Guest favors are one of those wedding details that couples either love or feel like they have to do. The truth? Not all favors are created equal. The last thing you want is to spend money on items that get left behind on tables or tossed into junk drawers the next morning.

The best favors serve a purpose, spark a smile, or tell a story about you. After 17 wedding seasons, here’s what I’ve seen guests actually love to keep.

Photo Allison Harp

Cultural or family-driven items: When favors connect to your background, heritage, or family traditions, they instantly feel more special. Think hand fans at a summer ceremony, jars of olive oil from a family grove, or small heirloom-inspired trinkets. Guests treasure them because they represent your story.

✨ Pro Tip: Lean into what makes your family unique. Guests feel honored when they get to take home something meaningful, not generic.

Functional keepsakes: If it’s practical, it will get used. I’ve seen couples give custom cornhole bags with childhood photos, personalized drinkware, or luggage tags at a destination wedding. Guests loved them because they weren’t just cute, they were actually functional.

✨ Pro Tip: Think about the setting. A destination wedding? Luggage tags or beach towels. A mountain celebration? Cozy blankets or mugs. Match the gift to the experience.

Seasonal touches: Some of the best favors are things guests can use right then and there. Parasols or fans in the summer. Blankets or hot cocoa kits in the winter. Sunglasses for a beach wedding. These thoughtful touches make guests comfortable and double as keepsakes.

✨ Pro Tip: Seasonal gifts also photograph beautifully. A row of matching parasols or guests wrapped in blankets looks intentional and elevated.

Photos Allison Harp

Food and Drink (Always a Hit): Edible favors rarely go to waste. Mini bottles of champagne, jars of local honey, artisan chocolates, or fresh baked cookies are instant crowd-pleasers. And if they connect to your hometown or the wedding location, even better.

✨ Pro Tip: Package them beautifully. A simple cookie becomes unforgettable when wrapped in custom packaging that ties to your overall design.

Our advise: Favors should extend the guest experience, not just check a box. If it doesn’t connect to your story, put that money toward food, music, or flowers instead.