Cheap Wedding Favors

Finding cheap wedding favors doesn't have to be a hassle, but when you have so much to do for your wedding it can sure seem like a huge task. If you haven't chosen your theme yet, selecting wedding favors may seem impossible. Or perhaps its more difficult to find cheap favors with your particular theme.

When you sit back and think about all the planning involved in your wedding, such a small item seems to be unimportant, but did you realize where the tradition originated?

There isn't much information available about the very early history of wedding favors, however, what is known is interesting and has great meaning. In earlier centuries, hosts gave gifts to their guests as a thank you for attending. Gifts were given at parties, weddings and other gatherings. These gifts were much like today's in the sense that they were small, however, in terms of expense the older wedding favors were more elaborate. The gifts were given by nobility to nobility in France and Italy and were usually small porcelain or silver boxes which contained sugar treats. Sugar in the earlier centuries was a luxury item.

In the middle eastern countries, they also gave wedding favors which is believed to date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Bridal couples were considered lucky and passed their luck onto their guests with gifts of almonds which stood for happiness, wealth, long life and fertility. As sugar became more common, the almonds were coated in sugar and wrapped in little bags with bows.

Sticking with tradition is a great way to give cheap wedding favors which have great meaning. Making a small bag of tulle, place 5 candied almonds with a bow and a little card which gives the history of wedding favors and why you've chosen the meaningful gift of almonds.

Today wedding favors range in a multitude of styles and types. There are homemade sachets filled with tea or potpourri, coffee packets, mugs, glass boxes, silver boxes and everything you can imagine. It all can overwhelm a bride and groom, when trying to choose. The great thing about finding cheap wedding favors is that you can incorporate them into the wedding table decorations.

If you have, for instance, a beach wedding theme and your reception tables are all blue and yellow, laying seashell gifts on the plates adds ambiance to the tables.There are hundreds of small favors which can be incorporated this way. Disney themed weddings can have small Cinderella coaches filled with candies or a brown and white wedding could have white and milk chocolate bars.

Is there anyone that doesn't drink coffee? Oh I guess so! So for them there is always tea.

Coffee wedding favors come in a variety of styles and flavors. yum yum.

Coffee mugs with small, specialty blended, ground coffee tucked inside. For a more personal experience have the mugs personalized with the couple's picture, wedding date and names. The great part is if you have a colorful wedding, you can have the mugs in different colors. Red and white color wedding? Have half the mugs red and half white and the coffee bags inside the opposite colors. (or tea bags)

There are containers for coffee which can be given out with gourmet coffee inside. This is an especially creative favor for a vintage wedding. You can buy vintage coffee cans, or vintage looking coffee cans, and fill them with whatever kind of coffee and tea you wish. A coffee/tea tin will last a long time.

Coffee spoons and scoops can come in silver and be a great favor as well.

For a truly unique gift try a coffee flavor, ground coffee and mug set. Inside the mug have the ground coffee in a sweet sachet and a flavor stick (like vanilla or cinnamon). There are also flavored syrups which can be purchased in small containers. Flavored syrups can be vanilla, Irish cream, hazelnut an more.

Costs will run about $1.50 for the ground coffee, if the smaller foil packets are used. For personalized coffee favors the costs will vary depending on the type of coffee. Mugs can be costly if purchased separately. Try and find a wholesaler willing to cut a deal for 100 mugs or more. If you're adding ribbons or any other adornments, like the stirrers, expect everything altgether to be about $3-6 per each favor.

Alternatively you can purchase the coffee on your own and buy some cheap fabric and make little sachets with bows for as little as $.60 if you shop carefully.

Candles can be used by anyone and are a lovely gift. As they come in many colors they can brighten up your reception tables and even be used in the centerpiece before being taken home. Candles come in many different types, including scented and holy candles. The great thing about candles is they are elegant while being inexpensive.

For specific types of weddings, such as Asian themed, there are candles available to suit. Large Asian designs and colors are printed on the side of the candles and can give a decidedly unique ambiance to your wedding reception tables.

Another great candle idea is votive candles inside tea lanterns. These unique wedding favors can be used as decorations all around the wedding reception hall. The used candles can be discarded but make sure a new candle is given to each guest (set it besides the tea lantern).

Candles can be made especially for your wedding, if you have a unique design in mind. Sometimes local craft stores will have materials to make your own candles. What a wonderful way to give a personal feeling to your wedding.

Candles can range in price from $.25 for a tea candle to hundreds of dollars for larger candles.

Wine favors are something special for each guest which they will treasure and use forever. There are many types of wine favors available.

Cork screws are a lovely gift with a personal touch. This unique gift will last your guest forever, and every time they use it to open a bottle of wine, they can think of your lovely wedding. Not only is a cork screw handy, it is a beautiful gesture.

Cork screws can range anywhere from $2-20, depending on the size, brand and materials used to make it.

Wine stoppers are another lovely gift. Not only useful for wine bottles, these unique gifts can be a lovely decoration for the top of the bottle as well as decorate a key ring. Wine stoppers come in many many styles; engagement rings on the top, hearts, fleur de lis, top hats etc. Some are glass and plastic with colors, which can adapt to your style of wedding. For as little as $.99 to $5.00, wine stoppers make great cheap wedding favors, while adding class and distinction to your wedding.

Other great wine favors such as glasses, coasters, wine glass shaped shot glasses, and small candles shaped like wine glasses, can add style and elegance to your wedding reception tables.

Wine favors are a great gift to each guest, thanking each guest with something memorable and useful.

Dark chocolate, white chocolate, mint, cherry, strawberries covered with chocolate, there aren't many people that can resist this wonderful treat. The best thing about chocolate is that, not only is it edible, but it can match any theme you want.

Black and white weddings can have dark chocolate and white chocolate in boxes.Red and white weddings can have white chocolate covered strawberries. Pretty much every color covers the spectrum of chocolate. Blue candies with mint flavors can be covered with one half in choclate.

Wrap chocolates in special boxes to match the theme of your wedding and you will have a wonderful favor which will delight guests.

Yes, for the golf enthusiasts there are golf wedding favors.

Some are candles which are shaped like a golf ball, and the top comes off to reveal the candle.

Little cookies shaped like a putting green are a very cute way for golf fans to impress their guests.

Silver stirrers shaped like golf clubs are both cute and elegant.

From $.45-5 these great favors are quite unique and very fun and cheap.

Beach themes have such lovely favors. The open air, oceans, fish are all very inspirational. If you're having a beach themed wedding, you'll have a tough time picking from the hundreds of choices.

Little frosted glass sailboats with candles inside. These little elegant favors can be set on some draped blue cloth to look like a sailing fleet and will make terrific decorations for the wedding table centerpieces. The frosted glass will mute the candlelight creating lovely ambiance.

Wine stoppers with dolphins, shells, mermaids and other sea creatures are another lovely wedding favor that gives the beach theme extra pizazz, while still being elegant and useful.

A box of shell shaped scented soaps is unique and beautiful. gift to give each guest.

Coasters and picture frames with shells, or fish, favors are another nautical or beach themed idea.

At only $1.50-2.00 these are a lovely ideas and will save money on your centerpieces. Set the favors in the center of the table and each guest can take one home as they leave.

What says Hawaiin more than a Blue Hawaiin? If guests are seated with tags on their tables, you can have a Blue Hawaiian drink waiting for the over 21 crowd and a virgin Blue Hawaiin waiting for the under 21 crowd.

Other great Hawaiian favors: candy coated edible flowers, macadamia nuts in small boxes, and Tiger Lily stirrers.

For other favor ideas, you can check out the beach favored wedding favors section.

The fall brings out the lovely browns and oranges. All kinds of lovely favors can be used for fall weddings.

Coasters with leaves are a lovely gift which fit right into the fall themes. Most coasters are plastic or glass with frosted leaves engraved all over. The coasters run as little as $1.50+ a piece and are useful forever.

Chocolate favors (see above) are the perfect fall wedding favor, especially if brown is one of the colors in your wedding.

Candles and mint boxes with leaf designs on the sides and tops can be a lovely gift and beautiful enough to grace any table decorations.

Candles can come scented or unscented and run as little as $.55 each!

Spring is a lovely time for a wedding. New growth and new love being celebrated with color. Dive into spring with lovely flower centered wedding favors.

Favors for spring can be flowered wine stoppers, in multi-colored designs, coasters with real flowers pressed inside. Little candied flowers are another great gift.

Go green with potted plants for spring or a packet of seeds. Plant trees in your guests honor or make a donation to an organization that helps the environment.

Summer is a time for warmth and sun. Yellows and golds are great colors for a summer wedding. For the favors opt for fruit jams with your names and the date of your wedding personalized on each one.

The beach themed wedding favors are great for summer themes.

Having your reception outdoors? Why not give beach balls to guests? Or how about a pair of fun sunglasses.

What says summer more than sun? Nothing! Try some sun shaped coasters for each guest. Or sunflowers with seeds intact. Sunflower or sun refrigerator magnets are another great idea.

Winter is a great time for ice themes and the color white. What says winter? Snow! Snow themed wedding favors.

Snowball candles are cute and fun. Whats cuter than snowballs? Snowflakes!

Snowflake shaped coasters and coasters with snowflake designs are a beautiful gift.

Ornaments for a Christmas tree are perfect for a winter themed wedding. Give each guest a unique type of Christmas ornament or make ornaments yourselves for a lovely, meaningful gift.

There are always picture frames with snowflake designs to highlight a guests evening. Or candles shaped like ornaments.

Hot cocoa and marshmallows for each guest at the table is a lovely thought. The mugs are theirs to keep of course. If you're feeling daring add mini bottles of Kahlua to the tables!