Wedding planning
Wedding Favours for Guests — Ideas, Wording & When to Give Them
Your wedding is a special day not just for you, but for the people who are there to celebrate with you. Your guests take time off, arrange travel, buy you a gift — and often meet your other half's family for the first time. A thoughtful thank you isn't an obligation, but it's a signal that you've noticed and appreciated their effort. Below, you'll find concrete ideas for wedding favours, ready-to-use wording, and tips on when and how to give them.
Are thank-you gifts for guests a must?
In short: no, but it's a lovely touch. Giving wedding favours is a tradition that varies in popularity depending on the region and style of the wedding. It's becoming more common to find a small gift at each place setting. It's not about the monetary value — it's about the gesture.
Guests generally don't expect a thank-you gift. But when they receive one, they remember it. And they'll remember it far more fondly than another piece of forgettable wedding tat.
When to give your thank-you gifts
You have three main options:
At the table (at their place setting) — The favour is placed on the plate or next to the cutlery. Your guest sees it as they sit down. This is the most popular option, as it requires no extra logistics during or after the wedding.
As they leave — The couple or their parents hand out the favours as guests depart. This is more personal but requires someone to be organised and stationed by the exit. It works well for smaller, more intimate weddings.
After the wedding (a thank-you card) — A card or message sent a week or two after the wedding. This doesn't replace a physical favour, but it's an excellent addition, especially when you're thanking guests for their specific wedding gifts.
If you're planning a favour at the table and a card after the wedding, you've got the best of both worlds.
Wedding favour ideas for your guests
Practical and edible
A small jar of honey — A classic that never goes out of style. A 100–150g jar with a label matching your wedding theme looks elegant, and your guests will actually use it. Cost: €1–€3 each.
Tea or coffee in personalised packaging — Two or three premium tea bags or a small pouch of ground coffee with your wedding logo. It's light, won't spoil, and is perfect for guests who dislike clutter. Cost: €1.50–€3.50 each.
Homemade liqueur or jam — If you have the time or someone to help with production. It's labour-intensive but incredibly personal. Especially meaningful if the liqueur is a family recipe.
Fudge or chocolates with a personalised wrapper — Sweet, small, and elegant. Many confectioners offer custom-made fudge for weddings. Cost: €1–€2.50 each.
A miniature bottle of olive oil — A great choice for couples with a Mediterranean or Italian wedding theme. Elegant and has a long shelf life. Cost: €2.50–€5 each.
Decorative and keepsake
A scented candle in a small jar — A small soy wax candle with a personalised label. Many small businesses create these specifically for weddings. A lasting and aesthetic gift. Cost: €2.50–€6 each.
A magnet or bookmark with your wedding date — A simple, inexpensive gadget. Works well as an add-on to a sweet treat.
Flower seeds — A small packet of wildflower, poppy, or lavender seeds with a note like "Let love grow". Eco-friendly, cheap, and original. Cost: €0.50–€1.50 each.
A miniature bottle of alcohol with a personalised label — A mini bottle of whisky, gin, or wine with a label saying "Anna & Tom's Wedding, 12.07.2026". For couples who know their guests will appreciate a tipple. Cost: €2–€5 each.
Digital and intangible
Access to your wedding photo gallery — Instead of a physical gift, you can place a wedding QR code on the invitations or at the tables linking to your wedding photo gallery. Guests can find all the photos from the celebration in one place. It's a gift that lasts and doesn't take up cupboard space.
A personalised thank-you card after the wedding — A message sent a month later, once the dust has settled. A few words written specifically for that person, not a mass-produced text. It's especially important to write a separate, heartfelt note to guests who helped with the organisation.
Ready-to-use thank you wording for guests
Here are a few options you can copy and adapt. You can print them on a tag for your favour, or use them in a text or email after the wedding.
Short and sweet (for a favour tag):
Thank you for being with us on our special day. Your presence was the greatest gift of all.
— Anna & Tom
Warm and personal (for a thank-you card):
Dear Kate,
It's been a week since the wedding, and we can still picture your smile during our first dance. Thank you so much for travelling all that way to be with us. Your gift and your kind words mean the world to us — we hope we can catch up properly very soon.
With all our thanks, Anna & Tom
Heartfelt and emotional (for close family):
Dear Auntie & Uncle,
Our wedding wouldn't have been the same without you. Your presence, your good wishes, and the fact you made time for us despite everything — we can't put into words how much it means to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Neutral and polite (for work colleagues or distant relatives):
Thank you so much for celebrating with us at our wedding and for your lovely wishes. We hope you had a wonderful time and that we can all look back on the day with happy memories.
Anna & Tom
How much should you spend on favours?
There's no single rule. Most couples spend between €1–€5 per person on physical favours. With over 100 guests, this becomes a noticeable expense, so it's wise to include it in your wedding budget from the start.
An alternative is one collective gesture for everyone (e.g., a personalised card + access to the wedding photo gallery) and separate, more substantial thank-you gifts for those who played a special role in helping you organise the day.
The key question is: does this favour fit the style and budget of our wedding? For an intimate wedding of 30 people, you can afford to go for something a bit more special. For a wedding of 150, it's worth doing the maths.
Common mistakes to avoid with wedding favours
Don't buy something your guest will throw away in a week. Tacky trinkets, plastic gadgets with "thank you" printed on them, and generic figurines are a waste of money. Better to give something small but meaningful.
Don't order too late. Personalised favours can take 2–4 weeks to produce. If ordering online, add a buffer for potential shipping delays.
Don't forget about guests with allergies or dietary restrictions. If you have guests who are diabetic, sober, or lactose intolerant, have a few neutral alternatives on hand (e.g., tea instead of chocolate).
Check the shelf life. Butter dishes, cakes, fresh flowers — anything with a short expiry date requires careful logistics. It's safer to opt for items that will last.
FAQ — Wedding Favours for Guests
Do we have to give a favour to every single guest?
It's not obligatory. If your budget allows, a small favour at each place setting is a lovely gesture. If you're having a large, expensive wedding, you could opt for sweets on the table and a heartfelt thank-you card sent afterwards.
What should we write in a thank-you card?
A few words from the heart. It doesn't have to be long, but it should be specific. "Thank you for coming" is the bare minimum. It's much more effective if you mention something personal: "Thank you for travelling so far to be with us" or "Your kind words in our guest book still make us emotional."
When should we send thank-you cards after the wedding?
Ideally, within two weeks of the wedding. A month is the cut-off point, after which it starts to feel like an afterthought. The sooner you send them, the greater the impact, while the emotions of the day are still fresh.
Do wedding favours need to be personalised?
No. Simple, aesthetic gifts without personalisation can be just as effective. Personalisation (the guest's name, your wedding date, a printed quote) adds a special touch but requires more time and money. Decide what best fits your style.
How much do wedding favours cost?
The range is wide: from €0.50–€1 (seeds, a bookmark), through €2–€4 (a candle, a jar of honey, a miniature bottle of alcohol), to €7+ (more elaborate gift sets). Most couples spend between €1–€5 per person.
What's a good alternative to a physical favour?
Providing access to a digital wedding photo gallery is an increasingly popular way to say thank you. Guests get a link or a wedding QR code to scan, giving them access to all the photos from your celebration — without creating more clutter on their shelves. It's a gift they'll actually use.