10 Unique and Practical Wedding Favors Your Guests Will Love

Planning a wedding can be a costly affair, with the average celebration in the United States reaching up to $33,900. You naturally want your family and friends to hold onto those beautiful memories for as long as possible. Often, though, the details of a wedding can become a blur to guests as time passes.

To ensure your special day stays etched in their minds, consider offering practical wedding favors. Not only do these tokens serve as a constant reminder of your joyous occasion, but they also include items your guests can use regularly.

The right favor can make your expensive celebration unforgettable. Keep reading to find out about ten useful wedding gifts, and let your wedding be the one that sticks with your friends and family through the years.

1.Plant Kits

When you think of practical wedding favors, plants probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But for the green thumbs of your family, this wedding favor is a cherished keepsake. Plants symbolize growth and longevity, which aligns perfectly with the sentimentality of a wedding.

Personalized plant kits are unique and eco-friendly. They allow your wedding guests to nurture a living memento of your special day. Include seeds from your favorite plant, a small pot, and instructions for care.

If you’re not sure which plant would be best, consider ones with rich meanings. Sweet Peas, for example, represent blissful pleasure and are known for their lovely fragrance and delicate flowers.

Another great option is the Forget-Me-Not, which stands for true love and memories. These tiny blue flowers are hardy and can thrive in various conditions, making them an ideal choice for guests who might not have a green thumb.

For a touch of luck, bamboo can be a fantastic choice. It’s a symbol of strength, flexibility, and health in many cultures.

Bamboo is incredibly easy to care for. It requires only water and indirect sunlight, making it a hassle-free gift your guests can treasure.

2.Hand Sanitizers

In today’s world, health is a priority. Customized hand sanitizers are not only practical but can also reflect the theme of your wedding. If you are having a yacht wedding, for example, tropical or coconut scents could add a nice touch that ties in with the ocean theme.

Add your name, the date, or a small message to the labels. This way, every time your guests sanitize their hands, they’re reminded of the joy and love shared on your special day.

When picking hand sanitizers, it’s important to look for options that are kind to the skin. Choose sanitizers with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera or essential oils to help prevent dryness and irritation.

Make sure to select high-quality sanitizers with 60-95% alcohol content for the best germ-killing action. Brands verified by health authorities are preferred.

3.Personalized Tote Bags

Offering personalized tote bags as wedding souvenirs combines utility with sentiment. These can carry a design that’s meaningful to you both or perhaps a fun caricature of the wedding couple. Guests can use these bags for shopping, work, or even as a beach bag.

Medium-to-large bags are best. Any handbag around 15 by 16 inches should work, but smaller ones can be used as well.

This size offers ample space for everyday items like groceries, books, or beach essentials, making them versatile for various uses. It strikes the perfect balance between being large enough to be practical without being cumbersome.

When it comes to choosing a color for your tote bags, consider your wedding color scheme. You can use hues that signify something special about your relationship.

Neutral colors like beige, gray, or navy can be elegant and flexible. Alternatively, choosing a vibrant color can make the bags stand out.

Choosing the color for your tote bags can be as simple as deciding between two options: uniform or varied colors. If you prefer a coordinated look, opt for a uniform color. Each bag will look equally appealing to all guests.

To add a personal touch, consider offering bags in a range of colors aligning with your wedding theme. This way, guests can pick a color they like.

4.Portable Phone Chargers

Nobody likes their phone running out of battery, especially during important events. Portable phone chargers as wedding favors ensure your guests stay connected.

Personalize them with your wedding date and initials. It’s a modern, useful gift that guests will appreciate long after your wedding day.

The capacity of power banks is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). For most smartphones, a charger with a capacity of around 10,000mAh is usually sufficient. However, this can vary depending on the specific smartphone.

Offering more than one output port will allow your guests to charge multiple devices at a time. Typically, power banks come with either USB Type-A or Type-C ports for output. Some models offer both types.

Consider the size and weight for portability. A lightweight and compact charger is going to be more convenient for your guests to carry around.

Some power banks come with fast charging capabilities. This feature helps devices charge more quickly, thus offering better convenience.

Sources like PCMag, Tom’s Guide, WIRED, and TechRadar have excellent recommendations for high-quality, reliable portable chargers. While making a buying decision, consider these specs and think about what will deliver the most value to your guests.

5.Custom Crafted Candles

Candles can create a warm, inviting atmosphere. They’re perfect for your friends and family to remember your special day.

With scents that match your wedding theme, custom candles serve as a sensory wedding memento. For example, floral scents are perfect for a blooming garden wedding. Opt for rose, lavender, or sweet pea scents.

For an autumn-themed wedding, consider pumpkin spice, apple cider, or pecan pie scents. Classic and romantic weddings can go well with rich and warm scents such as rose, vanilla, or even a sophisticated champagne aroma.

To enhance the experience, ponder the form of the candle that best suits your ceremony. There are various types of candles to select from, including votive, taper, and pillar candles, among others.

Elegant taper candles can add a sense of classic romance to your wedding. They’re typically longer, ranging from 6 – 18 inches, and require a candlestick or taper candle holder. These would be a great option if you’re aiming for a traditional, romantic feel.

Pillar candles are standalone candles that do not need a holder. They make a statement due to their large size. Pillar candles are perfect if you want your wedding favors to be long-lasting, as they have a long burn time.

Whatever your choice of candle, engrave them with your initials or wedding date for a personal touch.

6.Sunscreen

For a beach or outdoor summer wedding, travel-size bottles of sunscreen can be a practical wedding favor. When selecting a sunscreen type, broad-spectrum is best. It protects from both UVA and UVB rays.

Water-resistant formulas are perfect for beach settings. They maintain efficacy after swimming or sweating.

Sunscreen comes in sprays, sticks, and lotions. Spray sunscreens are easy to apply, stick sunscreens are perfect for the face, and lotions provide full coverage. Pick reef-safe options to care for marine life.

Some of the top picks for travel-size sunscreens include Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion. Its lightweight and water-resistant properties earn it lots of positive reviews.

Another option is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, a popular choice for its transparent application.

Additionally, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Milk Sunscreen is a well-loved favorite. It offers high SPF protection and a lightweight feel.

Ensure you offer guests high-quality sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Stay away from brands with harmful chemicals like oxybenzone or octinoxate that can harm coral reefs.

7.Artisanal Soap Bars

Handcrafted artisanal soap bars can serve as thoughtful wedding favors. Their appealing textures, colors, and fragrances offer a variety to match your wedding theme.

Offer a range of scents from comforting lavender and honey to exciting turmeric or charcoal. This will cater to all your guests’ preferences.

Consider the soap’s aesthetic appeal too. Plenty are artfully made with colorful swirls, inlaid flowers, or even flecks of gold for an opulent touch.

As for wrapping, you can go with eco-friendly hemp paper for a rustic look or regular paper for more color and finish options. Both can complement your personalized wedding theme.

Top it off with a personal tag, fastened with a ribbon, string, or wax seal. A message of thanks or a love quote will make the soap bars more meaningful.

8.Custom Beverage Coasters

Custom beverage coasters are beautiful keepsakes. Whether you choose to personalize your coasters with initials, a wedding date, or a treasured quote, these items will be useful and meaningful.

The choice of material for your coasters should reflect your wedding’s style and atmosphere. Wood coasters bring a warm, natural look ideal for rustic or bohemian themes. Slate offers a sleek, contemporary feel suited to modern weddings, while ceramic complements classic themes.

To find the perfect coasters, shop at online retailers like Etsy for handmade options. You can also reach out to large print services like Shutterfly and Vistaprint for a range of materials.

Make sure to order your coasters in advance, especially for handcrafted items. You must allow ample time for production and delivery.

Providing detailed preferences for fonts and wording will help ensure the coasters are as you envision. A well-known script font is “Edwardian Script.” Its classic swoops and swirls lend a graceful look to any text.

These coasters will serve as personalized favors that guests can enjoy in their homes, sparking memories of your day with every sip.

9.Engraved Keychains

Keychains are everyday items, making them perfect practical wedding favors. You can personalize them by engraving your wedding date, your initials, or even the coordinates of your wedding location. This small but meaningful gift is a constant reminder of your special day that your guests can carry everywhere.

Like all wedding elements, your keychains should fit the theme of your day. Leather keychains might suit a more rustic wedding, whereas a silver or gold metal design might be perfect for a modern celebration.

While aesthetics matter, remember the best keychains are those that are useful. Consider size and weight. If it’s too large or too heavy, it may not be convenient to carry.

Some guests might appreciate multi-function keychains. Think about ones with added features like a small bottle opener, a mini flashlight, or a photo frame.

Since this is a gift that will be used daily, opt for good quality materials that will withstand wear and tear. Materials like metal or wood will ensure longevity.

10.Seed Paper Bookmarks

Seed paper bookmarks are an innovative and sustainable choice for those looking to combine their love for books with their appreciation for nature. These bookmarks could be the start of a new journey for plants. After serving their purpose of marking pages, they can be planted in soil to grow a variety of flora.

For those interested in purchasing these eco-friendly bookmarks, they can be found at various online retailers. EarthlyGoods offers a selection of seed paper bookmarks made from 100% recycled paper, soy and water-based inks, and organic pigments. Botanical PaperWorks is another retailer that provides a catalog of plantable seed bookmarks.

Most brands, like EarthlyGoods and Botanical PaperWorks, offer the added advantage of personalization. Customers can add names, dates, and other customizations.

When it comes to planting seed-embedded bookmarks, there are specific instructions for successful germination. The general process involves planting the paper in a pot, covering it with a thin layer of soil, and ensuring it has plenty of sunlight and water. It’s important to keep the paper moist during the germination period.

More Practical Wedding Favors

Each of these ten items, from custom candles to seed paper bookmarks, presents unique ways to thank your wedding guests. Offer something that can be appreciated long after the ceremony.

Artisanal soap and personalized beverage coasters add a touch of charm, custom candles evoke treasured memories, and useful items like sunscreen bring practicality into the mix. Whatever you choose, these practical wedding favors are sure to leave a lasting impact.

For more inspiring wedding ideas, check out our blog. You’ll discover a wealth of tips and tricks to tailor your special day to you.