Do it Yourself Wedding Favors Even If You Are Not Crafty or Talented

These are some ideas of some do it yourself wedding favors. You do not have to be particularly crafty or talented to make these yourself and they are inexpensive to make.

Bookmarks: Microsoft Word has several Word art features that you can make a bookmark yourself with graphics and text. You can also use graphic programs like American Greetings or Hallmark or any of the greeting card maker software. You can get about 4 to 5 bookmarks per page of paper if you place them horizontally. Print it out on photo paper or heavy stock watercolor paper and punch a hole in it with a hole punch, then thread a ribbon through the hole and make a knot. You can also use tassels or decorative craft wire and form a heart shape or other such idea. You can laminate the bookmark paper with clear contact paper if you wish, or use self laminating paper like Scotch Self-Laminating pockets or if you can fold and cut neatly you can get in a roll for Clear Laminate roll, 18" x 8 Yards for $9 at office supply stores like Staples. Your basic total cost is photo paper, a hole punch, tassels or ribbons, laminate is optional on photo paper or thick watercolor paper. Photo paper is often cheap or free after rebate at stores like Staples.

Potpourri in a small bottle: Visit craft stores, dollar stores, Pier One and aromatherapy shops to find small clear glass bottles, usually less than a $1 each. Costco general has two dozen roses for less than $20. There are about 20 usable rose petals in each rose, so 24 roses is 480 petals, you will likely use at least 7 -15 petals per potpourri bottle, depending on how full you want it. Let the roses open about halfway and then pick off the petals and lie flat on a metal sheet and let them dry in a dark cool spot, or dry them in the microwave or a food dehydrator. Pick off the leaves and let them dry curly. Take the petals and leaves and any other flowers you might have, such as baby's breath, and mix them together in a brown paper bag, add some scented oil if you wish, vanilla is a popular favorite. Some cedar shavings that can be found at a pet store can hold a scent and fill out the potpourri mix. Mix all of it in the big bag and shake. Fill the bottles about half way with the potpourri mix. Add a ribbon or sticker if desired. If you want to have the flowers do double duty, buy the roses for your shower, bridesmaid luncheon or engagement dinner and save those for making the favors.

A Flower: Flowers in bulk and have a rose or daisy or similar flower at each place setting. Someone will have to prepare and place each flower in advance to remove thorns or stamens with pollen on them and the wait staff or a friend will have to place each flower at the place setting just before the reception or you will have to put them in those little green water vials to keep them fresh, but those can be covered with ribbon. A good place to get bulk roses includes Costco and Sam's Club. Costco has roses two dozen for less than $20 for a cost of about 83 cents per rose; Rosesource.com has several colors of roses available in your choice for about 200 for $184, 100 for $103. They have specialty roses for a bit more. Overstock.com has about 100 roses for $112 - $124 when I checked (on a holiday weekend), but I have seen cheaper and larger batches available on non-holidays and other flowers like Calla Lilies available in bulk at reasonable prices. Search for wholesale flowers online to see various bargains. This is a very pretty option, but will take time while the bride and groom and wedding party is busy getting ready, so someone will have to do this for you so the flowers are fresh. An alternative is a tiny bouquet of daisies or other inexpensive flowers tied with a ribbon or placed in a small container, such as a green vial wrapped in ribbon. A berry spray of flowers will do well without water; see if any type of pussy willow or berry sprays matches your color scheme. You can buy mylar sleeves if you wish to keep them in plastic so guests know they are a gift, or wrap them in the colored Easter gift basket overwrap.

If you do not have time or resources to do the fresh flower at each place setting, consider drying them in advance and tying with a ribbon. Roses dry well upside down in colors such as hot pink, red (But not burgundy or very dark shades) yellow, and orange. Lavender and white and light pink generally lose their color. While they will be somewhat fragile, this is a way to give out a rose to each guest. You can also just do a flower for each female guest to save costs.

A third option is to select a flower that will float in water (peony, open rose, daisy, gerbera, etc) and float it in a small glass votive next to each place setting. You will have to allocate more for the votives and have someone fill them, but that can be done the night before and the flower will keep in there as long as someone is willing to place them at each place setting the night before or carry them.

Tea: Tea bags are becoming a popular favor. Take tea bags and fold pretty papers around them and seal with a sticker seal. Envelope instructions are found online in many pretty shapes.

Gold leaf something: On eBay and at craft stores they sell gold leaf which can be adhered to surfaces. Add gold leaf to origami or other items like small boxes that could make for a favor.

Personalized Magnets: Full color Business cards can be printed at Vistaprint.com for free with shipping that is less than $7. Magnets with adhesive backs that fit a business card sell for about 25 for 100 of them at office supply stores. Order the bridal or floral themed business cards customized with your colors and font choice with your names the date, a graphic or photo, and a thank you message or whatever you wish. Add scrapbooking items if desired to give it some dimension.