Homemade favors for your wedding offer a nice savings for your wedding budget. These favors are easy options you can craft and assemble in less than 5 minutes! The instructions come complete with free printable tags that can be printed with Adobe.
Wedding Bubbles
Instead of messy rice, birdseed or confetti, arm your guests with a bubble favor to send you off with good wishes. Bubble bottle prices vary depending on where you purchase them, but ultimately this favor can be completed for less than 50 cents.
Things You Will Need
- Bubble bottle
- Natural burlap
- 3/4" wide lace seam binding, white
- 1/8" wide ribbon
- Bubble tag print out, found in the instructions below
- Gold wedding ring favor trinkets
- Miniature silk rose
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Craft glue
- Hot glue gun
- Paper punch, 1/8"
What To Do
- Print the favor tags below on card stock of your choice.
- Measure around the circumference of the bubble bottle and add 1/2". Cut a 1 1/4" wide strip of natural burlap along the woven lines. Use the circumference measurement to cut the length. Fray both long edges by removing two burlap strings on each side.
- Cut a lace seam binding strip the same length as the burlap strip. Apply a line of craft glue down the center length of the burlap. Center the lace on the burlap, over the glue.
- Apply a dot of hot glue to the back of the burlap on one short end. Place the glue end on the bottle and wrap the remainder of the strip around the circumference. Apply hot glue to the back of the free short end. Overlap the beginning and press in place to secure. Note: Do not apply hot glue directly to the bottle as the tip of the gun will melt the plastic. If craft glue is desired for this step, you will need to hold or tape the strip in place until the glue dries.
Attach burlap and lace. - Cut out a bubble tag along the circle line. Punch the top of the tag using a 1/8" hole punch.
- Cut a 24" length from 1/8" wide ribbon. Fold the length in half and insert the folded end through the hole of the tag from the back to the front. Insert the cut ends through the loop of the fold and pull to secure the ribbon to the tag. Hold the ends together and tie an overhand knot 1/2" above the tag. Slide a gold wedding ring trinket over the ends and allow it to hang over the tag.
- Separate the ribbon ends and wrap around the bottle's neck. Cross the ends in the back. Wrap the ends back to the front. Offset the tag to the left and tie the ends into a bow at the neck of the bottle.
Attach the tag. - Apply a dot of hot glue to the back of a miniature silk rose and attach to the center of the bow.
How to Display the Bubbles
The bubble bottles are small, but that shouldn't stop you from making a big impact on the way you display them. Place tissue or excelsior moss in baskets, vintage train cases, small galvanized tubs, or buckets. Fill the containers approximately halfway to the top. Fill the containers the rest of the way up with your decorated bubble bottles. More containers mean you can place the baskets in various locations to ensure your guests will see them.
If you prefer a bit more elegance for your display, attach wire ornament hooks to each bottle and hang from potted trees used as décor at the reception.
Champagne Glass Favor
Say thank you by toasting your guests with a sweet treat in a Champagne glass. This favor can also be completed for less than 50 cents each.
Things You Will Need
- Plastic Champagne glass, standard-size
- White tissue paper
- Chocolate kisses
- 12" tulle circle, white
- 1" wide flat, lace trim, white
- 1/8" to 1/4" wide ribbon, in two coordinating wedding colors
- Miniature silk rose
- Champagne glass tag print out, found in the instructions below
- Miniature gold safety pin
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Ruler
What To Do
- Print the Champagne glass tags on your choice of card stock.
- Fold a 12" white tulle circle in half, then in half again. The folded circle will resemble a pie section with four layers. Cut 1/4" from the folded tip. Unfold the circle. You will now have a hole in the center.
- Remove the base of the glass. Insert the glass stem through the center of the tulle and replace the base.
- Cut a 10" square from white tissue paper. Lightly wad the tissue into a loose ball. Place the tissue in the bowl of the glass. Lay chocolate kisses on top of the tissue.
- Cut a 14" length from 1" wide flat, white, lace trim. Gather the edges of the tulle circle up and above the glass bowl. Tie the lace trim around the gathers to secure.
Wrap chocolates inside glass. - Cut a 24" length from two different ribbons with 1/8"-1/4" widths. Holding the ribbons together, wrap them around the gathers and tie into a bow. Trim the ends as desired.
- Apply hot glue to the back of a miniature silk rose. Place the rose over the center of the bow.
- Cut out one printed Champagne glass favor tag. Attach a miniature gold safety pin to the top of the tag. Pin the tag to the tulle below the bow.
Add finishing touches.
How to Display the Champagne Glasses
Adding a glass favor, to each place setting at the reception will provide a welcoming touch as your guests take their seats, but they can also be used as part of the décor. Check out family attics and basements or browse yard sales, thrift stores, and estate auctions for an old cupboard or china hutch. Paint your find using chalk paint in any color you desire and fill with your champagne glasses. The big bonus on this display is the cupboard comes home with you to use in your new home.
If you still want to use the glasses as décor, but would rather they be scattered throughout your reception, fill galvanized buckets, bushel baskets, or vintage suitcases with baby's breath. Insert the Champagne glass bases/stems into the baby's breath to create bouquets.
Rustic Thank You Candle
If your would rather give favors that are more like a gift than a favor used at the wedding, then a rustic candle is the perfect choice. The best part is they are practically free to make as the log can be acquired from branches in the backyard or woodpiles stocked for chilly weather. Each candle can be completed for approximately 15 cents or less.
Things You Will Need
- Log, approximately 4" diameter
- Chop or miter saw
- Drill
- 1 1/2" spade bit
- Masking tape
- C-clamp
- Tea light candle
- Jute twine
- Ruler
- Sandpaper
- Scissors
- Paper punch, 1/8"
- Candle tag print out, found in the instructions below
- Safety glasses
What To Do
- Print the favor tags on heavy card stock.
- Using a chop saw, cut a 1 1/2" thick slice from a log with an approximate 4" diameter. Sand the cut edges to smooth splintering.
Cut your log slice. - Attach the wood slice to your work surface using a c-clamp. Note: Position the top of the clamp along the edge of the slice, leaving room in the center of the slice to work.
- Measure 3/4" from the flat bottom edge of the spade bit, not the point. Apply masking tape around the bit at this measurement. This is the standard height measurement for a tea light candle. Measure your candle and adjust the tape if necessary.
- Center the tip of the bit on the wood slice. Drill to the measured tape line.
- Place a tea light candle in the drilled hole. Cut a 36" length of jute twine. Lay the center of the jute twine over the center of the candle. Wrap around to the bottom, cross the ends and bring back to the top. Separate the wraps equally around the slice in a cross shape.
Drill your hole and insert the tea light. - Cut out one candle tag. Punch a 1/8" hole at the top edge of the tag. Insert one end of the jute through the hole in the tag. Slide the tag down to the candle. Tie the jute ends into a bow on top of the candle.
How to Display the Rustic Candles
Since the candle favors are essentially a décor item, displaying them is not difficult, but most people will not have multiples of the same candle gracing their shelves so a little creativity is needed. Consider how specialty candle stores in the mall draw you to each item. Arranging them on a tiered plant stand will give a cute skirt appearance while filling a wheelbarrow with the log slice candles will enhance their natural appeal.
These rustic candles can also be placed around your reception. Stack them like pyramids on an assortment of cake stands or lay wooden crates on their sides and stack the candles inside, on top and beside them.
Tips for a Custom Favor
Making these favors to fit your wedding theme, personal tastes, and budget can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't need to be. The following are tips and alternatives for creating the perfect favors for your special day.
- Wedding supplies do not have to be purchased from special wedding-themed stores and websites. Discount and dollar stores have many of the materials you will need to create any of these projects at a much cheaper price. If quantities are limited, ask if you can make a special order. Yes, even dollar stores. Shipping is usually free if picking up from the store.
- The bubble favor instructions can easily be altered for other bottles, containers, and vials.
- Standard-size plastic glasses were used for the Champagne glass favor, but miniature champagne glasses can be used with 9" tulle circles. Plastic flutes and wine glasses are also fun alternatives to the standard Champagne glass.
- Change the candy and/or add as many sweets as you want to fill your glasses. Eliminate the tissue paper to accommodate more candy goodness.
- Tulle circles, ribbon, tissue, card stock, and lace all come in a variety of colors that make it easy to customize favors to fit your wedding dream.
Homemade Thank Yous
Wedding favors shouldn't break the bank. No matter whether the favors are intended to be used during the festivities or to take home, your guests will love your homemade effort to include and thank them.
