Why should you give your guests gifts?
The bride and groom often invite guests from the farthest corners of the world to their wedding, and sometimes even from the other side of the world. A very nice way to thank you for their visit, which often involves long travel, vacations and very high costs, is to give them a special gift. However, even if your guests come to your wedding from nearby parties, such a symbolic gift is always an extremely nice gesture and a bow to the invitees to thank them for their presence and participation on such an important day. Once the wedding is over, each gift will be an extension of your celebration and an item that will become a memory of that special occasion.
Tangible and intangible prizes
Everyone loves to receive prizes, because everyone is pleased that they were rewarded for something, even if purely symbolically. Incentives can be tangible or intangible .
The first option is the most popular. Of course, this is a separate expense item, but it is much more pleasant for guests to take home a gift that will remind them of the special event. Nobody says that you need to buy expensive things as prizes, just cute little things. The main value is not in the gift itself, but in its meaning, which the toastmaster informs the winner of the competition.
When choosing material prizes, many newlyweds have doubts about their appropriateness. For example, it may seem that giving soap bubbles to a respectable adult man is absolutely ridiculous and may offend him. This is a partly justified opinion, so you should choose gifts depending on the age and social status of the guests .
Intangible prizes, no matter how small, can encourage even inactive guests to take part in competitions. An original and interesting encouragement will definitely not go unnoticed. The main thing is to present it correctly.
Non-material prizes may include:
- applause;
- gratitude from the young;
- kiss of the bride or groom;
- the ability to include any song in dance competitions.
Such “gifts” require the use of imagination and also save the budget.
So what to choose - tangible or intangible prizes? Of course, both options have a right to exist. Guests still come to the wedding, first of all, not for prizes, but in order to congratulate the newlyweds .
On the other hand, an original gift will become a pleasant reminder of this special event that the guest will take with him. Some gifts can be very useful in everyday life. And, to be honest, it’s nice to be a winner even in the most humorous competition. Attention! Within the same event, material and non-material methods of encouragement should not be mixed. One competition may seem easier to guests, while another is more difficult, so there may be a feeling of injustice.
Gifts for wedding guests – Honey
An interesting and sweet idea is to give a jar of honey. You can buy honey from a local beekeeper and tiny jars from an online store. For decoration, use a tag that includes your names and wedding date or the word "Thank you." A little accent like that can really add a lot of fun...
Souvenirs for guests from newlyweds
There is no strict rule that newlyweds must give some kind of mini-presents to their guests. But it’s always nice to receive these and your loved ones and friends will have a reminder of this wonderful day .
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We prepared a list of 38 options and described some of the features of preparing souvenirs. So, what can you give:
● Magnets . A simple and original gift. It is customary to place beautiful illustrations, an inscription and the wedding date on such magnets. You should not make magnets that are too small (the illustration will be difficult to see on them and the inscription may not fit). The optimal size would be 7x5 cm, 7x7 cm (but not more than 10 cm). It is better to make a choice in favor of vinyl magnets (since plastic ones can simply crack when dropped, and plastic can begin to turn yellow).
● Chocolates . The most interesting thing is when it is possible to make a chocolate package with an individual design or replace the wrapper on an already purchased chocolate bar. The easiest way to replace the wrapper yourself is on a small Alyonka chocolate bar, because... it is very easy to remove from the foil (it just slides up). Also, on the Internet you will find many services that make personalized chocolate.
● Candy . You can put sweets in small beautiful boxes (bonbonnieres). Multi-colored caramels and chocolates of different shapes (and with different fillings) will look beautiful. An assortment of several candies looks more interesting than if they were all the same.
● Gingerbread . These can be beautiful gingerbread cookies with glaze in transparent packaging and even Tula gingerbread cookies in a beautiful colored box.
● Honey in jars/combs . A small jar of honey is such a “peculiar” symbol of comfort, care and home tea drinking. A very symbolic gift. Young people seem to share the comfort of their home with friends and loved ones. Beautiful jars can be bought at IKEA stores and decorated with ribbons and bows.
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● Jam in jars . The easiest way is to buy ready-made jam in small jars and decorate them with ribbons. But it’s more fun to make the jam yourself, buy beautiful jars and pour the sweetness into them. At the celebration, you can even announce that the newlyweds made these gifts with their own hands. The value of such a surprise increases significantly just because it is handmade.
By the way! Sweet gifts have this peculiarity - they are quickly eaten. And there is a risk that the guests will have absolutely nothing left to remember the wedding day. In this case, it is recommended to combine sweet gifts with memorable gifts (for example, chocolates + magnets with inscriptions).
● Nuts or cookies . This could be an assortment of hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts in a beautiful box, which has several sections for different types of nuts. Cookies can be placed in beautiful jars.
● Icons . With a beautiful pattern and the names of the newlyweds, the wedding date. It’s worth ordering something that can be attached to clothing with a pin.
● Macarons . These are small cookies made from ground almonds and cream. They can be of different colors and in this case, the packaging should be made transparent so as not to hide such beauty.
● Soap . This is a beautiful and useful gift. Gift handmade soap can be ordered online. It will be made according to your parameters, and boxes will also be prepared, stylized to match the style of the wedding.
● Cake pops . This is such a beautiful mini cake on a stick. As a rule, it is covered with icing, chocolate or confectionery toppings. The difficulty is that you cannot put such a dessert in a box and take it with you; it must stand vertically so that the ball does not wrinkle.
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● Donuts . Order donuts with glaze in your wedding color. For each donut you can order a box with your names on it. Donuts are not often given as souvenirs to guests, so this is your chance to make a truly original gift.
● Plaid . A warm and memorable gift. On such a blanket you can embroider the names of the newlyweds and put the date of the event. Blankets can be of different colors or in shades of your chosen wedding theme.
● A couple of teaspoons in a beautiful box . An unusual and useful gift. He will remind his friends about you for a long time.
● Cups or glasses with the names of the guests . The most important thing is to avoid banal pictures and not to deviate from the chosen color scheme of the wedding. Let it be a neat white cup with a beautiful frame in which the guest’s name is written in a beautiful font.
● Waffle heart . An unusual and beautiful sweet.
● Nut (or chocolate) butter in jars . Everyone's favorite Nutella can be decorated with ribbons or placed in a box.
● Home fragrances . These are bottles with aromatic oil into which special sticks are inserted. The oil saturates these sticks and the whole room is filled with delicious smells.
● Bottle openers . Not the ones they sell in hardware stores, but with a beautiful handle and in a gift box.
● Yoyo . This is a toy in the form of round pancakes (made of wood or metal) and a string between them. The lace is wound up, it is put on a loop on your finger, and then the toy is released and while it rotates on the cord, your task is to make sure that the toy returns to your hand. On such a toy you can engrave (or apply thermal transfer) the names of the newlyweds and the date of the event.
● Bonbonnieres . These are beautiful boxes in which a variety of sweets are placed.
● Fortune cookies . Since they are small in size, it is worth giving a box of 5-7 of them.
● T-shirts (with a beautiful print that relates to the newlyweds, the wedding date or some original phrase).
● Mini champagne bottles . Looks cute, especially with pretty bows on them.
● Bottles of olive oil . This is both a tasty and useful gift. And in addition, it also looks beautiful. ● Set of pencils . It would be great if you could replace the box with a personalized one - with your names and the date of the wedding. In addition to the pencils, you can attach a notepad on a spring (also with your personal cover). ● Lip balm . Of course, not in the form of lipstick, but in the format of a small barrel. Now many cosmetic companies produce these. They already look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
● Wooden spoon and spatula for the kitchen . It may be an ordinary wooden utensil, but hang a beautiful tag on it with warm words of gratitude to your guests, and it will turn into a useful and necessary surprise. ● Bath bubbles in small bottles.
● Towels with the names of the guests . It looks unusual, and most importantly, it is a useful and practical souvenir. ● Flowers in pots . It is worth choosing the most unpretentious flowers. Which do not need to be watered every day. Because not everyone will be interested in monitoring plants.
● Beautiful candles . This is a simple and inexpensive souvenir. Candles can be decorative and will simply decorate the interiors of your guests. If the candle is aromatic, it will also create a pleasant smell during its use.
● Matches with the wedding emblem and the names of the newlyweds. These can be given along with scented candles; one souvenir will perfectly complement the other. ● Christmas tree decorations (if the wedding will take place on New Year's Eve).
● Kinder surprise . You can take a small wicker basket that can hold two or three of these eggs and decorate the handle with ribbon.
● Lollipops . Hearts, birds, circles, ovals, fish, fruit slices and other motifs. This is a bright and tasty souvenir.
● Tea, coffee or cocoa in jars . Aluminum jars with individual designs or labels look beautiful. ● Marmalades in jars . It looks impressive when there are a lot of multi-colored marmalades or gelatin candies in a transparent jar.
Tip : you can choose a mini surprise based on the theme of the wedding or the season in which the celebration is taking place (for example, Christmas tree balls if the wedding is held in the middle of winter or keychains with anchors if the theme of the wedding is nautical)
Gifts for wedding guests - homemade canned food
Homemade, delicious canned food is another gift idea for invited guests. Handmade jam should delight every palate. You can prepare these preparations a few weeks before the wedding. Don't forget to decorate the jar beautifully. The decoration can relate to the theme of your wedding.
Gifts for wedding guests - sweets
Beautifully packaged scones, sweet chocolates, and white almonds or macaroons and lollipops will be a nice way of thanking your wedding guests. Everyone loves sweets, so you can definitely give such a gift to everyone.
Gifts for wedding guests – alcohol
Another gift idea, but only for adults, is alcohol. A small, beautifully decorated bottle of alcohol will not go to waste. You can buy tiny bottles of champagne in the store, and we also recommend making a homemade tincture. A delicious quince, cherry or raspberry pie will allow your guests to have a pleasant evening at home and remind them of your wedding.
Gifts for wedding guests – magnet
Or maybe a wooden magnet with your initials and wedding date on it would be a good gift idea for your wedding guests? Through thick and thin! A magnet is certainly a gift that you can personalize to your liking in terms of colors, shapes, motifs and messages, but above all, it is something that will stay with your guests forever!
Surprises for the home
Gift ideas for guests include a wide range of items and gizmos used in everyday life that decorate the interior. Such little things are always in demand, received with gratitude and joy, and remind us of the wedding day for a long time. What could it be?
- Interior and table textiles: decorative pillows, pillowcases; fabric and wicker napkins; hot mats, potholders; bath and kitchen towels; aprons; blankets and bedspreads; mini-rugs for the bathroom, hallway; fabric shopping bags; curtains.
- Kitchen utensils: mug or cup with saucer; coffee cup; vase; hand mill; painted or carved wooden spoons, ladle; metal spoons; wine glass or glass for alcoholic drinks; a beautiful container for salt or pepper; napkin holder; flask, teapot with strainer; tray or cutting board; mug with teapot function; original corkscrew.
- Interior decor: various frames for paintings, mirrors, photographs; mobile phone stand; aromatherapy bowls; candlesticks and decorative candles; figurines; caskets; succulent or any other small indoor plant in a pot; housekeeper; interesting dream catcher; bell; a small wicker or embroidered wall decoration.
- Pleasant little things that make life easier: sachet bags with sets of herbs for good sleep, for headaches, for scenting dressing rooms; mini flashlight in an interesting design; notepad with pen; chair cover; back or leg massager; beautiful wicker basket or box.
To make the item truly memorable, it is marked with the initials or names of the newlyweds, the wedding date, and a few kind words from the young couple to the guest. Technologies are different: laser engraving, embroidery, interior or sublimation printing, stickers, digital color printing.
Gifts for wedding guests – figurines
Luckily, a glass angel, a heart of gold or perhaps a porcelain elephant? You can also choose this gift to match your wedding theme. This is another type of gift that will become a memory of your holiday and will become an important decoration in the homes of your loved ones.
Why and to whom do they give it?
Gifts are prepared for guests, friends, relatives invited to the wedding. It is not at all necessary to give the same to everyone, but there should not be a particularly big difference, so that there is no feeling of envy and resentment that is inappropriate for the holiday.
The newlyweds present small souvenirs so that the guests have pleasant memories of the wedding, in gratitude for accepting the invitation and coming to the celebration.
By the way, sometimes gifts, for example, jars of jam, decorated accordingly, are sent along with a wedding invitation. This is convenient because you don’t have to think about where to put the gift and how to remember to pick it up after the end of the event.
Gifts for wedding guests – flower
Tiny cactus pots look super cute and fit in with the latest wedding trends. This mini flower is a truly elegant gift that will bring a smile to everyone's face. Or perhaps there is a chance that many of your guests will grow them into a plant that will decorate their homes?
Bookmark for a book - master class
Budget – 200 rubles, time to make a bookmark – 15 minutes.
Materials
velvet ribbon up to 27 cm long to match the color of the wedding;- two clips according to the size of the tape;
- two rings made of sewing accessories;
- two pendants:
- pliers.
Step-by-step instruction
- Cut a piece of tape to the required length, which can be calculated using the formula - book length plus 5cm. In our MK – 27 cm for a standard book.
- Insert the tape into the clamp and secure it with pliers.
- Install the ring and pendant on the clamp. Bookmarks can be made in different colors or shades, focusing on a specific guest.
Gifts for wedding guests – photo frame
If you decide to hold an engagement party, you can frame the most beautiful picture and give it to each of the invited guests. Such a gift is a really nice souvenir that will be kept in the homes of your loved ones and will leave you with the best memories of this special time.
DIY candle
Budget – 200 rubles, production time – 50 minutes.
Materials
- container for a candle (cup, jar);
- wick and wax;
- thick cardboard for fastening;
- a jug with a spout;
- aromatic oils and dyes (optional).
Step-by-step instruction
- If there is no ready-made wax in flakes, then you need to cut the candle into small slices.
- Melt the wax in a water bath, add food coloring.
- Secure the wick in the candle container by placing a circle with a hole cut out of cardboard on it.
- Pour melted wax into a container, add a drop of aroma oil and leave to harden.
- The appearance of the jar or cup in which the candle was placed will add originality to the souvenir.
Gifts for wedding guests - scented candles
An interesting gift idea for wedding guests are candles with a wonderful aroma. Can you give all your guests the same type of candle, or maybe those ladies with the scent of the queen of flowers - rose and men with the deep scent of blackcurrant? Consider personalized lettering too!
Surprises for every season
Modern weddings take place at any time of the year. To enhance the holiday experience and create a certain atmosphere, guests are prepared with special, seasonal gifts:
- in summer - UV cream for outdoor weddings; Sunglasses; fan; inflatable ball for beach volleyball; light flip-flops or towel; Panama; refreshing cocktail;
- in winter - warming spicy mulled wine; a package of sparklers, fireworks or firecrackers; candle with pine or citrus scent; juicy tangerine; Christmas tree decoration; snow globe in a New Year or Christmas theme; Knitten things;
- in the fall - a pot of honey or homemade jam; nuts; fresh berries; dried mushrooms; beautiful rubber galoshes or boots; thermal mug with hot tea, coffee, cocoa; umbrella;
- in spring - garden flower bulbs, cuttings or seedlings; seeds for planting in the ground; raincoat; houseplants; leash for a dog or cat.
An interesting and useful universal surprise could be a calendar for next year with a photo of the newlyweds or wedding symbols.
Gifts for wedding guests – soap
Fragrant soaps are something pleasant for the soul and body. The scent you choose can stimulate the senses and make using it a unique experience. This gift soap can come in a variety of shapes, colors and be packaged however you wish. Also consider making your own soap - it's not that difficult, search online for natural cosmetics ingredients and check out the recipes!
Gifts for wedding guests - badges and keychains
This is another great idea to stop this moment forever! Pins and keychains with your initials, names, wedding date or photo or favorite slogan can be worn by guests attached to a backpack, bag or corkboard. Keychains, on the other hand, provide a practical gadget that guests can carry with their keys or other accessories after the wedding.
Greens in a pot
Budget – 100 rubles, production time – 20 minutes.
Materials
- pot;
- seedling;
- universal primer;
- ;tag and twine.
Step-by-step instruction
- Prepare the pot - wash it if it is new or remove all labels if you are using jars.
- Fill the seedling container with soil and leave a depression in the center.
- Plant the seedlings and attach a tag with the guest's name and words of gratitude to the cord.
Such pots with magnets glued to a metal board at the entrance to the hall look interesting. Another option for such a gift is a violet in a pot, decorated with floral paper and a flag with wedding logos. The color scheme can be designed in accordance with the wedding theme.
Gifts for wedding guests - fortune cookies
Or perhaps introduce a bit of a mysterious aura, a world of prophecy and wonder? Make traditional Chinese cookies with fortune notes inside. The prophecies can be tailored to your expectations (would it be best to relate to love, or perhaps be fun?) and be distributed randomly to guests. This is a very attractive and original form of gift!
What about the packaging?
There are different opinions regarding the packaging of souvenirs for competitions. On the one hand, a themed wrapper helps to add solemnity to the most banal prize. In addition, the presence of packaging adds additional intrigue for the guest, who, when picking up a gift, cannot imagine what is inside.
An interesting joke by the presenter, directly related to the souvenir, may not be understood by the guests at all. Therefore, it is better to use a transparent mesh or film if you still decide to pack the prizes.
But in fact, ordinary colorful ribbons, prints, stickers, bows or flowers, and butterflies as decorations will be enough, which will replace packaging in this case.
Gifts for wedding guests - soap bubbles
A new trend that is becoming increasingly popular. Especially among the young wedding participants, but not only. The magic and charm of soap bubbles will steal the hearts of guests of all ages. This is also a unique idea for an event setup. Give your guests bubbles in advance and ask them to blow them after leaving church, during the first dance, or during the session. “Wow” effect is guaranteed!
Gifts by age and gender
Finding the same surprise that everyone, without exception, will be happy with is a kind of feat. The newlyweds simply may not have enough strength, time and desire to carefully consider all the options. Therefore, it makes sense to simplify the task by dividing guests into groups:
- For beautiful ladies, mirrors, small manicure sets, cosmetic bags, knitted summer pajamas, jewelry boxes, pendants with a talisman stone, hair clips or headbands, aromatic products, pareos are suitable;
- for men they prepare ties, socks, real cigars, stylish lighters, cufflinks, tie clips, suspenders, small flasks, mini-chess or travel checkers;
- if couples with children are invited to the wedding, then special surprises are made for the younger generation - small toys, puzzles, educational construction sets; sets of pencils or pens; kaleidoscopes, whistles; Board games; albums or coloring books; children's books; icons; soap bubbles or crackers; wedding-themed balloons; kinder surprises or boxes with toys and marmalade; children's sunglasses; fluffy or cartoon pendants for a school backpack.
For women and children, of course, any sweets will be welcome gifts. And for the stronger sex, you can prepare 50-100 ml bottles of strong alcohol.
Gifts for wedding guests - individual key
A gift with a hidden message? Here he is! Order a custom key design that fits with your wedding theme (although the most impressive are keys styled after older models with "soul"), and on the included tag write your names, wedding date and a short thank you note that will refer to the key itself, for example, that you thank guests for jointly opening new doors in your life.
Errors in selection
When choosing wedding prizes, newlyweds often make mistakes. The first and most common of them is buying the same gifts for all guests . Think for yourself, would you be interested in participating in a competition if you knew in advance that you would receive the same gift as another person? Of course not, it’s much more interesting when the intrigue remains.
The second mistake is overly expensive gifts . Of course, newlyweds buy them with the best intentions, trying to give their guests something useful. However, this can put a person in an awkward position. When he receives, for example, a portable speaker for the most ordinary competition, bewilderment may arise. The person will involuntarily begin to consider himself obliged to you. Therefore, you should choose prizes that are more or less cheap. The main thing is to select even the simplest trinket with soul.
When buying gifts, you should also take care of their appropriateness. Knives, mirrors, watches and the like are completely unsuitable as gifts, because they have a certain symbolic meaning, and many guests may not like it. Also, when choosing gifts, consider whether they will offend people's cultural or religious feelings.
Gifts “for show” are also a very bad idea. You should be very careful when choosing a gift, use your imagination, and not buy the first thing that came to hand . It’s best when you already have a list of competitions ready, and you choose prizes specifically for each of them.
Gifts for wedding guests - lottery ticket
Sometimes guests give lottery tickets to the bride and groom, but maybe surprise your guests this time? This is a nice gesture that proves that the couple wishes their guests to prosper, and at the same time is a form of play and surprise, the ending of which will only be in the future. A thrill, and ultimately, maybe a big win?
The perfect gift for wedding guests? Of course, one that evokes positive emotions, but above all, one that relates to you and reflects your hobbies and interests, as well as the style of your wedding. Every guest will appreciate your gesture and will undoubtedly have a pleasant time with you!
Incentive prizes
We should not forget that gifts for guests can also be comforting. Such gifts for guests will come in handy to console unmarried girls who did not catch the bride’s bouquet. As incentive prizes, you can choose cakes or gingerbread cookies with fortunes. For the guys participating in catching the headband, you should prepare purely male gifts, these could be key rings, lighters, fountain pens and others.
Quite popular as table decorations at weddings are pots of fresh flowers, which you can take with you at the end of the celebration. To decorate holiday tables, you should choose the most unpretentious plants, for example, bonsai trees or cacti, as they can easily withstand further transportation.
Quite often, symbolic figurines of newlyweds are used as incentive prizes at weddings. These figures can be the same as the couple decorating your cake, or they can be made of porcelain or Lego. Such souvenirs can be supplemented with an inscription with the names of the newlyweds and the wedding date.