By mike Foster: 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.

As with many women getting married, cost is a constraint so you’re hunting around for inexpensive wedding favors. Have you considered creating them yourself?

For basically the cost of one day’s work, you will be able to put together wedding favors for scores of guests, and the cost will be under twenty dollars. Read on for a handful of recommendations that offer the needed insights.

Sugared Almonds

Sugared almonds are a very traditional wedding favor that’s also much more affordable than expensive votive candles or glass coasters which simply get thrown away. This classic wedding favor is typically given as five Jordan almonds wrapped in tulle and tied 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.

Customized 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.

Bulk Spices

Go to a local bulk food store and pick up a popular spice in bulk. You can buy a pound of oregano for about $7.30 per pound or you can buy a sampling of various herbs and spices and mix them to create your very own “marital blend.”

Wrap the spices in fabric for as little as $1.00 per yard, plus the cost of ribbon.

Planting 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.

Consider not having favors at all, or make a charitable donation in your guest’s name and leave a note on each place setting explaining that a donation has been made in lieu of wedding favors.