Wedding favors are a small thank-you for coming. They are entirely optional, and plenty of guests leave theirs on the table. The ones that get taken home have something in common: they are eaten, used or genuinely personal.
Favors that get taken home
- Edible: cookies, chocolates, local honey, candied almonds, a jar of jam, coffee or tea.
- Useful: fans for a hot ceremony, flip-flops for dancing, a candle, seed packets.
- Local: something from the place you’re marrying — a small bottle of olive oil, a local treat.
- Cultural: sugared almonds from Italian and Greek traditions, or a family recipe from your heritage.
- Experience: a late-night snack instead of a take-home gift.
Favors that often get left behind
Personalized trinkets with your names and date, tiny frames, shot glasses and anything that needs to be assembled.
A donation instead
A small sign — “In place of favors, we’ve made a donation to …” — is warm and simple. Choose a cause that matters to you both.
Displaying them
Place favors at each setting, on a table near the exit with a small sign, or hand them out at the send-off. Edible favors need a cool, covered spot until the end of the night.
DIY favors
Make one sample first and time it. Multiply by your guest count, then decide whether it is still a joy or a job. Ask a friend to help assemble them weeks ahead, not the night before.
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Confirm details with your vendors, venue, officiant and local authorities.
Questions people ask
Are wedding favors necessary?
No. They are optional, and many couples skip them or make a donation instead.
What are the best wedding favors?
Edible favors are the most likely to be enjoyed. Useful items like fans or flip-flops also get used.
Do you need a favor for every guest?
One per household is fine for couples and families.
