A Guide to Wedding Favours for Eco-Conscious Couples
Wedding favours are small gifts given to guests to thank them for attending your wedding. This tradition, also called ‘bonbonnieres’, dates back to when sugar cubes were very expensive and given to wedding guests as a sign of wealth. Favours can be a great way of extending your wedding theme and create a talking point for your guests. But they can also be unsustainable for both your budget and the environment.
We encourage all couples to embrace sustainability in their wedding planning. We see so many favours left behind at the end of the night that we understand why a lot of couples choose to skip this tradition altogether. There’s no need to give wedding favours to your guests – especially if you are concerned about sustainability or cost. After all, you’re already providing food, drinks and entertainment. Your guests won’t remember if they received a favour or not, and they probably won’t even notice their absence if you do decide to give favours a miss. But if you do want to give guests a small gift to show gratitude for their attendance and support, here are our top tips and ideas for more sustainable favours:
1 Eco-Friendly Materials
Avoid wedding favours made from plastic or those wrapped in excessive packaging. Opt for items that are biodegradable, reusable, or made from sustainable materials.
2 Support Local Artisans
Whenever possible, source your wedding favours from local artisans or sustainable brands. This not only supports your local economy but also minimises the carbon footprint of shipping products.
3 Personalised and Functional Favours
Favours that serve a practical purpose after your wedding are best. If you want to personalise favours with your guests’ names, consider combining these with elements of your wedding, such as name cards or table plans, which guests can take home to use after the wedding.
Our favourite sustainable wedding favour ideas:
Seed Packets
Customised packets of seeds for flowers or herbs that guests can plant and enjoy.
Potted Succulents
Low-maintenance potted succulents or cacti make beautiful, living souvenirs.
Plantable Place Cards
Use organic seed paper for place cards that can be planted to grow flowers.
Candles
Choose your favourite scent, have some burning on the day, and your guests will remember your special day when they light these at home.
Soap
Choose locally sourced bars of artisan soap, or even make your own for a unique and useful favour.
Dried lavender bags
Guests can hang in their wardrobes to repel moths and keep clothes smelling fresh.
Reusable Water Bottles
Custom stainless steel or aluminium bottles can significantly reduce single-use plastic waste.
Bamboo Reusable Straws
Engraved bamboo straws are a stylish and eco-friendly alternative to disposable straws.
Tote Bags
Cotton tote bags make a thoughtful gift that can be used long after your wedding.
Drinks tokens
Guests can exchange their token for the drink of their (or your) choice at the bar.
Conclusion
Wedding favours can be thoughtful, practical and sustainable. By selecting eco-conscious options, you can provide your guests with meaningful gifts and reduce waste.
Local suppliers:
Echo Candles: A family-run Somerset business hand-pouring beautiful 100% soy wax candles. echocandles.co.uk
All Green: Somerset business dedicated to products that are kind to the environment. all-green.co.uk
Somerset Lavender: One of the best smelling farms you’ll ever visit! somersetlavender.com
The Dartmoor Soap Company: Family-run ethical soap-makers thedartmoorsoapco.co.uk