I know what you’re thinking: you want to have a fun and unique wedding favor that your guests will actually like and use, but you don’t know where to start. As a wedding planner, I’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to wedding favors, including which ones are left behind when everyone goes home.

Let’s break down what kinds of wedding favors you can have that are appreciated by your loved ones and don’t feel like a waste of your precious wedding budget!

1. Edible Favors

These are easily the safest crowd pleaser when it comes to a wedding favor. There’s almost never any left over at a wedding with an edible favor.

Think local, artisanal, or nostalgic if you want to get unique and elevated with these.

I’ve had couples do a bespoke batch of apple brandy, Garrett’s gourmet popcorn from Chicago, fortune cookies with personalized fortunes inside, and cookies to look like their pup (along with dog treats for the guest’s dogs!).

2. Wedding Merch

This wedding favor idea is definitely becoming more and more popular, and it’s not surprising why! The biggest hit I’ve seen is custom hats – people really love those. And a recent popular item has been matchbooks. Who couldn’t use an extra matchbook? They’re small, easy to grab, and are a pretty and practical gift that can be easily personalized.

It’s so fun to have a slogan or a logo that makes the merch feel cooler than just some random thing you got at a wedding!

3. Eco/Botanical Favors

I really love these types of favors since they are useful, consumable, and/or reusable. We love anything that doesn’t end up as waste after the wedding!

These kinds of favors can be items like palatable seed paper place cards, small herb plants or mini succulents, or glass jars of spice blends, olive oil, local honey or jam.

4. Experiential Favors

Instead of a physical gift, guests can get an experience that becomes the favor. They create memories instead of clutter, and double as entertainment.

We’re talking personalized watercolor guest portraits, a caricature artist, custom perfume blending station where guests can create their own fragrance, or live embroidery or glass etching.

A good rule of thumb is that a wedding favor should be able to be used, eaten, planted, or experienced.

If it doesn’t serve a purpose beyond looking cute on a table, it’s worth reconsidering. No one needs or wants another random trinket, cheap plastic item, or overly personalized keepsakes like a magnet or a shot glass. Also be sure to keep in mind transport. Some people will be traveling to your wedding, so avoid heavy, awkwardly shaped items and food favors that expire too quickly.

It’s important to note that it is not at all a necessity for couples to have wedding favors!

It’s more of a really nice extra rather than a requirement. Most guests do not expect them. I would actually advise skipping them if you want to save money, have less waste, focus more on the experience (with good food, music, and company), and avoid the time and stress.

So whether you’re in need of some additional help nailing down your wedding favor or you want assistance with putting your whole big day together, I’d love to help make planning easier for you! Let’s chat.