Three reasons to DIY your sustainable wedding favours
Planning a wedding involves countless decisions, each complementing the last to create your perfect day. From the venue to the flowers to the favours you give to your guests, each element helps to add a personal touch and build those precious memories that will last a lifetime. In recent years, more and more couples are looking to host a greener event, incorporating eco-friendly options to help reduce the environmental impact of their weddings. If this approach resonates with you, making your own wedding favours is a great place to start, and there are plenty of ways to create stunning and professional-looking favours for your wedding.
Ready to get started? Here are three reasons to DIY your sustainable wedding favours.
Make it personal
Did you know that most wedding favours get left behind at the end of the night? The idea of a wedding favour is tot hank your loved ones for being a part of your special day, but generic gifts can often feel obligatory rather than intentional to your guests. To ensure each of your friends and family appreciate their favours, why not make them personal?
Favours don’t have to be expensive or luxurious, a simple token of appreciation is enough – after all, it’s the thought that counts. Edible favours are always firm favourites, and are some of the least likely to be wasted. Shots work well, and your relatives will light up after realising they each have their own specific beverage based on their preferences. A batch of cupcakes with cute icing initials can also show that you’ve put some thought into each individual's favour, or why not opt for a small box of your guests’ favourite sweets?
Reduce negative impact
Choosing to DIY your favours helps to reduce the environmental impact of your entire wedding – even more so if you opt for sustainable materials. Commercial favours often come with high volumes of single-use plastic, excessive packaging and unrecyclable materials, whereas you can craft your favours with recycled, biodegradable, reusable or natural components, ensuring that they won’t end up in a landfill site. Look online for ideas and inspiration to help spark your creative side – from clay coasters to bookmarks, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what to make.
Of course, another massive benefit toDIY-ing your favours is the cost benefit. Weddings are an expensive affair, but by thrifting materials or repurposing those from around your home, or even asking friends and family for odds and ends, you can create some beautiful, unique gifts for your guests without breaking the bank.
Support local businesses
When sourcing the materials for your favours, be sure to head first to your local charity stores and small businesses before exploring the larger chain stores. Local artisans and ethical businesses need all of the support they can get to stay afloat, and by giving them your custom you will be helping to make a positive, more sustainable impact on both your community and the environment.
Ensuring that the products are made under fair labour practices and with green initiatives, you could opt for jars of locally sourced honey, chutneys or jams from a local farm, or even beeswax to make your own eco-friendly candles. Handmade, locally sourced favours carry a level of thoughtfulness and charm that mass-produced items simply can’t match, and your guests are sure to appreciate the effort.
