How many wedding favors should you buy? We’ll tell you exactly how many favors you should have. Just be sure to join the list for the latest so you don’t miss it!
How many wedding favors do you really need to order?
Should you have enough wedding favors per guest, or should you order less? Do you need more just in case someone runs off with more than one party favor? Ha!
I was thinking back on our wedding favors and recall the same question swirling around in my head: how many wedding favors to buy. You don’t want to overbuy, but you definitely don’t want to run out.
And one thing that couples often overlook is the possibility of your favors that you ordered having one or a few that are broken, damaged, or missing. It really happens all the time.
And which is it: should you give one wedding favor per guest or couple?!
Ah, so many questions. And this is after I already asked myself what wedding favors are and if you need to buy them at all. :)
If you feel the same way as I did, you’re in good company. Every couple wonders how many wedding favors they will need — and why. In case you’re new to it, a wedding favor is a small, take-home gifts for guests.
They’re inexpensive if you know where to shop and they are useful if you pick out a good one. Before you decide how many wedding favors to buy, first choose what kind of favor to give — and make it something your guests can use or enjoy.
Are wedding favors necessary?
Are wedding favors really needed? Technically, they’re not as important as, say, dinner or drinks. ;)
However, according to proper wedding etiquette, wedding favors are something you should provide to guests, even if they’re very small and inexpensive.
How many wedding favors to order?
Now, the heart of the matter: how many wedding favors should you have?
As a rule of thumb, you should order one favor per guest.
In some cases, how many wedding favors equates to one wedding favor per couple, which is outlined below. (Note: Always give one favor per guest in the case of an attendee without a date.)
• Large, Luxury, or Elaborate Wedding Favors
If you are giving a plantable tree, for instance, you may give one per couple. You don’t need every person planting a tree, although that’s the nicest thing to imagine but budget-wise might not fit in.
The same applies to any elaborate wedding favor, such as a throw blanket; you do not necessarily need to give one large throw blanket per guest, but per couple is sufficient.
Another favor: coasters. You can give one coaster per guest, or give a set of four to each couple.
Favors Used Immediately
If you’re giving a wedding favor your guests will use individually — or even at your wedding bar, as one example — you will definitely give one per guest. If you use mason jar mugs for guests to fill up their own drinks, it serves as glassware and your wedding favor — a definite bonus.
You also don’t want your favor to look unnecessarily cheap, either:
• Small Favors
If you are giving small candies, you wouldn’t give, for instance, one small chocolate candy to each guest.
You would, instead place approximately 5 to 7 candies and place them inside a favor bag or box, given as one favor per guest.
These favor boxes are one such example: they’re so pretty! You can customize these in your colors here.
• Kid Favors
If you choose a favor for adults, i.e. coffee, tea, wine, champagne flute, bottle opener, etc., you’ll obviously need to give kid-friendly favors as an alternative for young guests.
Make it easy on yourself and give something you know kids will absolutely love: a bag of gummi bears, chocolates, a cupcake, donut, or cookie are just a few suggestions.
And yes, in order to keep the peace, wedding favors for kids should always be given one per guest. And you should also make the favors all exactly the same — no variation on color, or size, or style. You don’t want any fighting over favors at the kid’s table. :) This is coming from me as a wedding planner — and as a mom! Ha!
A fun activity like coloring that they can do at the reception is always a good idea. These coloring books are customized with your names! By HootEvents.
How will guests know to take one favor per person?
Place one wedding favor per plate setting at reception tables to make it very clear. If you are arranging the favors on a separate table (read: How To Display Favors for tips), include a sign that lets your guests know: “Please take one” or “Please take one per couple”. This is one example by SweetNCCollective.
How many wedding favors to order as extras?
How many wedding favors should you order as extras, just in case?
Good question: estimate 10 extras in case of broken or lost-in-transit favors. It will save you a headache later on, should you need to buy more (favors cost way less in bulk!) Just be sure to order wedding favors for yourself, too, as a memento. :) Many couples forget they need to order wedding favors for themselves! You don’t have to, but it is nice to have.
Just like a slice of cake — many couples miss out on their own slice of cake, too, can you believe that?
Are wedding favors still a thing?
Yes, and to be honest, wedding favors have never been so creative, unique, and fun as ever before. We didn’t get married that long ago, and yet, there are so many more options available for favors today than back then.
What are traditional wedding favors?
Traditional wedding favors — and the ones that guests always seem to love — are functional wedding favors or edible ones.
Favors like these never go out of style:
• Candles
• Candies
• Cookies
• Coffee
• Coasters
• Cupcakes
• Donuts
• Cake Slices to Go
• Candle Holder
• Champagne Flute
• Can Coolers
Okay, they don’t all start with C. ;)
• Flower Seed Packets
• Hand Sanitizer Favors (especially popular in 2020!)
(You can shop here and here for the best styles + prices.)
• Measuring Spoons
• Personalized Cups / Stadium Cups
• Succulents / Mini Potted Plants
• Bud Vases
• Salt and Pepper Shakers
• Luggage Tags
• Bottle Opener
• Matchbooks or Matchboxes
• Wine Glasses
• Mini Champagne Bottles with Labels
• Lip Balm
• Bottle Stopper
• Glass Mug
• Tea Packets or Tea Test Tubes
• Plantable Tree
• Bottle of Wine
• Pashminas
• Picture Frame
• Stroopwafels
• Cheese Spreader
• Jar of Jam, Jelly, or Honey
That’s not the complete list, but it’s a good start!
Are wedding favors a waste of money?
We don’t think so. In fact, there’s more to a favor than just a “thing”.
Favors were originally invented as a way to say thank you to guests for attending your wedding. That is still their primary function, in addition to serving as a memento from the wedding day.
The wedding favor you select should include a hobby, personal style, or taste, and be a reflection of you as a couple (i.e. you’re into wine tasting, so you choose a wine glass as your favor; you both love to cook in the kitchen, so you give measuring spoons, etc.) A wedding favor is the first “gift” you give as a married couple.
When you think of it that way, wedding favors are not a waste of money at all!
What is an easy + cheap wedding favor?
Our wedding favor was extremely affordable: chocolate candy bars, tied with a red ribbon that matched our decor. We bought our chocolate bars in bulk and saved a bundle. We didn’t use labels on them, although now looking back I think I would have added those. Instead, we tied little thank you tags, like these, with the ribbon.
Our wedding was in the winter and we had lots of holiday-inspired decor, so we thought a nice bar of chocolate to enjoy at the wedding or on the ride home would make a nice treat. We didn’t have any leftovers, so I’ll say it was a good choice. :)
See? It’s not so hard! Now that you know why favors are given and how many wedding favors to order, get inspired! Read: 50 Best Wedding Favors 2020 (Under $5!).
Tell us: what are you giving out as wedding favors?
Happy Planning!
XO
Emma
