8 D.I.Y. Edible Wedding Favors
From the dresses to the music, menu to the flowers in the boutonnieres and bouquets, there is so much to consider when planning a wedding. Sure, what you see on the surface matters, but it's the little personal touches like welcome bags with customized itineraries on arrival, baskets of flip-flops the guests can put on for dancing, and personalized favors that are sure to leave a lasting memory in your guests' minds long after your big day. And what's better than to send them away with something delicious that is sure to leave a good taste in their mouths.
For the bride and groom who love food and are looking to add a crafty, D.I.Y.-element to their big day, edible favors are easy to plan and assemble — even for a crowd of 150. Inspired by some weddings we recently attended, we've put together some of our favorite ideas for edible favors. Each of the ideas below are easy to put together at home (leaving you more money to spend while honeymooning) with some help from your bridal party or family and are sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
1. Midnight Snack of Cheese and Crackers
How many times have you gone to a wedding only to come home starving at 2 a.m. thanks to all that dancing on the dance floor? Satisfy guests' rumbling stomachs and cravings for something salty and savory with miniature packages of sliced cheese and salty crackers wrapped in cellophane and labeled with a personalized sticker.
2. A Cookie Bar
Who can say no to cookies? This idea is inspired by a friend's recent wedding where her mom baked hundreds of cookies in all the bride and groom's favorite flavors. Arrange the cookies in labeled glass candy-store-style jars so guests can pick out a couple of their favorites and pack them to-go in personalized bags (to save for later or eat on the ride home). Here are some of our favorite cookie recipes to get you started.
3. Tea and Cocoa
If you're getting married somewhere where the temperature dips at night, send your guests home with something that is sure to warm them up — individual packages of tea and cocoa. Instead of purchasing mixes at the store, save money and create your own customized blends at home. Make your own tea bags with personalized tags with this easy, step-by-step how-to. Or, create individual-sized packets of hot cocoa (complete with marshmallows or chocolate chips) with these tips. It's easy to do, and each package comes together for less than 50 cents!
4. Homemade Jam
Show your guests how thankful you are that they have made the effort to be a part of your special day by sending them home with something you put your love into, like a jar of homemade jam. Purchase small glass Ball jars and pick your own fruits, then follow this step-by-step how-to for fool-proof canning. Top each jar, once sealed and cool, with a round of fabric that matches your wedding décor and tie with a similarly-toned ribbon. Be sure to add a personalized label with the date of your wedding and your favorite ways to use the jam.
5. Flavored Sea Salt
It's a favor that has universal appeal — flavored salts. Guests can use them as a garnish on a salad or as a seasoning on their steak. And all you need are jars, herbs, salt, and a bowl. Follow these simple tips for making basil or rosemary-flavored salt. Want something more exotic? Try making citrus or matcha green tea-flavored salts. You can also make sugars flavored with ingredients like cinnamon, cocoa, or vanilla that can be used in one's morning coffee.
6. A Family Recipe
There is no better way to remember a bride and groom then by a family recipe they both love. For my friend's Maine wedding years ago, the couple shared the bride's family's beloved recipe for popovers tied to a miniature jar of Maine wild blueberry jam. Herb mixes for roasting chicken or meat, cookie dough mixes, and spice and bean mixes for the family chili, each paired with the recipe so guests can re-create it again, are other great ideas.
7. Homemade Granola
To ensure that each guests has something delicious and healthy to awake to the morning after a wedding, give out little bags or Chinese food containers of homemade granola as favors. Follow this recipe for a fruit- and nut-studded granola that everyone is sure to love, or try experimenting with your own combination of nuts, oils, and fruits.
8. S'mores Kit
When you're having a reception with a bonfire, complete the scene with individual s'mores kits. Cellophane bags are filled with grahams, chocolate, and a couple of marshmallows and sealed with a customized sticker. All that guests need are sticks for roasting (though these kits are designed with a metal hanger in each) — it's the perfect sweet finish for a memorable wedding night.