Wedding favours have been commonplace at weddings since the 16th century where weddings were considered to be an auspicious and lucky occasion. The bride and groom would share this luck with guests by giving a gift. Wealthier couples would gift sugar cubes or sugared candies in ornate boxes because sugar was an expensive luxury at the time. As sugar became commonplace the idea evolved and was eventually succeeded by sugared almonds. These were gifted in groups of five and represented the Five Wedding Wishes: health, prosperity, fertility, joy and longevity.

These days, wedding favours are often something that represents the couple’s personal tastes, interests and passions like the groom’s favourite beef jerky or the bride’s homemade strawberry jam. Many couples are also choosing to forgo wedding favours altogether as a way to save their budget and minimise environmental impact. Too often have I seen dozens of favours left behind and thrown out because people just don’t want more stuff in their possession.

To get you started in choosing a wedding favour, here are a few general Do’s and Don’t’s:

DO these with your wedding favours:

✔ Pick a wedding favour that has a personal meaning.

✔ Pick something that’s within your budget.

✔ Choose a wedding favour that you’d be happy to take home and have 30 of, like soaps or chocolates

✔ Pick something edible, like fudge or mints.

✔ Choose a favour that’s on-theme so it doubles as table decor; e.g. a green and natural theme could have tiny potted succulents as favours.

✔ Pick something useful and decorative, like a soy candle.

✔ Use your favours as your seating chart by attaching a notecard with the table number and name of guest attached to it.

✔ Sell you’re leftover favours on wedding Facebook groups or Marketplace if the favour isn’t too on-theme, personalised, or perishable.

DON’T do these with your wedding favours:

✘ Gift favours that would be better in a set, like drink coasters or engraved knives.

✘ Provide wedding favours just because it’s tradition or you feel like you have to.

✘ Choose overly personalised favours, like wine or water glasses with your names and wedding date on them.

✘ Choose an edible favour without listing ingredients in case of allergies.

✘ Pick something overly niche unless it’s on-theme, like fandom key chains.

✘ Choose a favour that’s purely decorative, like a snowflake figurine.

✘ Throw them out at the end of the night.

Now that we’ve ruled out a few options, let’s look at 5 favours that are guaranteed to go down a treat.

1. Natural soaps

These are fantastic because everyone uses soap, one way or another. If they’re all-natural and vegan-friendly then they will also suit most skin types. Have them packed into little individual cardboard boxes or tie a bow of twine around them, and the presentation is done!

2. Honey jars

Honey, especially locally sourced, is a beautiful option that guests are always excited to take home. Whether they like it on their bread, in their cooking or in their tea, honey’s versatility makes it a popular choice.

3. Chocolates

Who doesn’t like chocolate? If you have a vendor who can provide a few varieties, such as milk, dark, white or flavoured, then your guests will also have a fun time swapping at their table and conversation will start to flow.

4. Mints

Hard mints in a personalised or on-theme tin is a great option for anyone. People love mints and will probably use them immediately as the night progresses.

5. Scented soy candles

Simple but well-loved. If you can procure a few different scents, guests will switch and swap and any that get left behind will be snapped up by other guests or the bridal party.

Remember, you can have any wedding favour you want, just choose something you’re happy to take home with you.

Until next time, keep making your special moments unforgettable x