New brides have an awful lot to prepare for prior to their big day. There’s a need to evaluate and select a good wedding photographer, rent the wedding location, and address a number of additional preparations.

Like most brides, you’re trying to save money and looking for inexpensive wedding favors. Well, why not make your own? For little more than a day’s worth of labor, you can make wedding favors for over a hundred guests and for less than $20. Keep reading for five great wedding favor ideas that will show you how.

Candy-Covered Almonds

Jordan almonds – or sugared almonds – are a classic wedding favor which is both memorable and affordable. They make a simple statement that’s understated and yet very traditional. The standard almond wedding favor is usually five sugared almonds that are wrapped in tulle or fabric and then tied off with ribbon.

When purchased in bulk or from a wholesaler, you can usually get sugared or Jordan almonds for anywhere from $5 to $10 per pound. Your tulle and ribbon shouldn’t cost more than $5 total, including tax, meaning you can easily make fantastic favors for less than 20 cents a favor.

Personalized Cookies

For a day spent baking and about $20 worth of ingredients, you can make cookie favors that are customized and cute for all your wedding guests. Cookies are quickly becoming popular, inexpensive wedding favors item because they’re customizable and homemade.

To save yourself from having to bake over a hundred cookies on your wedding day, you can do so up to three months in advance and store them in your freezer. Take them out on the day of the wedding and you’re ready to go.

A Custom Spice Mix

Spices can be expensive, but not when you buy them in bulk. For example, a pound of thyme can be brought home for as little as $5 a pound, leaving more than enough for each of your 100 wedding guests. Or, you can make a mix and give guests your own personalized blend of spices.

Buy a few yards of fabric that match your colors and you can wrap up these cheap favors for as little as $0.15 a favor.

Labeled Seeds

You can buy many seeds in bulk and then repackage them in small, blank envelopes or your own small, fabric sacks. Include a small note with planting instructions that also thanks your guests for coming and you’ve got a fantastic favor that will be remembered for years to come.

Go Favor-Less

The most inexpensive wedding favors are no favors at all. Though contentious, many people are starting to think that wedding favors simply aren’t necessary – they’re little more than useless knick-knacks that are eventually thrown out, making them a wasteful and unnecessary enterprise.

If you feel you have to have wedding favors but want to keep it minimal, consider making a charitable donation in honor of your guests while including a small note with each place setting.

written by m.foster