What Are Wedding Favours? + A Must-Have or Optional Item?

Welcome to my no-nonsense wedding favours guide. What are wedding favours? Do you actually need them for your wedding? By the end of this article, you’ll have all the answers you need. Woohoo.

I completely understand, having a wedding on a budget is tough. Little details such as favours add up quickly, so it’s likely you’re here because you are wondering if favours are actually needed. Or whether they are totally unnecessary.

Let’s dive in.

Photo: John Wellings via Woodhouse Barn Wedding

What Are Wedding Favours?

Wedding favours are a small, inexpensive token gift to thank guests for attending a couples’ wedding celebration.

Originally called bonbonnieres. wedding favours were a sugary treat. Five sugared almonds then later became a tradition, with each almond symbolising a different good luck wish for the newlyweds.

Health
Wealth
Long Life
Happiness
Fertility

In more recent years sugared almonds have been out, and a lot of newer alternatives have been firmly in. I’ve featured thousands of real weddings and trust me when I say I’ve seen a lot of different wedding favour ideas.

Photo: Camilla Andrea Photography via Whimsical Boho Wedding

Wedding Favours – The Low Down

Now we’ve debunked what wedding favours actually are, let’s get into further detail about your wedding favour options.

Here are my top wedding favour questions, answered!

Do all weddings have wedding favours?

In all honestly, the majority of the thousands of real wedding features I’ve written have had wedding favours. But, and I mean but, not all weddings do.

It really is down to personal choice and customs of the couple themselves as to whether to have wedding favours.

Can you skip wedding favours?

Yes! You can totally skip having favours at your wedding. The way I see it, as a wedding guest, I do not expect a wedding favour.

Ask yourself the same, do you expect a wedding favour when you attend a wedding. AND, do you actually use your wedding favour?

Often wedding favours can actually be wasteful, unused, expensive and dare I say it, harmful to the planet as a result.

So never feel like you have to have anything dictated by the wedding world as tradition. That being said, there are some amazing wedding favour ideas that can avoid most, if not all, of the drawbacks of having a favour.

All it takes is some thought, ingenuity and research into the right favour for your wedding.

Photo: Lee Maxwell via Wedding In Cornwall

Is it rude to not have wedding favours?

Some may say it’s rude not to have wedding favours, but I disagree. It’s not rude not to have favours.

You’re hosting a wonderful day for your guests, putting on food, drink and entertainment. It’s likely they are going to have an amazing time, so you don’t really need an additional gift to thank.

If you really want to thank guests, how about a personalised mini notecard to thank them, pretty much free and a totally thoughtful, personal way to be polite.

And, after the wedding itself, don’t forget those thank you cards and messages!

Do you give wedding favours to each guest?

It’s best to treat all your guests the same way, as equals to avoid any unwanted dramas. So it’s a good idea to give favours to each of your guests, yes.

Where do you put wedding favours?

There are no rules in how or where to display your wedding favours. You can put them on a table together with a sign asking guests to help themselves.

Or you could put them on their place setting if you are having a sit-down meal.

Photo: Brook Rose Photography via Tewin Bury Farm Wedding

Do evening guests get wedding favours?

Usually, evening wedding guests do not get favours, favours are usually reserved for wedding day guests who attend the wedding breakfast.

Although you can always break with tradition and give your evening guest favours, the choice is totally yours!

How much should we spend on wedding favours?

Generally, couples look to spend as close to £1 per favour for their guests. However, with rising costs, it may be tricky to stick to that budget and have a really lovely favour.

There is no rule you need to stick to on the cost of favours, it all depends on your wedding budget and what you are willing to spend.

Photo: Thyme Lane Photography via Rustic Christmas Wedding

How much do you donate in lieu of wedding favours?

If you are looking to skip favours and make a charity donation, there are a couple of ways to do so. Some charities sell favours direct, which makes it a simple process.

Or you can donate a set amount and let your guests know. Donate what you otherwise would have spent on favours, or if your budget is tight, even a small donation is a wonderful gesture.

What are good wedding favours?

Good wedding favours are:

Affordable
Useful
Look stylish in situ
A keepsake
Meaningful

So ask yourself when purchasing or making your wedding favours, whether they fit all the above.

Wedding Favour Alternatives

If you definitely don’t want a wedding favour as per tradition here are some other ideas that may work for your day:

Charity donation
Drinks token (for a free drink)
Personal notecard
Entertainment on the day for guests (bubbles, glow sticks, edible, mini drinks)

Photo: Oxi Photography via Shustoke Barn Wedding

Top Wedding Favour Tips

Finally, here are my top tips for deciding on whether to have wedding favours and if so which ones you should opt for.

Photo: Bridgwood Wedding Photography via Individual Tipi Wedding

Check Your Budget

First things first. Always have a wedding budget planned out and allocate funds to your favours before you head out shopping for them.

Using a wedding budget spreadsheet is a great way to see if you can afford to have favours.

Sustainability

Are favours going to be wasteful and do you wish for your day to have a small impact on the environment? If so be sure to find an eco alternative. Think seeds, cacti, plants as top sustainable choices. They will make for favours that actually help the planet.

Suitability

Will your guests use the favour that you give them? Or will it end up in that kitchen clutter drawer as an unused item? Try to be thoughtful for favours that are suitable.

Meaningful

Does this wedding favour mean something to you, your relationship and your day? Try to make your favours relevant and a part of your wedding story.

Theme

Think about how your wedding favour will look and if it suits your wedding theme. You will want it to fit seamlessly into your wedding day style and atmosphere.

Photo: Bloom Weddings via Animal Lovers Wedding