There’s a couple of topics that are always hotly debated in our forums and kids at weddings and favours are definitely two of the most popular! While some couples love the idea of having a little token for their guests, others would rather spend the money elsewhere. If you’re in the pro-favours camp and are looking for some ideas your guests will be a fan of, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular choices below. From scratch cards and edible goodies to treats like ice creams they can devour there and then, these 10 ideas are sure to be a big hit with guests (and won’t be left behind at the end of the night!)…
1. Donate to a Chosen Charity
Photo via Make a Wish Ireland
If you’re not pushed on having something for your guests but would like to do something, one idea that’s proving really popular and goes to a worthy cause is charity wedding favours! There are some great charities out there working to make a difference and lots of them can provide you with tent cards for your tables so that your guests know you’re using your happy occasion to help this great cause. Two such charities are Make a Wish Ireland and Self Help Africa. Make-A-Wish Ireland is a children’s charity that helps grant wishes and give children with a life-threatening condition a magical day they will remember. Self Help Africa uses your donations to support and invest in projects that can help improve the lives of some of Africa’s poorest people. For more info on charity wedding favours, click here!
2. Treat them to Drinks they Can Enjoy Post Ceremony (or Sachets They Can Take Home)
Photo by Freestone Photography via Wedding Chicks
Hands down one of the most popular favours at weddings has to be of the food and drink variety! Guests defo won’t forget to munch on some sweets or take a hot choc or coffee favour with them (you can make up everything from hot chocolate kits to little sachets with fresh tea leaves or coffee beans). If you’re a bit of a coffee connoisseur, another cute idea is to have a mobile coffee bar like Bean & Gone pop by after the ceremony to treat your guests to lattes and cappuccinos so they’ve something lovely to sip on as they head on to the reception. Find out more about Bean & Gone here!
3. Surprise them with Some Scratch Cards
Photo via Pinterest
If you’re keen to have something small on the tables guests can enjoy, scratch cards are a genius idea. Guests can have a bit of fun seeing if they got lucky and it will create a bit of a buzz from the get to. Or if you’re looking to get everyone involved, you can have a bit of a lottery with prizes such as the first scoop from the candy buffet, a free drink or other little treats like a bottle of bubbly.
4. Wow them with Delish Take Home Goodies
Photo by This & That Photography | Photo by Kim J Martin Photography via Heart Love Always | Photo via The Carrot Cake Lady
From fudge and macarons to cookies, cupcakes and carrot cake, the options are endless when it comes to edible favours! If you’re brill at baking (or your parents or family members love a good bake off) – use your talents to whip up a batch of tasty and personal favours guests can enjoy there and then or the morning after with a cuppa. Or if enlist the help of The Carrot Cake Lady who makes the most delicious, moist, light carrot cake in a jar – it comes with its own little wooden spoon attached and personalised sticker so guests can easily take it home! Find out more here.
If you’re not the best baker but love the idea of having something foodie, other fun ideas include crisp sambo kits (Carolyn’s Sweets and Pretty Little Ideas can supply you with Crisp Sambo packs!), bags of jellies and some popcorn, nuts or mints (make the mints extra cute with a little mint to be sign or packaging).
5. Opt for Handy Store Cupboard Staples
Photo by Michelle Fiona Photography via Hello May
Another great little favour guests will appreciate is something homely and edible – things like honey, jam and pesto will always be a welcome addition to the store cupboard and there are some incredibly cute packaging ideas out there too if you go down this route. For jams, add a cute ‘Spread the Love’ label or a ‘Meant to Bee’ tag for honey. If you’ve got someone in the family that’s a dab hand in the kitchen, this could be a fun little DIY project to take on!
Or Home Essentials like Matches
Photo from Jennifer & Alan’s real wedding by The Fennells
Or if you’re after something practical they can use, things like matches and homemade candles will also go down a treat! We love this brill matches idea from Jennifer and Alan’s real wedding and how cute is the ‘perfect match’ packaging.
6. Pool the Cash and Fund Some Photo Fun
Photo via Perfect Photobooth
If you’re not mad on individual favours but still want to do something nice for your guests, another great option is pooling your funds and getting something fun like a photo booth or have a caricature artist pop by to draw some hilarious sketches of guests.
You can hire a Photobooth, Video Booth or Selfie Mirror from the following suppliers:
Shoot Booth | The Fancy Photobooth | Molten Sky Weddings | DMC Events – Photobooth | Carolyn’s Sweets | Selfie Box | Snap Happy | Wow Weddings Photobooth & Selfie Mirrors | Paddy’s Photobooth | Snap Magic Photobooths | Booths of Fun | Imagery Booths | Snapbooths.ie | Precious Moments Video Booth | Partyphotos.ie | Perfect Photobooth | Gueststars Ireland | Selfie Shenanigans | Wedding Letters Ireland | The Rhythm & Booth Co
Or a Caricature Artist
Photo via The Knot
Caricature Artists in Ireland
Andrew Goti Caricatures | Caricatures by Niall O’ Loughlin | Caricatures by Mark Heng
7. Treats Guests to an Awesome Candy Buffet
Photo from Julie & Sean’s real wedding by Michelle Prunty Photography
The candy buffet is one of the most popular trends these past few years and makes a great alternative favour idea! Guests will love stopping by and filling up on their fave old school jellies for a bit of a sugar hit later in the evening or if they’re after a bit of a sweet treat for the journey home. There’s lots of brilliant Irish companies that can create a beautiful display for you – Irish Candy Buffet suppliers include:
Carolyn’s Sweets | Magic Moment Candy Cart | Party Food 4U | Starlight Weddings & Events | Enchanting Events
8. Or Ice Creams All Round
Photo from Gail & Yan’s real wedding by Eden Photography
Another awesome idea is to have an ice cream van stop by either after the ceremony to kick start the celebrations or after dinner as a fun dessert idea! Irish suppliers offering this service include Smith’s Ice Cream Vans and if you’re after a cute cart, be sure to check out Adare Farm, JG’s Ice Cream and Carolyn’s Sweets. If you’re looking for more great ways to nail the perfect summer wedding, check out 10 great ideas here!
9. Arm them with Hangover Kits
Photo from Alex & Neil’s real wedding | Photo by Lisa Howard Photography via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
If you’re looking for a gift you can be guaranteed the guests won’t leave behind, this one is a winner. You can be fairly sure there’ll be some sore heads in the morning so if you’re looking to give guests a laugh and ensure they’re sorted for the morning after, put together some little hangover kits with everything from painkillers and coffee sachets to water and hangover goodies like crisps or sweets in them.
10. Share Your Faves
Photo via Mavora on Etsy | Photo by Finn Mooney
Another sweet way to inject some personality in to your Big Day is by sharing samples of your favourite things with your guests. Real wedding couple Rochelle & Johnny treated their guests to their ultimate fave – the crisp sambo but if you’re not of the same opinion, you can always create small individual favours too, His & Hers style (or His & His/Hers & Hers) and fill them with jellies, chocolates, nuts or anything else that you’ve a penchant for!
