We're all about grow-your own, sustainable wedding favours - they're unique, practical, definitely eco-friendly, and a good way to get a family member or green-fingered friend involved in the wedding planning!
This sustainable option can make for a living sentimental keepsake or perhaps even a back garden heirloom and not only will these wedding favours be cherished long-term, but will also enhance your wedding aesthetic. We have a handful of ideas from tree planting, and mini succulents to beautiful florals waiting to be planted, picked and become wedding day ready... let's get stuck in!
Sweet Sustainable Wedding Favours
Sustainable Wedding Favours: Herbs
The 'thyme' has finally come to tie the knot, so let's introduce the first green favour! (Sorry, we couldn't help ourselves!) Herbs are pretty and fragrant, and can create a beautiful scent throughout your venue. You have lots of options with herbs, such as purchasing seeds from your local garden centre and adding them to brown paper or burlap bags. Or why not grow your own and make mini-bunches to place on each place setting? Ask your stationery designer to create a personalised label.
Where to buy:
- The Garden Shop
- Amazon
- Irish Plants Direct
- Local Garden Centre
Sustainable Wedding Favours: Flowers
Love to garden? Then fresh floral & potted flower favours are similar to herbs, in that you can either gift them in potted form for your guests to plant at home, or you can grow them yourself and use them as mini bunches to gift on the day. Another gorgeous idea is to place cut garden flowers in mini bud jars to uses as escort cards or at place settings.
Another great idea is to provide little waterproof bags and a message card alongside your floral centrepiece, encouraging guests to take their pick of the florals in the arrangement at the end of the night. This means they can act as a centrepiece and be wedding favours meaning zero waste and double the use. To add a special touch, create a card explaining the meaning behind your chosen flowers - a lovely topic for your guests to discuss at the table.
Sustainable Wedding Favours: Seeds
For a favour that lives on long after the wedding, why not consider flower seed packets or seed bombs? After planting, these beautiful blooms will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to your loved ones gardens and will be reminded of your special day.
Where to buy:
- Seed Bomb Ireland
- Seeds Ireland
- Erva
- Hanna's Bees
- Connecting to Nature
- Eco Seeds
- Etsy
- Local Garden Centre
Sustainable Wedding Favours: Succulents
We previously featured succulents as a popular trend for weddings, and if you're a fan of these little perennials you will be sure to enjoy this idea. Their hardy nature makes them an ideal green wedding favour as they will survive even the most neglectful of gardeners, so they're fine for all sorts of guests. Add a little note saying "Life would succ without you" for fun!
Where to buy:
- Etsy
- Clarenbridge Garden Centre
- Plant Life
- Local Garden Centre
Sustainable Wedding Favours: Seedlings & Saplings
This is one for the more experienced gardeners among us, or maybe even a project for parents. Tree seedlings can be bought in most garden centres. For these wedding favours it might be best to take an opt-in approach - rather than having one for everyone. Have a bunch by the door of the venue for anyone who wishes to take one home with them. A pine seedling would make for the perfect Christmas or winter wedding favour!
Where to buy:
- Etsy
- Local Garden Centre
Sustainable Wedding Favours: Cacti & Airplants
These little guys look very sharp! Easy to purchase in bulk and even easier to repot into smaller containers, jars or even mini teacups depending on your theme. Why not stick a name card in each one and place them on a shelving unit as escort cards? A table plan and green wedding favours all in one. Or, place them down the centre of your reception tables along with some tall tapered candles and tea lights, and add a little framed note asking your guests to take one home at the end of the night.
Where to buy:
Why not keep the sustainability theme going with some more of these great eco-friendly wedding ideas:
