11 Creative Wedding Return Gifts Ideas for Your Guests

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Your wedding can be one of the biggest experiences in your life. And it’s only natural that you’d want to remember it — from when you and your partner started planning the wedding to the end of the festivities during your reception — for as long as you can. 

You want to be surrounded by people dear to you, and you want them to remember sharing your most special moment, too. That’s what wedding return gifts are for!

But we all have to admit that there had been one (or two or too many) times we received wedding return gifts we weren’t exactly keen on keeping. 

Unless you only have close family and friends and they wouldn’t mind displaying a photo of you and your spouse or an ornament that doesn’t exactly go well with their home’s décor, stay away from rather cheesy return gifts for wedding guests. 

Make sure your wedding favors won’t end up in the garage (or worse, the trash) by looking for unconventional ones that don’t disappoint. Need help figuring out where to start? Here are eight to choose from.

What do you give as a return gift at a wedding?

When someone attends your wedding, you can give them a gift in return that shows them that you truly value their attendance on your special day. 

You can give them something special in return that holds meaning and can serve as a reminder of this special day for them. 

You don’t have to break the bank for this wedding return gift, as it is usually meant to be something symbolic and sweet. You can pick something decorative, practical, or aesthetically pleasing. 

You can give them a box of chocolates, meaningful notes, plants, or something else that is creative. We will cover some such wedding return gifts in our next section.

11 best wedding return gift ideas

Wedding return gifts can be a great way to show appreciation and care for all those guests who became part of your special day. It can act as a token that reminds them of your wedding at a later date or bring a smile to their face when they receive it. 

Here are some return gifts for marriage that you can consider for your guests:

1. A heartfelt note

Nothing is more impactful than earnest words expressed by someone. 

Your wedding return gifts are not meant to be expensive. They can be impactful, heartfelt, personalized notes you write for your wedding guests. 

If you have too many guests and it isn’t easy to write personalized notes, you can have a single message that you get printed for your guests in a beautiful font and print. 

2. Eatables

Instead of giving wedding return gifts that take up space and the guests may find it difficult to keep with them, consider giving them an assortment of eatables. 

You can get an assortment of eatables that your guests might enjoy. Try to include items, like chocolates, that are not highly perishable. Your guests might not be able to consume these immediately, so pick safer options. 

3. Timepieces 

They’ll remember you whenever they use it and thank you for giving it. Staying punctual and fulfilling commitments on time is important to everyone, making clocks, watches, or any thoughtfully handpicked timepiece a great gift. 

If you want to personalize these wedding favors, consider engraving your spouse’s initials or wedding date on the clocks. It can convey that you are thankful for the valuable time they gave to grace the most important occasion of your life.

4. Scented candles

Looking for the perfect wedding return gifts? Why not consider giving your guests some scented candles?

Scented candles can lift your guests’ mood once they return home and light them up. They can also be personalized by using labels with the bride and groom’s initials. 

5. Succulents

A plant they can cherish and grow is something you’d want to consider. Taking care of a plant, aside from being a cute way to have your wedding remembered, is a therapeutic activity. Plus, succulents make for great home decorations.

6. Themed lip balms

Nobody likes chapped lips. Thank your guests for joining you on your special day and that you care about the health of their lips by giving them personalized lip balms as wedding return gifts. 

Choose a flavor similar to the dessert served at your wedding so they’ll remember the fun moments you shared on your special day each time they swipe the balm.

7. Journals

There’ll always be something you’ll need a journal or a notebook for. Instead of giving a simple notebook as one of the wedding return gifts, make sure it still has a tiny touch of your wedding to it. 

Choose one in the color of your wedding theme. Have your guest’s name written in calligraphy on the cover to give it a personal touch. You can even print the pages with a monogram of your and your spouse’s initials as a unique reminder of your wedding.

8. Utility bags or pouches

Are you grateful that your wedding guests will travel all the distance to make it to your wedding reception? Then you can consider giving them something they can use and remember you by each time they travel. 

Utility bags, handy pouches, or traveling kits are a staple for those who are always living out of a suitcase, for work or leisure, and even for those who don’t travel too often but can surely utilize bags and kits. 

Give them something they can actually use often to have a less cluttered and more organized time back home and on trips.

9. Coasters

Give your beverage-loving guests something they’ll absolutely love and use for a long time. It is a utility-based item that you can personalize for your wedding guests. 

A coaster will serve as a wise gift for resting the drinks upon and protecting the surface of their table from stains. Also, it can make for a great collectible item. Make sure you consider picking up beautiful ones that exude your tasteful aesthetic sense.

10. Mugs

While mugs don’t sound inviting, they’re incredibly useful. The key to making a mug a wedding favor and not being a disappointment is picking a classic design. Steer clear of the cheesy and go for a clean look. 

You can also personalize by getting mugs that have a letter printed on them and giving your guests one that matches the first letter of their name.

11. Customized jewelry

When searching for the perfect wedding return gift, customized jewelry stands out as a timeless and cherished option. Whether it’s a delicate bracelet, a pendant necklace, or a pair of engraved rings, personalized jewelry adds a unique touch to the celebration of love.

Choosing jewelry that incorporates the couple’s initials, wedding date, or a meaningful symbol not only makes the gift special but also reflects the thoughtfulness of the giver.

Are return gifts necessary?

No, wedding return gifts are not necessary, but they can be included if you desire to do that. They are usually seen as optional but a thoughtful gesture to express a couple’s gratitude and happiness.

Sometimes, getting these gifts might add to the wedding stress for the bride and groom when they already have too much on their plate. Additionally, many consider it as an added expense. 

If you wish to do that, only think about return gift ideas for weddings that hold some meaning for you. Also, marriage return gifts are not meant to be expensive; pick something meaningful instead if you want to give gifts to your guests.  

Some couples may have a difference of opinion about this, which they can address in premarital counseling. 

FAQs

Wedding gifting can be tricky. Let us help you simplify it a bit for you with these commonly asked questions!

• What are the 5 rules of gifts?

Gifts should be thoughtful, reflect the recipient’s interests, consider the occasion, be wrapped with care, and, most importantly, carry a personal touch.

The 5-gift rule is something that couples can consider while choosing wedding return gifts for their big day. Here are the five things they can consider while picking a gift:

The gift can be

• Something that they want
• Something that they like 
• Something that they can wear/use
• Something that they can read
• Something meaningful to them

• What are some budget-friendly wedding return gift ideas?

Think homemade treats, small potted plants, personalized notes, or even budget-friendly trinkets that carry sentimental value.

• How can I make sure the wedding return gifts are appreciated by all guests?

Consider universal and practical gifts, ensuring they’re beautifully presented and align with diverse tastes.

• Where can I find eco-friendly wedding return gifts?

Look for sustainable options online, in local markets, or choose DIY ideas like seed packets, reusable bags, or bamboo products.

In this video, Rachel Catherine tells how she and her husband saved thousands of dollars on their wedding decor by thrifting and DIYing certain things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EFq3zDyzso

Keeping it simple and interesting

So many wedding favors can end up being your guests’ favorite things. Give them something useful, and they’ll remember you for as long as they use your souvenir.

The wedding return gifts can be creative, meaningful, or nostalgic, depending on the route you are willing to take. These people love and care about you, so you go with your gut and give them something that will make them smile.