Easily overlooked or left to the last minute, wedding favours are the perfect finishing touch to your big day. The tradition actually dates back to the French, who are credited with introducing the custom of gifting guests at weddings, and what started as a small box of sugar has evolved into something far more creative. As a wedding guest in 2026, you might find anything from candied almonds and personalised chocolates to seed packets and tiny bottles of whisky waiting at your place setting. In this article, we answer the question 'what are favours?', and offer some ideas and inspiration to help you find yours.
What are favours at a wedding?
Sit down for dinner at a wedding in 2026 and you might find a tiny pot of honey, a personalised packet of seeds, a miniature bottle of gin, or even a little bag of pick and mix waiting at your place setting. That small, thoughtful something sitting by your glass? That's a wedding favour, and what a couple chooses says a lot about what they want their wedding to represent.
At its heart, a wedding favour is a token of appreciation from the bride and groom; a small but meaningful way of saying thank you for being there. Wedding favours don't need to be grand, costly, or extravagant (although they can be if you like!). In essence, they simply need to feel like you. They're a personal stamp on your big day that guests will remember and actually take home.
A favours are not only a continuing tradition, but perhaps even a growing one! The Knot reports that 77% of couples globally gave wedding favours in 2024, up 6 percentage points on the previous year.
So why do we give out wedding favours, and where did the tradition come from? Let's get right into it!
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What is the tradition behind wedding favours?
It is widely thought that wedding favours originated in France; amongst the French aristocracy and upper classes. In fact, according to the famous chocolatiers Charbonnel & Walker, the words 'wedding favour' actually have French origins and come from the word 'bonbonnière' meaning a small box for sweets or candies. During this time, such favours traditionally consisted of a small box filled with sugar cubes or other delicacies.
Historically, wedding favours were given to guests as a symbol of appreciation and gratitude for attending the wedding ceremony and celebrating the event with the newlyweds. And although initially reserved for the upper classes, the tradition gained popularity, and over time became more inclusive and accessible to all social classes.
But it wasn't only in France that wedding favours became popular! In Greek and Italian cultures, wedding favours served as a symbol of good fortune, where sugared almonds were given to guests to represent the hope that the newlyweds' life would be sweet and prosperous (according to The Knot).
Similarly, in some Asian cultures, guests received wedding favours that bring good luck and fortune. These gifts varied widely, including items such as lucky coins, small bells, and even live plants. In some other parts of the world, wedding favours traditionally included the following.
- Miniature wedding bells at Irish weddings.
- Cigars for men and presents for ladies at Spanish weddings.
- Miniature paintings or candles, as well as souvenirs are in Russia.
- A hand-crafted elephant in India.
So, not a lot has changed, really! The practice of offering wedding favours has evolved over the years, but in 2026 couples are still likely to give small, thoughtful gifts. Candles, mini bottles of wine, personalised chocolates, handmade crafts and other mementos; the sentiment remains as it always has been.
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Why should we give wedding favours today?
There are endless reasons couples choose to give wedding favours in 2026; from keeping a centuries-old tradition alive to simply wanting to leave guests with a lasting memory of their special day.
So, why should you consider offering wedding favours at your wedding?
To elevate the tone of your event
Firstly, distributing wedding favours is a lovely gesture, and there's no doubt that it can help to elevate the tone of your upcoming celebration and add a sense of personalisation. It's as simple as that.
At Peppermint Press, we have years of experience working with couples who have shared with us some wonderfully creative ideas. Paired with a beautifully designed favour tag in keeping with your wedding brand and colours, a wedding favour can be absolutely exquisite!
To provide cherished memorabilia
Secondly, depending on what kind of favours you choose, your small gifts can act as memorabilia for many years to come. For example, let's say you and your partner love nature and the outdoors and you decide to share an elegantly decorated packet of seeds with guests. Once your guests go home and plant these in their gardens, their sunflowers, tree (or whatever you have chosen for them) will act as a memory of your big day well into the future.
Simply for the sake of enjoyment
Thirdly, let's not forget that wedding favours can also be fun to select and bring to life! Although you will have plenty of opportunity to make your wedding your own, favours are one of the few things you can design which actually stay with guests physically. Many couples love the process of choosing their wedding favours, creating them, ordering them, personalising them and seeing the looks on their guests' faces when they receive theirs!
To say thank you to our loved ones
Finally, wedding favours are a gesture of thanks and appreciation for your loved ones. Although you are thanking guests for being with you on your special day, your wedding favours also symbolise your gratitude for each persons' presence in your life up until this moment.
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What kind of wedding favours are there?
If you're currently in the phase of getting creative and planning your wedding favours, you'll want to know what the possibilities are.
So before we do just that, let us bring you up to date on the latest 2026 trends in wedding favours:
- A post-wedding survey of 340 UK wedding guests by WeddingsHub found that miniature alcohol favours were kept by 68% of guests, while traditional sweet favours were only kept by 34%, so what you choose really does matter!
- Google search trend data shows that personalisation and sustainability are now the biggest drivers of favour choices, with edible treats, seed packets and eco-friendly keepsakes leading the way (not a bad idea in what can be a very wasteful industry).
- Bridebook's 2026 UK Wedding Report backs this up, revealing that 83% of couples now make a sustainable effort in at least one element of their wedding, and favours are a brilliant place to start.
With that in mind, from keychains to succulents, your wedding favours can take any form, but they should absolutely represent you as a couple and your own values. Here are some of the most common categories of wedding favours for you to ponder:
Edible treats
When we talk about edible treats, we are talking about chocolates, cookies, candy, nuts or anything you can find that can be individually packaged and gifted. You could also gift mini bottles of whisky, rum, gin or wine.
Personalised favours
A personalised favour can be any kind of gift that is personalised for guests. Whilst you could engrave your guests' names into a keyring, you could also opt for personalised labels.
Small plants
Plants and succulents have become popular wedding favours. Offering guests something they can enjoy at home or in the garden for years to come, plants make for a great wedding favour. Not sure about plants? You can also offer seeds.
Handy items
Including anything from bottle openers, to coasters, to keychains or bookmarks, handy wedding favours can be just that. With these items, you're guaranteed to be leaving guests with a memory of your event for years into the future.
Local or handmade gifts
Anything from artisanal honey, to handmade soap and scented candles can be gifted at a wedding and personalised with a custom favour tag.
Charitable donations
Hoping to spend a little less money on yourselves and put it towards a deserving cause? Make a donation in your guests' name to your favourite charity.
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Should I order or make my wedding favours?
There's no doubt that making your wedding favours can add a wonderful personal touch to your event, but it also takes up a lot of time. Meanwhile, ordering your wedding favours packaged and ready to go can ensure that the process is smooth, but doesn't always guarantee quality. So which option is best for you?
Whether you choose to order or make your wedding favours depends on your personal preference and your budget. Ordering wedding favours can be convenient, especially if you don't have the time or resources to make them yourself. Many companies offer a variety of ready-made wedding favours that can be personalised to fit your theme or interests, and they often come pre-packaged and ready to hand out to guests.
But on the other hand, making your wedding favours can be a fun and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your celebration. Those crafty people among us might like to make their own little trinkets, as a great way to express your creativity and customise your gifts.
You can also take into account that handmade favours can have a home-made feel that your guests may truly appreciate.
Whatever you choose to order or create, you may also want to consider ordering or making a few extras in case of any unexpected mishaps!
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Where can I buy favour tags for my wedding?
Wedding favour tags are the sweet little cards or labels that are attached to wedding favours. They serve as a personalised touch and can include messages, such as 'Thank you for sharing our special day' or otherwise, they could simply state the names of the bride and groom. Looking for even more personalisation? You could even choose to write each guests' names on the tag.
Customisable in various shapes, colours and styles, our wedding favour tags can be made to match your wedding theme.
