Wedding Favour Ideas: Unique & Personal
Key Takeaways
- Budget £1-3 per guest for favours — more than £5 is generous but unnecessary
- Edible favours (fudge, honey, biscuits) are the most popular and least likely to be left behind
- Charity donations in the couple's name are a meaningful alternative that avoids waste
- Personalisation adds cost — personalised labels on bulk-bought items give the effect for less
- Eco-friendly options (seed packets, plantable cards) are increasingly expected, especially by younger guests
Wedding favours are the small gifts left at each place setting as a thank-you for attending. They’re a lovely tradition — but they’re also the item most likely to be left behind on the table at the end of the night.
The trick is choosing something guests will actually enjoy, at a price that doesn’t blow your budget. This guide covers options from 50p to £5, with a focus on what works in practice.
Edible favours (the most popular)
Edible favours are the safest choice. Guests eat them during the evening, take them home, or give them to their children. Nothing gets wasted.
| Favour | Cost Per Guest | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personalised chocolates | £1-3 | Custom wrapper with names and date |
| Mini jars of honey | £1.50-3 | Local honey with a handwritten label |
| Bags of fudge | £1-2.50 | Cellophane bag with ribbon |
| Biscuits / shortbread | £1-2 | Individually wrapped with a tag |
| Mini jam jars | £1.50-3 | Homemade or farm shop |
| Macarons (2 per guest) | £2-4 | Beautiful but fragile |
| Mini bottles of gin/whisky | £3-5 | Popular but more expensive |
| Hot chocolate kits | £1.50-3 | Great for winter weddings |
| Sweets in a jar or bag | £0.50-1.50 | Pick and mix, love hearts |
| Chocolate truffles (2-3 per guest) | £1.50-3 | Elegant and universally liked |
Tip: Buy in bulk from a local supplier or Etsy shop, then add your own personalised labels. This gives the bespoke look for a fraction of the cost of fully custom favours.
Eco-friendly favours
Increasingly popular — especially with younger couples and environmentally conscious guests.
| Favour | Cost Per Guest | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wildflower seed packets | £0.50-1.50 | ”Let Love Grow” — classic and cheap |
| Succulents or small plants | £2-4 | Beautiful but need watering on the day |
| Plantable seed paper cards | £1-2 | Card dissolves when planted, flowers grow |
| Beeswax wraps | £2-4 | Practical and eco-friendly |
| Reusable produce bags | £1.50-3 | Useful, unusual |
| Donations to an environmental charity | £1-3 | Card explaining the donation at each setting |
| Tree planting certificates | £1-2 | ”A tree has been planted in your honour” |
Seed packets are the most popular eco-friendly option. They’re cheap, lightweight, easy to personalise, and guests genuinely plant them. Buy blank seed packets in bulk and stamp or print your own labels.
Charity donations
Instead of physical favours, donate to a charity meaningful to you. Place a card at each setting explaining the donation.
How it works:
- Choose a charity (local hospice, cancer research, animal rescue, environmental charity)
- Donate £1-3 per guest (£100-300 for 100 guests)
- Print a small card for each place setting: “In lieu of favours, a donation has been made to [charity] in celebration of our marriage”
Cost: The donation amount plus £10-30 for printed cards.
Tip: Choose a charity with personal meaning — a cause close to your family, a memorial for someone who’s passed, or a local organisation you support. This adds emotional significance beyond a generic “we gave to charity.”
Personalised favours
Items with the couple’s names, wedding date, or a personal message. More expensive but unique.
| Favour | Cost Per Guest | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personalised candles | £2-4 | Scented, with names and date on the label |
| Engraved bottle openers | £2-5 | Practical — guests keep these |
| Custom coasters | £1.50-3 | Cork or ceramic |
| Personalised matches | £1-2 | Matchboxes with names and date |
| Custom lip balm | £1.50-3 | Flavoured, with personalised label |
| Photo magnets | £1.50-3 | Engagement photo with date |
| Mini candles in tins | £2-4 | Scented, labelled with wedding details |
Warning: Personalisation with the couple’s names and date makes the favour meaningful to you but not to the guest. A candle with “Emma & Tom, 15.08.2026” won’t sit on a guest’s mantlepiece. A beautifully scented candle with no names might.
DIY favours (under £1 per guest)
If you have time (and willing helpers), DIY favours save money and add a personal touch.
| Favour | Cost Per Guest | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade fudge in bags | £0.30-0.60 | 2-3 hours for 100 portions |
| Seed packets (pre-filled) | £0.50-1 | 1-2 hours for 100 |
| Homemade jam in mini jars | £0.60-1 | 4-5 hours including sterilising |
| Wrapped chocolate bars with custom labels | £0.80-1.50 | 1-2 hours for 100 |
| Lavender sachets | £0.50-1 | 2-3 hours for 100 |
| Trail mix in cellophane bags | £0.40-0.80 | 1-2 hours for 100 |
Be realistic about time. Filling, labelling, and tying ribbon on 100 items takes longer than you think. Recruit bridesmaids, family, or friends for an assembly-line session.
Seasonal ideas
| Season | Best Favours |
|---|---|
| Spring | Seed packets, mini potted herbs, lemon curd jars |
| Summer | Mini sunscreen bottles, fan-shaped cards, infused water bottles |
| Autumn | Toffee apples, miniature pumpkins, spiced hot chocolate kits |
| Winter | Candles, mulled wine kits, gingerbread biscuits, hot chocolate bombs |
What to skip
Sugared almonds. Traditional but dated. Most guests don’t eat them, and they’re often left on the table.
Trinkets with your names on them. Keyrings, magnets, and coasters with “Emma & Tom, 15.08.2026” have no use to anyone except you.
Anything breakable. Glass items get smashed in pockets. Ceramic items chip in handbags.
Anything heavy. If guests have to carry it for the rest of the evening, they won’t.
Lottery tickets. Popular suggestion online, but £200 on scratch cards rarely produces a winner, and the “favour” is essentially gambling.
Further reading
- DIY Wedding Decorations — more budget-friendly ideas
- Wedding Centrepiece Ideas — table styling on every budget
- Favours Suppliers on Weddings Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should you spend on wedding favours?
Budget £1-3 per guest. For 100 guests, that's £100-300 total. Edible favours like fudge or biscuits cost £1-2 each. Personalised items cost £2-5 each. DIY options can be as low as 50p per guest. There's no expectation to spend more — guests appreciate the thought, not the price tag.
What are the most popular wedding favours in the UK?
Edible favours are the most popular: personalised chocolates, mini jars of honey, bags of fudge, and biscuits. Followed by eco-friendly options (seed packets, succulents, plantable cards), charity donations, and personalised items (candles, miniature bottles). Sugared almonds remain traditional but are increasingly seen as old-fashioned.
Do you have to give wedding favours?
No. Wedding favours are a nice gesture, not an obligation. Many couples skip them entirely or make a charity donation instead. If budget is tight, nobody will notice or be offended by the absence of a favour. If you do give them, keep them simple and meaningful.
What wedding favours do guests actually keep?
Edible favours get eaten (which is the point). Useful items like candles, bottle openers, and small succulents are more likely to be kept than decorative trinkets. Personalised items with the couple's names and date are rarely kept by guests — they're meaningful to you but not to them. The best favour is something guests enjoy in the moment.