How Much Do Wedding Favours Cost? The 2025 Average Revealed

Wedding favours offer you the opportunity to provide your guests with a small gift or keepsake that they can take home (or eat!) and remember the time they spent celebrating with you on your big day.

But when you’re already spending thousands on your wedding, how much should you spend on wedding favours that are thoughtful, personal and something that your guests are going to appreciate?

Below, we’re going to take a look at the cost of wedding favours, including the average amount couples spend, how much some of the most popular wedding favours cost, and what factors can influence how much you might spend.

What are wedding favours and do you need them at your wedding?

Wedding favours are small tokens or gifts given to guests to thank them for celebrating your special day. These personal touches serve as keepsakes and a lovely way to show appreciation to your friends and family.

Favours don’t have to break the bank — many cost around R20 each — but they still make a thoughtful impression. Some couples opt for DIY wedding favours, which can range from a packet of homemade biscuits to personalised mini candles or seed packets (though personalised options will generally cost more).

Still, even the most affordable or handmade favours can add up, especially with around 100 guests. Considering the average wedding in South Africa costs about R200,000, it’s worth asking: if you’re working with a tight budget, is this one of the extras you could skip to save money?

Do you have to do favours at your wedding?

While favours aren’t something that your guests will expect — and certainly aren’t the reason they’re coming to your wedding — their absence may be noticed by some (but certainly not all). In fact, some of your guests may choose to not take their favour home at all, and if you’re gifting food or sweets, they may even be devoured before the first course is served at the breakfast or dinner.

If you’re looking to save budget, or it’s simply not something that interests you or fits with your style or theme of your wedding, then you shouldn’t feel pressured to provide favours simply to appease others or because it’s something you believe your guests expect — because they definitely don’t.

What’s the average cost of wedding favours?

In South Africa, couples typically spend an average of R3,000 to R15,000 on wedding favours (it’s about 2% of what couples pay for the average wedding venue). While this may seem like a small slice of the total wedding budget, the costs can add up quickly — especially if you’re choosing personalised, handmade gifts or have a large guest list of 120 or more.

If you’re keen to stick to tradition without overspending, simple options like a packet of sweets or a small jar of homemade jam can work beautifully. For example, 250 packets of fizzers or chocolate hearts could cost around R500, leaving you with a sweet stash of extras for later!

What are some popular wedding favour ideas?

If you’re looking for some wedding favour ideas but you’re not quite sure where to start, the below guide will give you a rough guide for how much some popular wedding favours cost so you can gauge if they fit within your budget.

Edible favours

• Retro sweets — You can find pre-packed retro sweet mixes or make your own from bulk bins. Prices start from around R20 each.
• Honeycomb — Always a hit! Visually appealing and tasty. Prices start from about R30 per pack.
• Fudge — Creamy and indulgent, a luxurious little treat. Prices start from around R35 each.
• Hot chocolate kits — A cosy and creative option, especially for winter weddings. Prices from R40 each, depending on packaging.
• Popcorn — A classic, budget-friendly snack. Think caramel, chilli, or butter flavour. Prices start from R20 each.
• Mints — Fresh and simple, often paired with personalised tags. Prices start from R15–R20 each.
• Jellybeans — Colourful, cheerful, and very affordable. Prices from around R20 per portion.
• Cake pops — A fun, compact way to serve up cake (especially if you’re skipping a tiered one). Prices from R25–R30 each.
• Marshmallows — Soft, sweet, and wallet-friendly. Expect to pay around R20 per favour.

Non-edible favours

• Bubbles — Everyone loves bubbles! They’re fun, whimsical, and great for photos. Prices start from under R15 each.
• Personalised playing cards — A memorable and custom gift your guests will actually use. Prices start from around R100 each.
• Second-hand books — Quirky, personal, and very budget-friendly. Prices start from as little as R5 each from local second-hand shops.
• Pens, notepads, or pencils — Practical and thoughtful. Prices start from around R40 per set, depending on personalisation.
• Jewellery charms — A lovely little keepsake, perfect for bracelets or keychains. Prices start from R60 each.
• Wildflower seeds — Eco-friendly and symbolic of your love growing over time. Prices start from R25 per packet.
• Charity donation — A meaningful gesture. You can set your own amount, typically R10–R50 per guest.
• Soap or hand sanitiser — Especially appreciated post-2020! Beautiful handmade options start from around R50 each.
• Scratch cards — A fun and cheeky surprise. Prices from R25 each, depending on the lottery or game chosen.
• Personalised candles — Always a hit. Scented or unscented, mini candles start from R55 each.
• Personalised coasters — A keepsake your guests will use again and again. Prices start from around R75 each.
• Personalised keyrings — Sentimental and functional. Prices start from R40 each.
• Disposable cameras — Nostalgic and interactive. Prices start from around R300 each, not including film development.

Is it cheaper to do DIY wedding favours?

If you’re on a budget, it can be much cheaper to do wedding favours yourself. However, if you’re looking for highly personal or customised favours, such as personalised playing cards, you may find the DIY approach more challenging. If you haven’t done anything similar before, there’s also the risk of inconsistent quality.

If you’re looking for something simple, such as a bag of retro lollies, you should be able to put this together with little effort and without much room for error. It should save you some money, too.

What factors can impact the cost of wedding favours?

When choosing wedding favours, as well as the type of favours you go for, there are several factors to bear in mind which can impact the overall cost.

• Quantity — It may seem obvious, but the more guests you have the more you’ll have to spend on favours.
• Personalisation — Highly personalised wedding favours will cost more than something you can grab off a shelf or make yourself.
• Vendor — A small, independent vendor may have higher prices than a large company with hundreds of employees. However, the level of care and quality is also likely to be better from a smaller vendor.
• Quality — The higher the quality of materials or ingredients you use, the more expensive your favours will be. Remember, your favours are only a token gift to your guests and they won’t be expecting something premium.
• Presentation — Marshmallows or honeycomb may be fairly inexpensive, but if you choose to package them in a fancy box with ribbon they may not be inexpensive for long.
• Season — Depending on what you go for, the time of year may play a part in cost. For example, during peak periods when gift companies are in demand, costs may be much higher.

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