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Guest favors
Although wedding favors for guests can be a very thoughtful gesture, they should be considered optional. Hosting a wonderful party and sharing your joy are the real gifts you are giving to your guests. No one will attend your affair hoping for an organza bag of Jordan almonds. For those who choose to give favors, however, there are many eco-friendly ideas to choose from, such as:

• Trees. Some companies will package small saplings to give as favors. Other companies will plant trees in sensitive areas for a small donation per guest.
• Small potted herbs or flowers.
• Seed packets—especially for plants that are easy to grow in your area.
• A small, homemade book of family recipes or photos showing a timeline of your relationship, printed on recycled paper.
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• A small donation in each of your guests names to a favorite charity. (Organizations like the I Do Foundation and Just Give will even print custom table cards for guests if you make donations with their services.)
• Renewable energy certificates or carbon offsets to negate the impact of your guests’ travel to your wedding.
• Small fair-trade chocolates.
• Beeswax candles.

For attendants and helpers

• Centerpieces or decorative items like candles or wreaths from the reception.
• Extra bottles of organic wine, champagne, or sparkling cider.
• Fair trade jewelry, cufflinks, or other accessories.
• Organic personal care products or homemade “stress-relief kits” with bath salts, aromatherapy candles, written meditations, etc.
• Scrapbooks made with recycled paper.
• A “thank-you” brunch or dinner party to take place after the honeymoon.

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