Inexpensive Wedding Favor Ideas

by Lisa Milbrand

Overview

Wedding favors don't have to be expensive to be appreciated by the recipients. In fact, with a little ingenuity (and a little bit of work on your part) you can ensure that you've created gifts that your guests will adore---and that stay within your wedding budget.
Food

Foodie favors are always a huge hit---and many can be made yourself or bought pretty inexpensively. While a handful of Jordan almonds or M&Ms wrapped in tulle is a sweet finale to the wedding, consider making the gifts yourselves to save money and add an extra thoughtful touch. Think about special family recipes or dishes that might be suited to a favor: give each guest a few of your famous chocolate chip cookies or a small box of your grandma's fudge or jar of preserves. If you can bear to part with the family secret, tie a tag with the special recipe to the gift.

Double-Duty Gifts

Choose a favor that can serve a second purpose---tiny bud vases filled with a few blooms that could be grouped at the center of the table as centerpieces, then taken home at the end of the night; small boxes of candy that can have guests' table assignments pasted on them and be placed at the escort table; or decorated boxes that can be attractively displayed at the center of the table, in lieu of a centerpiece.
Donations

In lieu of favors, consider giving the money you would have spent on favors to a charity of your choosing. You can place a note on the guest book table or in your program to let guests know about your gift in their honor.
Other Ideas

If you've chosen a theme for your wedding, think of ways you can incorporate that into your favor. You might want to give out flower bulbs or seeds at a garden party reception, or a little wineglass charm at a winery wedding. Share your luck with your guests by offering lottery tickets or chocolate-dipped fortune cookies, create a mixed CD of your favorite tunes (include your first-dance song), or give out a small candle or beautiful scented soaps.

References & Resources