21 Unique and Useful Wedding Favors

At the end of your wedding night, it is not unusual to send guests home with a wedding favor—something small to remember the night and to thank them for celebrating your marriage. Wedding favors can range from small mementos to cute desserts to well, anything really. It’s best to avoid useless wedding favors that will just gather dust on a shelf or get thrown away. If you’re unsure what to send your guests home with, try out some of these simple and useful wedding favors.

Many wedding favors are, well, useless. Sending guests home with a rock engraved with your wedding date isn’t the best option, as they’ll probably just leave it on a shelf or in a drawer for a few years before discarding it. Instead of giving your guests something cute that they don’t really want or need, send them home with something fun, useful, and unique! Check out our favorite wedding favor ideas for your big day.

Sweets

Everyone loves a little something sweet, and individually wrapped candy, doughnuts, or cupcakes make for the perfect wedding favor. Packaged beautifully in customized bags with personalized labels, these treats offer guests a delightful memory of your wedding day.

Whether they choose to enjoy their treat on the ride home or save it for later, your guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness of this sweet gesture. These favors can be fully customized to fit your wedding theme by using different flavors, colors, and packaging styles. You can even add a personal touch with handmade tags, ribbons, or stickers featuring your names and wedding date.

Popcorn 

For couples who prefer a savory snack over sweets, specialty popcorn is a unique and delicious wedding favor. Packaged in decorative bags or boxes with custom labels featuring the couple’s names and wedding date, these favors are sure to be a hit.

Popcorn comes in a variety of flavors, from classic buttered popcorn to caramel, cheese, or even gourmet truffle options. You can source them from a local popcorn shop or order online, ensuring guests get a fresh and tasty treat. Popcorn is a fun and budget-friendly favor that guests can enjoy immediately or later at home.

Mini Champagne Bottles

Keep the celebration going with mini champagne bottles as wedding favors. These small but elegant bottles can be adorned with custom labels featuring your wedding date, initials, or a meaningful quote. Whether you choose a sparkling wine, prosecco, or even a mini bottle of your favorite beer or cocktail mix, these favors add a touch of sophistication and festivity.

Guests will love the opportunity to pop a bottle in your honor, whether at home or during another special occasion. This favor works well for any wedding theme, from glamorous black-tie affairs to casual outdoor celebrations.

Candles

Candles are a timeless wedding favor that guests will actually use and appreciate. Elegant and practical, these small gifts can be customized with personalized labels featuring romantic quotes, the couple’s names, or the wedding date. Choose a scent that complements your wedding theme, such as floral for spring, cinnamon for fall, or ocean breeze for a beach wedding.

Candles provide a cozy ambiance and remind guests of your special day whenever they light them. Whether you opt for classic jar candles, tealights, or handmade soy candles, this favor is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Garden Seeds

For couples who love nature, garden seed packets make a unique and eco-friendly wedding favor. Choose from easy-to-grow herbs like basil and rosemary, fragrant flowers like lavender, or even wildflower mixes to encourage pollinator-friendly gardens.

These tiny gifts symbolize growth, new beginnings, and the blossoming love between you and your partner. Pack the seeds in decorative envelopes or small tins customized with your names and wedding date. Guests will enjoy planting them at home and watching them grow, serving as a beautiful, living reminder of your special day.

Handmade Soaps

Artisanal soaps are a luxurious and practical wedding favor that guests can use and enjoy. These beautifully crafted soaps can be made in a variety of scents, shapes, and colors to match your wedding theme. Whether you choose delicate floral scents, invigorating citrus, or calming lavender, there’s a perfect soap for every guest.

Wrap them in decorative packaging featuring your wedding date and names for a personalized touch. If you’re feeling crafty, consider making homemade soaps to add an even more personal touch to your wedding favors. Alternatively, source them from a local artisan to support small businesses.

Flowers

Why let your gorgeous wedding flowers go to waste when they can serve as a thoughtful favor for your guests? Provide mini vases, mason jars, or decorative pails so guests can create their own floral arrangements using blooms from your centerpieces.

This is a perfect way to repurpose flowers while giving guests a charming and meaningful keepsake. Whether you opt for fresh-cut flowers, dried blooms, or mini potted plants, this favor adds beauty to any home and serves as a fragrant reminder of your special day. It’s an eco-friendly, budget-conscious option that adds elegance to your wedding send-off.

Mugs, Wine Glasses, Shot Glasses

Give your guests a useful and memorable wedding favor by customizing drinkware such as mugs, wine glasses, or shot glasses. These keepsakes can be engraved or printed with your names, wedding date, or a fun wedding-related design. Whether your guests enjoy coffee, tea, wine, or spirits, this favor will be a staple in their kitchen for years to come.

Personalized glassware makes a wonderful souvenir that fits a variety of wedding styles, from rustic barn weddings to elegant ballroom receptions. Plus, guests can use them immediately at the wedding or bring them home for a lasting memento.

Succulents

Small potted succulents are a trendy and low-maintenance wedding favor that guests will love. These little plants are easy to care for, making them perfect for both seasoned gardeners and those without a green thumb. Succulents come in a variety of shapes and colors, and you can place them in custom pots featuring your wedding date or a meaningful phrase.

Whether your wedding is rustic, modern, or bohemian, succulents fit seamlessly into any theme. They symbolize resilience and longevity, making them a meaningful gift to represent your marriage and the love shared with your guests.

Local Flavor

A great way to give guests a taste of your wedding location is by gifting them small jars of locally sourced treats. Think mini bottles of artisanal honey, maple syrup, homemade jams, or gourmet hot sauces. These unique favors celebrate the flavors of the area and make for a delightful treat guests can take home.

Personalize the packaging with labels that include your names and wedding date for an extra special touch. This option works particularly well for destination weddings or for couples who want to highlight a hometown specialty.

Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer has become an everyday essential, making it a practical and thoughtful wedding favor. Pocket-sized bottles with personalized labels featuring your wedding date and colors make for a stylish yet functional gift.

You can choose from a variety of scents or opt for unscented versions to cater to all guests. This favor is especially useful for travel and daily use, ensuring that your wedding gift doesn’t go to waste. Plus, it’s a great option for keeping guests safe and comfortable, particularly if your wedding includes a large gathering.

Sunscreen

If you’re hosting a sunny outdoor or beach wedding, mini bottles of sunscreen make for a thoughtful and practical favor. Guests will appreciate having sun protection readily available, and they may even use it before they leave the event.

Personalize the bottles with labels featuring your names, wedding date, and a fun beachy design. Choose a light, non-greasy formula with a pleasant scent that aligns with your wedding’s theme. This favor is perfect for tropical destinations, outdoor garden weddings, or summer celebrations.

Hot Chocolate

For a cozy winter wedding, hot chocolate kits make for a delicious and comforting favor. Pack small mason jars or test tubes with high-quality cocoa mix, marshmallows, and optional add-ins like cinnamon, peppermint, or chocolate shavings.

Tie them with festive ribbons and attach a personalized tag with brewing instructions. Guests will love taking home a warm and sweet treat to enjoy on a chilly evening, making this favor a perfect fit for a winter-themed celebration.

Personalized Matches

A simple yet thoughtful wedding favor, personalized matchbooks are both affordable and practical. They can be customized with your wedding colors, initials, and date, making them a cute keepsake that guests can actually use. Whether they light candles, a fireplace, or even a celebratory cigar, guests will appreciate having a handy matchbook with a personal touch.

Pair them with a candle for an even more meaningful gift. This favor is particularly great for vintage, rustic, or romantic wedding themes, and since they are compact and lightweight, they are easy for guests to take home without hassle.

Customized Bottle Openers

Deck of Cards

For couples who love game nights, a deck of cards makes for a fun and useful wedding favor. Cards are an item most people already own, but they are often misplaced or worn out, making a fresh deck a welcome addition to any home.

Personalize the cards with your names and wedding date, or opt for custom tins with a unique design to add a personal touch without the cost of fully customized decks. Guests can use them for game nights, travel, or casual entertainment. This creative favor is perfect for casino-themed weddings, vintage-style receptions, or playful couples.

Donations

For a wedding favor that makes a difference, consider donating to a charity in honor of your guests instead of providing a physical keepsake. Many couples choose causes that are close to their hearts, such as environmental conservation, animal welfare, or medical research.

Let your guests know about the donation by placing elegant display cards at their tables or providing individual notes explaining where the money has gone. This gesture adds a meaningful touch to your wedding and shows appreciation for your guests in a way that benefits a greater cause. It’s an impactful and selfless alternative to traditional favors.

Coffee Beans

A perfect wedding favor for coffee enthusiasts, locally sourced coffee beans make for a thoughtful and energizing gift. Choose high-quality beans that reflect your favorite roast or the region where your wedding is held. Packaging them in custom bags or jars with personalized labels ensures that guests receive a favor that is both elegant and functional.

For a more complete gift, pair the beans with a personalized mug or include instructions for the best way to brew them. Coffee beans make a great favor for fall or winter weddings, giving guests a cozy, aromatic reminder of your special day.

Essential Oils and Diffusers

Give guests the gift of relaxation with essential oils and small diffusers. Instead of expensive electronic diffusers, opt for simple clay or wooden ones that naturally absorb and release essential oils. Include a mini bottle of your favorite scent—lavender for relaxation, citrus for energy, or eucalyptus for refreshment.

Be sure to include usage instructions and warnings for any oils that may be harmful to pets. These elegant and aromatic favors add a spa-like touch to your wedding while providing guests with something they can use at home for self-care and relaxation. It’s a unique and luxurious keepsake idea.

Mints

Fresh breath is always in style, and customized mint tins make for a perfect wedding favor. Guests will appreciate a small, portable tin of mints that they can use throughout the evening and beyond.

These can be designed to match your wedding theme, with personalized labels or engravings featuring your names and wedding date. For an extra romantic touch, opt for heart-shaped tins or include a cute message like “Mint to Be.” This affordable and practical favor ensures that guests have a useful keepsake they can carry in their pocket, purse, or car long after your wedding day.

Chopsticks

For couples who share a love for sushi, ramen, or other Asian cuisines, chopsticks are a unique and memorable wedding favor. They can be elegantly crafted from wood, bamboo, or even metal, and they come in a variety of designs that can match your wedding’s aesthetic.

Customizable sheaths or engravings with your wedding date, names, or a special phrase make them even more personal. If you’re serving chopstick-friendly food at your reception, guests can use them during the meal and take them home as a souvenir. These favors are perfect for an elegant, modern, or culturally inspired wedding theme.