How to Make Harvest Themed Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a way to say "thank-you" to your guests for sharing in your big day. An autumn bride can give memorable and unique harvest themed wedding favors, ranging from homemade preserves to fragrant candles. Harvest themed wedding favors can be as simple or as elaborate as a budget allows.

Homemade Preserves
Celebrate the bounty of the harvest by making homemade preserves, jams and jellies. Apple, strawberry, blackberry and raspberry jellies make beautiful and colorful favors. Decorate glass jars of preserves with colorful ribbon or raffia and personalized labels featuring the bride and grooms name and wedding date. For less traditional homemade preserves, give guests jars of salsa or flavored butters.

Not feeling confident in the kitchen? Homemade doesn't necessarily mean from your home! Visit local farmers markets during the height of the harvest season to pick up jars of homemade jams and jellies.

Handmade Soaps

There is something about a bar of homemade soap, that turns an ordinary chore like bathing into a special occasion. Homemade soaps come in a huge variety of shapes, colors and scents. They are made from goat's milk, cow's milk, honey, olive oil, to name a few ingredients. Search for soaps that match the colors of your wedding theme, or that feature harvest scents, such as sunflowers, apple, or pumpkin. Wrap bars of soap in wax paper, then cover with a colorful piece of cloth, such as gingham or calico. Tie with raffia and add a tag with your wedding date, location and name. If you are feeling particularly industrious, try making your own custom soaps. Melt and pour glycerin bases are easy to work with, can be dyed almost any color. Make clear bars with dried flowers inside, or layer colors for a rich jewel tone effect.

Harvest Themed Candles

Candles are a wedding favor that keeps on giving long after the reception. Select candles that match your wedding colors, and are scented with decadent harvest smells, such as pumpkin, cedar, vanilla and gingerbread. Embellish pillar candles with dried flowers, leaves and raffia. Place one candle at each place setting for a dramatic tablescapes.

Other Harvest Themed Wedding Favors

Give guests miniature bottles of pure Maine maple syrup, or sweet clover honey. Decorate jars with ribbon and personalized thank-you notes. Chocolates are always a popular wedding favor. Add a harvest flair with leaf shaped chocolates in harvest colored boxes of orange, gold or crimson. Tie each box with a sheer organdy ribbon and thank-you note written on delicate parchment paper.