How Much Do You Need to Spend on Wedding Favors?

Spending your wedding day surrounded by loved ones is an incredible and unforgettable experience. Guests travel far and wide to celebrate your big day-often bearing gifts and well wishes. To thank family and friends for their attendance and support, many brides and grooms send their loved ones home with tokens of their appreciation in the form of wedding favors. The little goodies end the reception on a high note, and they often serve as sweet keepsakes of the celebration. If you decide to give wedding favors, one big question likely comes to mind: How much should do you need spend on each gift?

As general rule of thumb, most couples spend anywhere from $2 to $3 on each wedding favor, but this estimate isn't set in stone. A bride and groom should consider two main factors when setting a price point: their budget and the size of the guest list. Those with large celebrations will generally spend less per person on the favors, or else the total cost might surpass several hundred dollars. Similarly, couples working with a tight budget typically choose to shell out less for wedding favors.

POPULAR WEDDING FAVORS (AND THEIR TRENDIER ALTERNATIVES)

Budget-friendly goodies can be just as meaningful and enjoyable as more expensive options. If you're looking to cut costs, consider taking the DIY route and making your own favors. Some crowd-pleasing and popular options include candy-filled mason jars, personalized coasters or matchboxes, an assortment of tea bags, and handmade soaps. Not the crafty type? Give your guests something edible instead!

Food items are typically affordable, especially when bought in bulk and divided among guests. They're also practical gifts that people will surely enjoy on their way home from your reception. Consider sending guests on their way with bags of chips or popcorn, cookies, or a tasty local specialty. DIY and food-related wedding favors can cost less than $1 per wedding guest, saving you big bucks to put toward other wedding-related expenses. Couples with larger budgets, on the other hand, may decide to spend more money on wedding favors. Jarred jam or honey, sunglasses, bags of coffee, mini bottles of wine and champagne, personalized wine glasses, and baskets of baked goods.

No matter how much you spend on favors, remember that guests aren't necessarily expecting a parting gift, and they'll be just as happy with a $1 favor as a $10 favor. Use your judgement to decide on the best wedding favor for your budget, and know that guests will leave your ceremony feeling touched by the sweet gesture, regardless of the gift they receive.