With a tight wedding budget and all the other expenses involved in a wedding, the idea of making your own inexpensive wedding favors is extremely attractive. The question is whether you are getting yourself into something that is more than you can handle. Brides can go over-the-top when it comes to making their own gifts for their guests, spending hours and hours coming up with ideas and gluing little pieces of fabric and ribbon to their creations. I have put together ten simple and easy ideas you can use to make your own cheap wedding favors at home, without putting a strain on your time or budget.
1. Jams and Jellies. Purchase gift packs of mini jars of jams, separate them, and tie lengths of personalized ribbon around the neck of the jar. You can then design your own labels on your computer and print them on a color printer, assuming you have one.
2. Fancy Loose Tea. Buy canisters of gourmet loose tea online, the cheapest place to purchase it, and package a few teaspoons into separate bags for each person. You can buy small organza favor bags for this purpose, or buy bulk quantities of mini glass canisters. Craft and party supply places are a perfect place to look.
3. Homemade Chocolate. Always a popular choice, chocolate can be melted and poured into molds for a custom wedding favor. Get the kind that is made for melting. You can usually buy chocolate molds online in any shape imaginable. Alternatively, find a favorite recipe for chocolate truffles and package them in mini favor boxes with a ribbon around them.
4. Vintage Candy Favors. Nostalgic candy from days gone by is a perfect favor for vintage style weddings. Buy it in bulk online at a candy supply website, preferably in colors to match your wedding color scheme. Filling mini mason jars with the candy will keep the theme all tied together.
5. Traditional Candy Bar. The days of penny candy that you picked from jars is long gone, but that does not mean you can not make your own. This is an extremely popular 'hot spot' at weddings. Give your guests little glassine envelopes or Chinese take-out boxes to put their candy in and take home.
6. Flower Seeds. Take a trip to your local garden supply center and pick out packets of flower seeds that have pretty designs on the front in your colors. You can buy these online also. Then make your own favor tags to attach to each. You can even create your own place cards, buying beautiful ready to print stationery online, and attach the seeds to each tent card.
7. S'mores to Go. Whether it is campfires in the summer or winter evenings by the fire, everyone loves to make smores. Just head to your grocery store for graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey's bars. Wrap them in squares of tulle with a personalized ribbon around them. All is ready for toasting and munching.
8. Ready to Grow Flowers. Go beyond the seeds and place little flowers in pots for your guests. If it is Spring or Summer, you should have no problem buying flats of plants or flowers that you can transplant into small flower pots. Use paint pens to write on the pots or tie a ribbon with a tag around each. You only need one plant per couple.
9. Oreos and Milk. If you are having a black and white wedding, Oreos are the perfect wedding cookie. You can even set up a milk and cookie bar for guests to pick from on their way home - the perfect bedtime treat. There has never been a more loved cookie, except maybe chocolate chip. I have even seen a wedding cake made from stacked up Oreos!
10. Jordan Almonds. It may sound overly traditional, but Jordan almonds are still once of the tried and true, classic wedding favors. Buy them in bulk in any color combination, or stick with classic silver and gold. Then it is just a matter of picking or making your own container. Troll through the craft supply stores or places like Oriental Trading for ideas. You can even buy pieces of pretty lace or fabric and tie up the almonds with a pretty ribbon. There is nothing more simple and classic than that.
If you are tight on time, choose the favor that is easiest and quickest to put together. Anything that people can grab for themselves on the way out the door, like bags of candy, will be the simplest solution. However, if you enjoy crafts and making things yourself, focus your energy on the parts you like best and buy the rest. Your guests will appreciate anything you give them, whether it is an inexpensive homemade wedding favor placed at their seat or a colorful display of candy.
