What Are Wedding Favours?
What Are Wedding Favours? Meaning, Ideas and What to Put in Them
Wedding favours are small gifts given to guests as a thank-you for attending your wedding. Popular wedding favour ideas include chocolates, sugared almonds, personalised sweets, candles, seed packets and handmade keepsakes. At The Creative Bride, edible favours such as chocolate wedding favours and sugared almonds are popular because they are easy to style and guest-friendly.
At a Glance
- Wedding favours are thank-you gifts for your guests.
- You do not have to give wedding favours, but they are a lovely finishing touch.
- Most couples give one favour per guest, although some choose one per couple.
- Edible favours are popular because guests are more likely to enjoy them.
- Chocolate hearts, sugared almonds and personalised sweets are easy to style with your wedding colour theme.
What Are Wedding Favours?
Wedding favours are small gifts placed on your wedding tables or handed to guests as a thank-you for celebrating with you. They are usually small, thoughtful and connected to your wedding style, colour scheme or personality as a couple.
Traditionally, wedding favours were often sugared almonds presented in small boxes or bags. Today, couples choose everything from chocolates and sweets to candles, seeds, miniature drinks, charity cards and personalised keepsakes.
The best wedding favours are the ones that feel considered without making your wedding budget quietly sob in the corner. They should be easy to display, simple for guests to take home and suited to the overall feel of your day.
Do You Need Wedding Favours?
No, wedding favours are not compulsory. Your guests will not be standing at the door with a clipboard demanding chocolate before they leave. Well, hopefully not.
That said, wedding favours can be a lovely finishing touch. They help complete your place settings, add colour to your tables and give guests a small thank-you to enjoy during or after the celebration.
Simple rule of thumb
If your favour is useful, edible, personal or beautifully styled, it is more likely to be appreciated. If it feels random or difficult to take home, it may quietly get left behind with the abandoned confetti and one mysterious high heel.
Who Gets Wedding Favours?
Most couples give wedding favours to each guest attending the wedding breakfast. These are usually placed at each setting, inside a favour box, beside a name card or arranged as part of the table styling.
You can also provide favours for evening guests, but this is optional. If your budget is tight, it is perfectly acceptable to give favours only to day guests, or to create a shared sweet table where everyone can help themselves.
What to Put in Wedding Favours
Good wedding favour fillings are small, attractive and easy for guests to enjoy or take home. Edible favours are especially popular because they are practical, affordable and far less likely to gather dust in someone’s kitchen drawer.
- Foil-wrapped chocolate hearts
- Sugared almonds
- Milk chocolate Neapolitans
- Personalised sweets or mints
- Mini biscuits or wrapped treats
- Wildflower seeds
- Small candles or wax melts
- Charity donation cards
- Mini thank-you notes
Best Wedding Favour Ideas for Guests
The best wedding favour ideas for guests are easy to understand, easy to carry and suited to your wedding theme. You do not need to spend a fortune. A small favour can look beautiful when it is styled with the right box, ribbon, tag or table setting.
| Wedding style | Favour ideas | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Classic wedding | Sugared almonds, gold chocolates, ivory favour boxes | Traditional, elegant and easy to match with formal table styling. |
| Romantic wedding | Rose gold chocolate hearts, pink sweets, satin ribbon | Soft colours work beautifully with blush, floral and candlelit themes. |
| Rustic wedding | Kraft boxes, green or copper chocolates, twine or ribbon | Adds warmth and texture without feeling too polished or formal. |
| Winter wedding | Silver, navy, red or gold chocolates | Metallic and rich colours suit festive, cosy and elegant winter tables. |
| DIY wedding | Favour boxes, sweets, satin ribbon and handmade tags | Affordable, flexible and easy to personalise at home. |
Edible Wedding Favours
Edible wedding favours are one of the safest choices because guests are more likely to use them. Chocolates, sugared almonds, biscuits and sweets can all be styled beautifully while still being practical.
They also work well for couples who want their wedding tables to look coordinated. You can match foil-wrapped chocolates, favour boxes, tags and ribbon to your invitations, flowers and table stationery for a polished finish.
Are Chocolate Wedding Favours a Good Idea?
Yes, chocolate wedding favours are a good idea because they are affordable, easy to style and suitable for many wedding themes. Foil-wrapped chocolate hearts are especially useful because the colours can be matched to your table decor, favour boxes, ribbons and wedding stationery.
They are also guest-friendly. Not everyone wants to take home a personalised bottle opener, but a little chocolate heart after dinner? Much better odds.
Chocolate wedding favours work especially well for:
- Wedding favour boxes and bags
- Place settings
- Sweet carts and dessert tables
- Colour-coordinated wedding tables
- DIY wedding favour displays
- Baby showers, christenings and party favours
How Much Should You Spend on Wedding Favours?
Most couples spend anywhere from under £1 to £5 or more per guest, depending on the type of favour, packaging and personalisation. Edible wedding favours are often one of the easiest ways to keep costs sensible while still making your tables look finished.
If you are working to a tighter budget, choose a simple favour and spend a little time on the presentation. A small chocolate in a pretty box with ribbon can look far more thoughtful than an expensive favour that does not match the rest of your day.
DIY Wedding Favour Ideas on a Budget
DIY wedding favours are a great option if you want something pretty without overspending. The trick is to keep the favour simple and make the styling do the hard work.
- Choose a small edible favour, such as chocolates or sugared almonds.
- Pick favour boxes or bags that match your wedding colours.
- Add satin ribbon for a softer, more finished look.
- Use a personalised tag or small thank-you note.
- Set one favour at each place setting for instant table styling.
Wedding Favours by Theme
Rustic wedding favours
Rustic wedding favours work well with kraft boxes, natural textures, soft greens, copper tones and simple ribbon. Sugared almonds, wrapped chocolates and handmade tags are all easy to style for a rustic table.
Luxury wedding favours
For a more luxurious feel, choose metallic finishes such as gold, silver, copper or rose gold. Pair them with crisp boxes, layered place cards, wax seals or satin ribbon for a more polished look.
Winter wedding favours
Winter wedding favours look beautiful in silver, navy, red, burgundy, gold and white. Chocolate hearts are especially useful here because they add colour and shine without needing lots of extra styling.
Colour-coordinated wedding favours
Colour-coordinated favours help your tables feel more intentional. Match your favour sweets or chocolates with your invitations, menus, name cards, flowers or bridesmaid dresses for a pulled-together finish.
Shop Wedding Favour Supplies
Planning your wedding favours? These collections are a lovely place to start, especially if you want something easy to style, pretty on the table and simple for guests to enjoy.
Wedding Favours FAQs
What are wedding favours?
Wedding favours are small gifts given to guests as a thank-you for attending your wedding. They are often placed at each table setting or displayed for guests to take home. Popular options include chocolates, sugared almonds, sweets, candles, seeds and personalised keepsakes.
Are wedding favours necessary?
No, wedding favours are not necessary, and guests will not expect them at every wedding. However, they can be a lovely finishing touch if you choose something useful, edible or personal. They also help make your table settings feel more complete and considered.
Who gets wedding favours?
Most couples give wedding favours to each day guest attending the wedding breakfast. Some also provide them for evening guests, but this is optional. If your budget is limited, you could offer favours per couple or create a shared sweet table instead.
What do you put in wedding favour bags?
Wedding favour bags can include chocolates, sugared almonds, sweets, mints, biscuits, mini keepsakes or personalised notes. Edible favours are especially popular because guests are likely to enjoy them, and they are easy to match with your wedding colours using ribbon or tags.
How many wedding favours do I need?
As a general rule, order one wedding favour per guest. If you are giving larger or more expensive favours, one per couple may be enough. It is sensible to order a few extras in case of last-minute guests, styling changes or the occasional “oops” moment.
Are chocolate wedding favours a good idea?
Yes, chocolate wedding favours are a good idea because they are affordable, easy to style and enjoyed by most guests. Foil-wrapped chocolate hearts are especially useful because they come in different colours and can be matched to favour boxes, ribbons and table stationery.
Ready to Choose Your Wedding Favours?
Browse our chocolate hearts, sugared almonds, chocolate Neapolitans and satin ribbon to create wedding favours that look beautifully coordinated without making the job harder than it needs to be.
Shop Chocolate Wedding Favours