Wedding favours in the UK typically cost £1-£5 per guest, with most couples spending around £100-£150 in total, while gifts for the wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man and maid of honour) usually run £20-£100 per person. Order or make favours roughly 3-4 months before the day, and allow extra lead time for anything personalised or hand-made. A useful tip: order a handful of spare favours, as you will want to post some to guests who couldn't attend and keep one or two yourselves.
Typical UK cost: Most UK couples spend £1-£5 per guest on wedding favours (around £100-£150 in total), and £20-£100 per person on gifts for the wedding party.
Frequently asked questions
How much do wedding favours cost in the UK?
Wedding favours typically cost between £1 and £5 per guest, with simple options like mints, popcorn or sugared almonds at the lower end and personalised or boxed items at the higher end. Most UK couples spend around £100-£150 on favours in total, though that rises sharply for large guest lists or custom, hand-made designs. Fancy packaging such as boxes and ribbon can add as much to the cost as the favour itself.
How far in advance should we order wedding favours?
Order or start making favours roughly 3-4 months before the wedding so there is time for production and any problems. Personalised items such as printed chocolate bars, engraved keepsakes or iced biscuits need extra lead time, while edible favours that don't keep well should be made or delivered close to the day. Always order a few spares for guests who couldn't attend and for yourselves.
How much should we spend on bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts?
In the UK, couples typically spend £20-£50 on each bridesmaid and £25-£60 on each groomsman, with up to £80-£100 for the maid of honour and best man. There is no rule that the gifts must cost the same amount or be identical, as long as the thought behind them is roughly equal. Many couples choose personalised items as a thank-you for the time and money the wedding party has already put in.
Are wedding favours necessary, or can we skip them?
Favours are entirely optional and many couples now skip them or replace them with a charity donation, a shared treat like a sweet table or late-night snacks, or a small plant guests can take home. If you do skip them, it rarely affects guests' enjoyment of the day. Spending the same budget on something everyone shares is often better value than a small item per place setting.
How much money do guests usually give as a wedding gift in the UK?
The average cash gift from a guest is now around £100, with most people giving somewhere between £50 and £500 depending on how close they are to the couple. Those buying a physical present rather than cash spend roughly £85-£90 on average. Close family and members of the wedding party generally give more, often £150 or above.