What to put in wedding favour bags
By Wedding Offshore Team
A good favour bag holds two or three small things that suit your guests, fit without straining the bag and survive the journey home. Start with the bag, choose one main item and a small extra, then add a tag to finish it. This guide helps you choose what goes inside, how much to put in, and how to keep the contents safe and tidy.
Start with the bag
The size and the material decide what you can put inside, so choose the bag before the contents. Small drawstring bags suit sweets, seeds and tiny keepsakes. Larger bags suit a few items or something flat, such as a card. Whichever you choose, buy one first and fill it to see how it looks and feels.
If you are not sure which size to buy, look at our favour bags and compare their dimensions with the items you have in mind. Measure your largest item, then check it fits with room to spare.
A simple formula
Three items is plenty, and two is often better.
- One main item. Something your guests will enjoy or use, such as a sweet treat.
- One small extra. A little something that adds interest, such as a packet of seeds or a bookmark.
- One personal touch. A tag or card with your names and a short thank-you.
Repeating the same combination in every bag looks deliberate and keeps costs predictable.
Ideas to choose from
Edible
Edible favours are popular because most guests enjoy them, and they can be inexpensive when bought in bulk.
- Wrapped sweets or chocolates
- Individually wrapped biscuits or shortbread
- A small bag of dried fruit
- A tea bag with a sachet of hot chocolate
- A small jar of honey or jam
Wrap every edible item, label what is inside, and think about heat. Anything that melts or crumbles can spoil in a warm room or a hot car, so choose items that hold their shape.
Practical
Practical items are useful and tend to stay out of the bin.
- A mini notebook or notepad
- A packet of seeds
- A reusable shopping bag, folded flat (where the bag is large enough)
- A lip balm or a small tub of hand cream, if you are happy to check ingredients
- A pen or pencil with your wedding date
- A pocket pack of tissues
Keepsakes
Keepsakes are small reminders of the day that guests can keep.
- A card with a photograph, or a printed message
- A bookmark or a small charm
- A small trinket in your wedding colours
- A tag with a favourite quote or lyric
Keep keepsakes light and flat, which makes them easier to pack and to carry.
For children
Children usually want something to do or eat straight away. Good options are:
- A small pack of crayons or a colouring sheet
- A wrapped sweet, if parents are happy with it
- A small, safe toy or sticker sheet
Think about the ages of the children coming. Small items can be a choking risk for very young children, so leave them out if little ones are on the guest list, and ask their parents if you are unsure.
For guests who travel
If many of your guests have a long journey home, or are flying, choose items that are light, flat and unbreakable. Avoid anything liquid, heavy or fragile. A card, a bookmark or a packet of seeds weighs almost nothing, and a boxed sweet treat is easy to pack. If you are unsure what guests can carry, ask a few of them what is easiest.
How full should the bag be
Fill a bag only until it closes comfortably. A bag that is stretched looks cheap, and one that is half empty looks unfinished. Put the heaviest item at the bottom, and place the card or tag at the top, where it can be seen.
If you want to add filler, a small piece of tissue paper or shredded paper makes the bag look fuller without adding cost.
Allergies and labelling
Allergies are the biggest thing to plan for. Do the following:
- Label anything edible with its main ingredients.
- Avoid whole nuts unless you are certain about every guest.
- Ask guests with serious allergies whether they would like a different favour.
- Keep edible and non-edible items separate if you can.
If you are not sure what to say on a label, keep it short and factual, for example the name of the item and its main ingredients.
Filling the bags without losing your mind
Set up an assembly line. Lay out the bags, put one item in each, then add the next, and finish with the tag. Work somewhere clean and dry, and keep finished bags in a crate. Leave edible items to the last few days, and keep them cool.
Agree who will take the bags to the venue and who will set them out. Check with your venue when you can deliver them and whether they allow favours on the tables.
Mistakes to avoid
- Overfilling, which makes the bag hard to close and heavy to carry
- Choosing items that melt in a warm room
- Forgetting children, who may need something different
- Buying before you check the size of the bag and the item
- Filling bags too early with anything that can spoil
Next steps
Pick your bag, choose one main item and one small extra, and test a single bag before you fill them all. If you want more ideas for keeping the cost down, read our guide to wedding favour ideas on a budget. If you would rather make boxes than buy bags, our guide to how to make DIY wedding favour boxes shows you how. Our wedding favours collection includes bags and boxes in several styles, and our favour boxes suit gifts that are better kept flat.
Asked and answered
How many items should go in a favour bag?
Two or three is plenty. A main item, a small extra and a tag or card looks generous without costing much.
What size favour bag do I need?
Measure the largest thing you plan to put inside, then add room for the other items and the closing. Buy one bag first and fill it to check.
How do I stop sweets melting in a favour bag?
Choose sweets that hold their shape, such as hard sweets or wrapped biscuits, and fill the bags in the last few days. Keep them somewhere cool until the day, and ask the venue where they can be stored.
Can I fill favour bags in advance?
You can fill them with anything that keeps, such as seeds, cards and keepsakes, as early as you like. Leave anything edible until the last few days.