get seeds that match the bouquets and table arrangements if you have a specific floral theme going. You can make the bags that they come in super cute as well, or pre-plant them in a little pot or cardboard tube.
Photo: BoutiqueByLauraAnn
My fingers are not green at all but I think even I could manage to plant one of these!
9. A scratchcard
I was at a friends wedding and they gave out scratch cards as their favours and everyone got so excited. And hopefully if they win big your guests will share a bit of the prize fund with you, weddings are expensive y’all.
Photo: FavoursforU
10. Personalised bauble
Obviously very specific to a certain time of year, these personalised Christmas baubles wedding favours are the perfect keepsake that your friends and families can pull out every year. They are also perfect as place names too.
Photo: BettyandJoans
The ones above are made professionally, but you can DIY your own Christmas favours with a blank box of baubles and a sharpie. Maybe add some glitter in your chosen wedding colours for an extra sparkle.
Or just forget favours all together and send a personalised thank you after the big day instead! It isn't the favours that your guests will remember, but they are a lovely little touch if you do decide to go with them.
For even more favours ideas, follow our favours Pinterest board here:
Let me know which favours you decided to go with or are thinking about? Do you have any other unusual wedding favours ideas? Leave a comment below if so