Couples often underestimate the wedding cost in Toronto for favours/gifts traditionally shared with guests. In this blog, we will share 19 creative ideas for affordable wedding favours and gifts that your guests will appreciate.
1. A small charitable donation
This idea tops the list because it is a) the easiest way to stick to your budget and manage an expensive wedding cost in Toronto that couples face, and b) is thoughtful and meaningful.
Whether it is contributing to fund research for a condition or disease that has impacted you, a social cause such as homelessness or food inequality, or something quirky and fun, such as saving a tree in the rainforest, your charitable donation should be specific to who you are as a couple.
2. Get creative with place cards/holders
Using a gift that also acts as a place card is like killing two birds with one stone! Fun ideas might include shot or wine glasses, tea candles, and mini jams/jellies that are affordably personalized using a budget-friendly Sharpie.
3. Recycled finds
If you’re all about saving the environment, you can create favours using eco-friendly finds at your local consignment store or flea market. Choose a common theme such as coffee mugs, tea cups, or glasses, and wrap them with a ribbon to create a pretty display table where guests can pick out their own gift. It’s fun, whimsical, and affordable!
4. Keep guests comfortable
Outdoor weddings can be brutal depending on the weather. Why not share a favour that helps keep guests comfortable, such as pretty paper fans or funky sunglasses in the summer or cozy mitts and toques for fall or winter weddings?
They’re not only fun, but also practical, so they really don’t go to waste. As an additional wedding cost Toronto couples might afford, consider personalizing the favours with your name and wedding date.
5. Protect your guests
Ideal for destination and outdoor summer weddings, a personalized mini bottle of sunscreen is a great gift that comes in handy when guests have to sit out in the blazing sun. Creating a clever name for the sunscreen can make the favour all the more intentional.
6. Wash-off tattoos
This is not only affordable, but something clever enough that even the stodgiest guests will see the humour in it. Whether it’s a caricature of your face, an actual likeness of you, or an assortment of funny couple photos to mix things up, you can get people talking and sharing their tattoos with this silly yet creative wedding favour. It’s also kid-friendly.
7. Something yummy
Who can resist something yummy to munch on while waiting for the food to come, or as the evening progresses? From personalized cookies and nut mixes to chocolate-covered pretzels and sticky bags of candy, placing individual treats on everyone’s plate is sure to up the appreciation level for your wedding favours.
8. Something aromatic
Little sachets of potpourri with a signature scent, small bottles of indulgent hand cream, heavenly-smelling mini soaps, or even a little spritzer of a lovely scented air freshener can make a quaint gift, especially when wrapped with creativity and flair.
9. Used books
Another eco-friendly favour, used books are a fun idea that can get guests talking about their favourite reads, and maybe even lead to some competitive book swapping.
You can haunt used book sales, visit flea markets, and shop at consignment stores to put together a collection of great titles to share. Wrap them with pretty paper and use them as place settings if you like!
10. Personalized matchbooks
Make it clear you consider yourselves a perfect match with personalized matchbooks. Choose a cover that suits your theme or colour scheme and print a message such as your name and wedding date, a favourite romantic quote, or an assortment of riddles or trivia questions to encourage guests to quiz each other.
11. Grow something
This lovely gift is the perfect favour to create memories of your wedding day. Guests can plant seeds, bulbs, or tiny plants in their gardens, or you can provide pretty little clay pots as part of the favour.
12. Premixed drinks or recipes
If you love baking, create a favour that includes a recipe and premixed ingredients for your favourite cookies, oatmeal, pancakes, or even a beverage like hot chocolate or a cocktail. It’s fun and useful!
13. Cultural gifts
As the two families come together, exchanging cultural gifts from both sides is a meaningful way to celebrate. Sharing cultural items tells guests a little bit about the traditions of each other’s families, making it an inclusive gift that makes everyone feel welcome.
14. Encourage activities
Consider gifts that help beat boredom and encourage activities among guests. Ideas might include something like a deck of cards, mini chess or checkers set, ball in a cup, or mini puzzles. These items are great conversation-starters and are also perfect for weddings with lots of kids!
15. Personalized bookmarks
Although not all guests will be readers, a personalized bookmark might have meaning for you. Maybe you met at a bookstore, lent a textbook to one another while at college, or are avid readers.
Your bookmarks can be designed as part of your theme, personalized with a favourite quote, or sharing a list of the top 10 recommended best reads that you create together.
16. Animal-lovers gifts
This gift focuses on your love of animals and might be something like a little bird feeder, a donation to a local pet rescue, or a heart-shaped seed “cookie” ready to hang in the garden to attract local birds.
17. Tea or coffee
Jars of coffee or loose tea, tea bags, coffee packs, etc. are all welcome favours people will use. Unexpected ingredients such as a chocolate-covered wooden stir stick, cinnamon stick, or packet of flavoured sugar bring the favour to the next level.
18. Indulgent gourmet gifts
Elevated indulgent gifts such as champagne macarons, chocolate truffles, truffle oil, or aged balsamic vinegar are ideal gifts for couples who are all about gourmet cooking and the finer things in life. Guests will love the opportunity to try something new, or indulge in something they would rarely purchase as a treat for themselves.
19. A playlist
This should be shared as a bonus favour, as not everyone will have a way to access it. Whether it’s a mix of your favourite songs, romantic songs, or the songs played at the wedding, sharing a code or link to your playlist can introduce people to new music. You can also create the perfect mix of music to listen to based on a theme, such as road trips, first dates, cooking music, etc.
Contact the Wedding Venue Professionals
These favours are not only unique and creative, but also designed to help reduce at least one wedding cost that Toronto brides and grooms have to manage.
Click here to learn more about wedding costs in Toronto from the wedding experts at Château Le Jardin. You can also call us at 1-888-529-8573 or book a consultation online.
