Choosing Wedding Favours
Before shortlisting wedding favour ideas, step back and consider the shape of your day. The right choice will align with your style and suit your guests.
Here are a few things you might consider…
Your Wedding Style and Theme
Are you envisioning a classic, formal affair in a grand hall, or a more relaxed garden party? Your overall theme, whether it’s traditional elegance, vintage romance, or modern chic, can help guide your favour choices.
Hatfield Park offers a range of stunning spaces for your wedding, including the historic Old Palace, the light and airy Riding School and a wide choice of beautiful open spaces.
Your Guest List
The number of guests could influence your budget and your choice of favours. Smaller, more intimate gatherings may allow for personalised or handcrafted gifts, while larger celebrations might call for favours that are simple, elegant, and easier to distribute.
Formality and Atmosphere
The more formal the event, the more polished the favour should appear. Luxurious keepsakes or artisanal treats might suit a black-tie event, while playful, whimsical favours could be perfect for a more casual celebration.
Guest Ages
Take into account the age range of your guests. You might have a broad mix of children, adults, and elderly relatives. Selecting favours with universal appeal, or offering a variety depending on your guests, could help everyone feel considered and included in your special day.
Cultural and Personal Touches
If you’re blending cultures or incorporating family traditions, favours can be a wonderful way to celebrate your heritage. From regional delicacies to symbolic keepsakes, thoughtful choices can add a meaningful layer to your day.
Learn how Hatfield Park is one of Hertfordshire’s premier Asian wedding venues.
Set a Realistic Budget
The average spend on wedding favours is £160, but good favours don’t have to be expensive; they just need to be thoughtfully chosen and well presented.
You might calculate how many favours you’ll need – this is usually one per guest – and set an allowance that fits your overall budget. Couples might spend between £1 and £5 per guest or more. Suppliers often offer bulk order discounts, meaning that ordering larger quantities for a sizeable guest list could significantly reduce your cost per item. You might also look into package deals or seasonal offers.
Consider striking a balance between affordability and quality. Simple, thoughtful favours, such as locally sourced treats or handmade soaps, can leave a lasting impression without being costly.
Explore Hatfield Park – the perfect historic wedding venue in Hertfordshire.
Wedding Favour Ideas
Gourmet treats
Classic food favours include:
- Decorated biscuits
- Sugared almonds
- Macarons
- Chocolates or truffles
- Gourmet sweets
- Local jams and honey
- Tea blends, hot chocolate sachets, or coffee drip bags
- Mini spirits or liqueurs
- Savoury treats – flavoured nuts, crisps, or olive oil miniatures
Cost guide: Typically £1.50–£6 per guest; premium patisserie or branded miniatures may cost £6–£12+.
Advantages: Easy to scale, minimal storage post-wedding, doubles as a late-night snack.
Considerations: Allergen labelling, storage and freshness, venue rules for alcohol or external food suppliers.
Keepsake favours
These favours are longer-lasting and meaningful when well chosen. Ideas might include:
- Scented candles
- Handmade soap
- Personalised coasters
- Custom puzzle pieces
- Miniature photo frames
- Mini potted plants or succulents
- Luggage tags
- Mini journals
- Mulled Wine & Cider Spices
- Bottle openers, luggage tags or keyrings in quality materials
- Coasters (stone, wood, or ceramic) with venue motif or monogram
- Linen napkins or handkerchiefs that guests can reuse
- Seed packets (wildflowers, herbs), often with eco credentials
Cost guide: Approx. £2–£10 per guest; higher for artisan ceramics or textiles.
Advantages: Keepsakes that guests can enjoy at home; great for weaving in heritage motifs (a sketch of Hatfield House, for example).
Considerations: Transportability, breakability, and whether guests will genuinely use the item.
Match Favours to Your Story and Scheme
Wedding favours are a wonderful way to reflect your unique story and enhance the theme of your celebration, particularly if you choose favours that complement your wedding’s style and colour theme.
For a boho-style celebration, you might consider natural touches like wildflower seed packets or honey jars wrapped in twine. If your wedding is elegant and formal, individual bottles of champagne or monogrammed candles could add a touch of luxury.
In historic settings with a rich heritage, such as Hatfield Park, favours such as pressed flower bookmarks or locally sourced artisanal treats could highlight your venue’s character. Seasonal weddings might feature anything from autumnal spiced biscuits to springtime floral soaps, and mini mince pies at Christmas. For example:
- Spring – seedlings, pastel macarons, floral lollipops.
- Summer – lemon biscuits, mini limoncello, fans for warm afternoons.
- Autumn – spiced biscuits, mulled-wine sachets, miniature preserves.
- Winter – hot chocolate kits, cinnamon candles, bespoke tree ornaments.
Some couples choose to weave their love story into their favours through thoughtful personalisation. Adding your names, meaningful motifs, or wedding colours can transform simple gifts into treasured mementoes that reflect your unique journey together.
Read more about wedding colour schemes for all seasons.
Handmade or Ready-Prepared?
When it comes to wedding favours, you can choose between creating them yourself or selecting ready-made gifts. Each approach offers its own charm, and many couples find that a thoughtful combination of both works wonderfully.
Your decision might be made after considering your guest numbers, budget, the time available, and what feels most authentic to you.
Handmade Favours
Creating your own favours offers a wonderfully personal touch and can feel extra special and meaningful to your guests. You’ll have the opportunity to customise every detail, and it can be more cost-effective for smaller guest lists. Many couples also enjoy involving friends and family in the creative process, making it a fun pre-wedding activity.
However, handmade favours could be time-consuming, especially for larger weddings, and the quality may vary depending on your skills and materials. Hidden costs for supplies and packaging can add up, and you would need enough time to prepare in the lead-up to your special day.
Read more about wedding roles – who does what at a wedding?
Ready-Prepared Favours
Buying favours could offer you a professional finish with consistent quality, saving you time and reducing stress. It’s much easier to source in bulk for large guest lists, and you would have access to a wide range of options to suit your theme.
The downside is that unless you select bespoke items, there could be fewer opportunities for personalisation, and it can be more expensive, especially for bespoke or luxury favours.
Some couples choose a mix of the two. For example, you might buy chocolates and wrap them in personalised packaging, or add handmade tags to keepsakes.
Thoughtful Considerations
Many couples choose meaningful and eco-friendly wedding favours. This can be a lovely way to reflect your values while creating something meaningful for your guests. Consider options like seed packets or edible treats in recyclable packaging to minimise waste. Charity favours, such as a small donation in each guest’s name, can also be a thoughtful and sustainable option.
Sourcing from local suppliers can help reduce your carbon footprint, support small businesses, and offer unique regional touches. Look into small businesses around your venue for interesting options – explore The Stable Yard and Old Hatfield for an eclectic range of local shops.
If you opt for edible treats or drinks, be mindful of labelling any potential allergens or alcohol content so they can be consumed safely.
Quantities, Timing and Presentation
Once you’ve chosen your favours, plan the practicalities – quantities, timing, and presentation. Add a few extra favours for unexpected guests and finalise your order two to three months before the wedding, especially for personalised items. If you’re making them yourself, allow plenty of time for preparation. Confirm delivery details and store everything safely until your special day, particularly perishable or delicate items.
On your wedding day, there are several options for sharing your favours. You might place them at each table setting, arrange them on a display table, or hand them out personally. Choose what feels right for your celebration.
Consider adding small signs if your favours have special meaning, such as charity donations or cultural significance.
Making Favours Personal and Memorable
The most cherished wedding favours often tell a story or reflect something meaningful to you as a couple. Consider weaving in family traditions, such as sharing a favourite family recipe, or including a note about why you chose a particular favour.
Interactive favours, like flower seed kits or personalised mini puzzles, invite guests to engage and create lasting memories. You might also highlight local connections by choosing favours from nearby artisans, or by incorporating elements unique to your venue, such as a postcard or miniature artwork.
Personal touches like these can transform simple favours into keepsakes, reminding your guests of your day long after the celebration ends.
Wedding Favours Checklist
To help you choose favours that feel just right for your wedding, consider the following…
- What’s your overall wedding style and theme?
- How many guests will be celebrating with you?
- What budget feels comfortable per guest?
- Would you prefer to make your favours yourself, buy them ready-made, or blend both approaches?
- Have you considered any allergies or dietary requirements among your guests?
- When will you order or create your favours to ensure they’re ready in time?
- Would you like to add personal touches that reflect your unique story?
Choosing thoughtful wedding favours is a wonderful way to thank your guests and add a personal touch to your celebration. It’s just one of the little details that can make your special day so special.
Consider Hatfield Park for your wedding celebration – from elegant décor to thoughtful details, we create a magical atmosphere within our stunning historic venue. For more inspiration, explore our venue gallery and download our events brochure.
Get in touch to speak to our wedding team.
