Wedding favour ideas on a budget

By Wedding Offshore Team

The cheapest wedding favour is a good one that you plan early. Decide how much you want to spend in total, divide it by your guest numbers, and choose one simple idea that fits. This guide shows you how to do that, with ideas that cost little, ways to make a small gift look special and the mistakes that quietly push the cost up.

Decide whether you want favours at all

Favours are a thank-you, not an obligation. There is no rule that says you must give them, and plenty of weddings go without. If money is tight, it is fair to treat them as optional and spend where guests will notice more, such as good food and a comfortable seat.

If you do want them, a small gesture is enough. A thank-you message on each place setting, a shared sweet table or a donation made in your guests' name, with a card to say so, all say thank you without a gift for every person to carry home.

Set a favour budget before you shop

Work it out in this order:

Decide the total you are happy to spend on favours, and treat it as fixed.
Count how many favours you need. Decide now whether you are giving one to each guest, one to each couple or household, or a different, simpler one to children.
Add a few spares for last-minute guests, breakages and mistakes.
Divide the total by the number of favours. That figure has to cover the gift, the box or bag, the tag or ribbon, delivery and anything you need to make them.

For example, if you have 60 guests and are giving one favour to each person, you need 60 plus a few spares. Divide your total by that number and you know what each favour can cost, packaging included. Doing this sum first stops you falling for something lovely that is twice what you can afford.

Ideas that cost little

These work because they are simple to buy in quantity, easy to pack and welcome to most guests.

A small bag of sweets. Choose something that survives warm rooms and being carried in a handbag.
A thank-you card. A short, handwritten or printed message from you both costs very little and is often the part guests keep.
Seed packets. A small packet of flower seeds is light, practical and works with a garden or countryside theme.
Homemade biscuits or flapjacks. Wrap each one individually, bake close to the day and write the main ingredients on the tag so guests with allergies can decide for themselves.
A tea bag and a sachet of hot chocolate. Tie them together with a short message.
A small jar of something sweet, such as jam or honey, if you already make it or have a good local source.
A mini notebook or a bookmark. Useful, light and easy to personalise with a name or a date.
A shared treat on the table. One generous bowl or sweet display per table can feel more generous than tiny individual items, and it can cost less.

Pick one idea and repeat it. A single, well-presented favour looks more considered than a mixture of several.

Make the packaging do the work

Packaging is what guests see first, and it is the cheapest place to make a favour feel special. Buy plain boxes or bags and dress them up: a length of ribbon or twine, a tag with your names and the date, a sticker in your wedding colours. Repeat the same finish on every one.

Our favour boxes and favour bags are a simple starting point if you would rather not make your own, and you can browse the full range of wedding favours to compare sizes and finishes. Work out the cost per favour including the packaging, not just the gift inside it.

Buy sensibly in bulk

Count first. Wait until the guest list is close to settled before you order in quantity.
Buy one to test. Check the size, the colour and how much fits inside before you buy the lot.
Compare the whole cost. Add delivery to the price of the items. A cheap item with expensive delivery is not cheap.
Check delivery times before you commit, because they vary between suppliers and with the time of year.
Keep a receipt and a list. If you need to return or reorder, you will want to know exactly what you bought.

Make them or buy them

Making favours saves money but costs time. If you make them, test one first and time it, then multiply by the number you need to see whether you can really do it. Do anything that keeps, such as tags, boxes and packaging, early and in batches, and leave anything that spoils, such as baking, until the last few days. Ask friends or family to help with an assembly line, because two people working together are much quicker than one.

If you are short of time, buying ready-made favours or plain packaging to fill yourself is a sensible compromise.

Getting them to your guests

Think about how favours will reach people:

On the place setting or plate. Easy and visible, but someone has to set them out, so ask your venue who does it and how early they can start.
On the table as a group. Simple to set out, and guests help themselves.
Handed out as people leave. Good for anything fragile or that melts, and it keeps the tables uncluttered.
Tied to a place card. The favour doubles as a way of showing guests where to sit.

Venues differ in what they allow on tables and in who is able to set up, so check with yours before you decide.

Mistakes that cost more than they save

Ordering before the guest list settles, then paying for spares you do not need or scrambling for more.
Forgetting allergies. Label what is inside any edible favour, and avoid including whole nuts unless you are sure about every guest.
Choosing something that melts or spoils in a warm room or a hot car.
Choosing something heavy or bulky for guests who have travelled a long way.
Overfilling the bag or box, so that it will not close or looks cheap.
Leaving it late, and paying extra for speed.

Next steps

Set your total, divide it by your guest numbers and choose one idea you can repeat. For more inspiration, our list of wedding favour ideas covers a wider range, and if you decide to make your own boxes, read how to make DIY wedding favour boxes before you buy materials.

Asked and answered

Do you have to give wedding favours?

No. There is no rule, and many couples choose not to. If you want to say thank you in another way, a note on each place setting or a donation in your guests' names works well.

How many favours do you need?

One for each guest is the simplest approach, or one for each couple or household if you want to spend less. Order a few extra, and confirm your final numbers before you place a large order.

What is the cheapest wedding favour?

A thank-you card or a single wrapped sweet costs very little, and a shared treat for each table can cost less than individual gifts. Compare the cost of each favour including packaging and delivery, because that is the figure that matters.

When should you order wedding favours?

Order once your guest numbers are close to final, and early enough to allow for delivery and for assembling them. Delivery times vary, so check the supplier's estimate and allow some spare time.