Check out these simple craft ideas to make lovely wedding favours
There’s so much to consider when you’re planning a wedding, but it’s not just about the major aspects like choosing your venue or wedding dress and accessories; it’s often the smaller decisions that bring the most satisfaction like researching wedding favour ideas.
If you’ve not yet added organising the wedding favours to your to-do list don’t worry about it incurring any extra work. We’ve done the fun part, looking to Instagram for inspiration, not just for the best wedding favour ideas – but the best handmade ones so you can add a crafty touch to your big day.
Combine them with other DIY wedding ideas you may already have like making your own flower crowns and biodegradable confetti in colours that match your wedding theme.
What are wedding favours?
A long-held and much-loved tradition, wedding favours are a small gesture of thanks to your guests, a gift to show your appreciation and to give them a memento they can take home to remember the special day. They can either be edible or something that can be kept and treasured.
Typically, wedding favours are presented at the table when your wedding guests sit down to eat at the wedding table. This makes it easier to distribute them if they’re personalised as they can be incorporated into the seating plan arrangements, so guests receive the right gift.
Or, they can be given to your wedding guests when they leave, along with a packed takeaway slice of wedding cake.
Wedding favours should be distributed to everyone involved in the wedding including adults and children, who you may want to arrange special favours for, as well as enough for service providers like catering and entertainment staff.
Traditional wedding favour ideas
Like every aspect of your wedding, you need to set a budget when you’re researching wedding favour ideas. Don’t worry if you only have a small budget for favours, it’s the thought that counts, more than what you give.
The most common of all wedding favours is the sweet treat of sugared almonds, a tradition that started in Italy. Historically, five almonds would be gifted, each one representing different wishes for the couple such as health and happiness.
Today, though sugared almonds are still gifted, there are many other wedding favour ideas to consider.
Personalised wedding favour ideas
Treat your guests to personalised gifts – it’s an extra special way to show you appreciate them on your wedding day. It could be as simple as adding their name to the favour, being a flavour or colour they like or something else that is specific to their interests.
Cricut machines are perfect for designing personalised wedding favours like adding name stickers to a champagne flute or printing an individual design on each napkin.
Handmade wedding favour ideas
Keep in mind that whatever you give as a wedding favour, it should be practical, not break easily and most importantly can be transported home by your guest – the last thing they want to do is carry around a bulky or heavy gift, especially if they have limited luggage space if they’ve travelled for a destination wedding.
Don't take on the pressure of making all your favours yourself. Enlist the help of your hens, friends, and family members, perhaps by throwing a crafternoon of wedding crafting one weekend.
Gifting a handmade wedding favour will always be appreciated and there are so many wedding favour ideas to choose from. Need ideas?
Here are some of our favourites that we’ve come across, why not give one a go?
Edible wedding favour ideas
Jars of honey or conserve
If you or a family member is a keen jam, pickle, chutney or conserve maker than consider gifting your guests a small jar of a homemade treat. Dress the jars with pretty fabric covers secured with ribbon.
Your wedding venue or destination may have a local honey which would make for a thoughtful gift, though be sure to have an alternative for vegans and take other dietary requirements into consideration. We love the romantic detail of the hand-printed labels which say 'Spread the love'!
Olive oil bottles
For a savoury alternative, we love a fragrance and flavour-infused mini bottle of olive oil. Don't forget to personalise the labels with the essential information of the couple's names and wedding date.
Fancy fondant biscuits
If you're a fan of all things sweet why not treat your guests to some personalised wedding favour biscuits? You can pick icing colours to match your wedding theme and have each guests name piped on in a contrasting colour. Want to DIY it yourself? Make the job nice and easy by buying a custom stamp personalised with your names and wedding details, this can be pressed into fondant, cut out with a cookie cutter and placed on top of your biscuits ready to package up.
Personalised wedding favour ideas
Clay place names
Air-dry clay is a versatile craft material that can be made into all kinds of things, but we particularly love this wedding favour idea of creating name tags. They double up as place name cards which guide wedding guests to their seat and can be kept.
Seed packets
This is another fun way to double-up guest's seating arrangements with a wedding favour. Invite them to come up to a board, find their name, collect a seed packet and then be guided to their seat.
Thinking more sustainably about your wedding favours and your wedding is a priority for many couples and this is a perfect way to be mindful of the environment while gifting a memorable present.
Keepsake wedding favour ideas
Macrame heart keyrings
Think of a wedding favour that matches the theme of your day and complements the wedding decor. Macrame works well with vintage themes, whether they are outdoor summer garden parties or cosy winter weddings. Macrame heart keyrings are really easy to make and are a great craft project to set yourself to do in the evenings and weekends leading up to the big day.
Crochet is also a good alternative to macrame - There are so many different crochet items you could make for wedding favour ideas, check out our crochet projects for suggestions.
Knitted pouches
Or, if you're a knitter these simple and versatile pouches can be filled with a gift of your choice and be made in a colour of yarn that matches your table settings. We have some great knitting projects if you're looking for a knitting idea.
Home and interiors wedding favour ideas
Embroidered hoop
Show off your love for stitching with a hand embroidered keepsake. The miniature embroidery hoop makes it easier to protect the fabric and allows your gift to be easily hung up or displayed.
Use an aida fabric to make it easier as it comes with guide lines and holes. Stitch on the names and dates and then embellish with a detail of your choice. If you need to brush up on embroidery stitches take a look at our stitch guide and if you're a beginner we have all the advice you need to get started with embroidery.
Ramekin candles
This is such a clever way to use up ramekins, especially the glass containers that often come with cold desserts – rather than putting them in the recycling, keep them and turn them into candles.
See our tutorial for how to make candles or get started with a candle-making kit. Then, once you've got the hang of it (and candle-making is very easy!) you can batch make them for wedding favours.
Kid's wedding favour ideas
Colouring kits
Children never tire of colouring in! It's a great way to occupy your younger guests. Don't forget to add in either a pack of crayons, pencils or felt pens. Stickers and stamps make great additions too.
There are different ways you could package up a colouring kit – you could put the materials inside a bag younger guests can carry around.
Sweet jars
Big kids and little kids alike will always appreciate some sweets! These are one of the most cost-effective wedding favour ideas. Did you know that you can get sweets such as fizzy Love Hearts and chocolate Smarties made with your wedding details printed on them? To get the most bang for your buck buy a bulk amount of the sweet treats of your choice and portion them out into individual jars or bags. Finish each favour off with a pretty ribbon a handwritten label t0 give them that extra special touch.
Looking for more wedding craft ideas? Check out our flower crowns and biodegradable confetti.
Have you got crafty for your big day? Share your wedding makes with us by tagging @primamag in your pictures on Instagram!
You Might Also Like
