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Updated Mar 17, 202520 Summer Wedding Favors Your Guests Will Snap Right Up
Here are the hottest picks for the season.
Photos, from clockwise: Uncommon Goods, AuburnCraftWerks, Zazzle, The Knot Shop
There's plenty to love about summer weddings, from the attire options to the gorgeous outdoor locales. It's the perfect time to be creative and add playful touches to your event, like summer wedding favors that'll keep you on theme and offer guests a thoughtful token to take home with them.
Need help sourcing the best wedding favors for your summer celebration? We've got you covered with our round-up of cute and unique picks. With affordable wedding favors that won't stretch your budget, personalized mementos that guests will cherish and rustic wedding favors that fit the theme, you're sure to find something special on our list below. Before you start shopping, we recommend checking out The Knot Vendor Marketplace to see what local businesses are operating in your area.
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What Are the Best Wedding Favors for a Summer Wedding?
We asked the experts what the best summer wedding favors are and what you need to consider when making your decision. "Edible party favors are a really popular choice, with more and more couples choosing something useful, simple and relatable for their guests," says Donna McCafferty, owner (and tea lover) at The Tea Can Company. "Our best-selling tea favors are packaged in tins or pouches that protect the contents, whatever the weather. Blends of tea are very seasonal, with flavors like blueberry, apricot peach and lavender perfect for summer."
However if you're choosing edible party favors for your summer wedding, there are certain ones you may want to skip in hot weather. "For outdoor summer weddings, we recommend…avoid[ing] any melting chocolate," notes Jennie Groff at Stroopies Inc. The same can be said for ice cream, soft candies or anything else that could spoil in high temperatures—if in doubt, ask the vendor for suggestions or choose a different option to avoid disappointment. "By far our most popular wedding favor is our heart-shaped stroopwafels," Groff says, offering another on-theme (and yummy!) edible favor idea.
Shoppable Summer Wedding Favor Ideas
Ready to shop for wedding favors for your summer wedding? We've done (nearly) all the hard work for you. Below, find 20 of the best summer-themed wedding favors, from the cool and creative to the thoughtful and practical.
1. White Wedding Flip Flops
Photo: The Knot Shop
If you're looking for the perfect summer wedding favor, it's hard to go wrong with a comfy pair of flip-flops. Guests can slip them on after the photos and ceremony before hitting the dance floor to show off their moves. Not only will your loved ones be thankful for the break from heels or dress shoes, but they can wear them again for trips to the beach or just lounging around the house.
2. Botanical Lollipops
Photo: Uncommon Goods
For a celebration that's all about the flowers, hand out these botanical lollipops as summer wedding favors. Each set includes eight surprising flavor combinations, like lavender and lemongrass, sage and marshmallow and rosemary and mint—but there's more. The lollipop sticks are infused with plant seeds, so guests can grow their own herbs or blooms when they get home. How cool is that?
3. Beachy Sunglasses
Photo: ModParty
Summer weddings are filled with warmth and sun—and, for couples who hold their ceremony outdoors, that can leave guests squinting from the brightness. Handing out these adorable sunglasses will help them celebrate you without needing to shield their eyes with their hands. Add your names to the sides to make each pair an extra special summer wedding favor.
4. Orchid Tea Light Holders
Photo: My Wedding Favors
How cute are these floral tea light holders? Each one features a purple faux orchid floating on a clear gel base and comes with a white tea candle for an elegant finish. They're beautifully packaged in ribbon-tied boxes with color-coordinated "For You" tags, and—best of all—no assembly is required. Summer wedding favors don't get more romantic than this.
5. Personalized Shot Glasses
Photo: The Knot Shop
If you're looking for unique summer wedding favors that guests can use after your big day, shot glasses are a great idea. Not only will they come in handy at the reception when your loved ones are getting ready to party, but they can also take them home to store trinkets or loose change. Add your names or a fun message like "Love is in bloom" for a summery touch.
6. Cute Pizza Cutters
Photo: Kate Aspen
There's just something about summer that makes us think of outdoor pizza parties on the lawn. Gift your guests these mini pizza cutters so they'll be well prepared for their next backyard hang. Cute and practical, each one has a white protective grip featuring the words "a slice of…" with the word "love" printed on the stainless steel blade beneath. A red heart motif puts the finishing touches to these summer wedding party favors.
7. Photo Matchboxes
Photo: Zazzle
Light up their day with a cute matchbox featuring a photo of you and your partner to commemorate your nuptials. The matches are ideal for lighting candles, incense, sparklers and more—but with a thoughtful twist. Each box can be personalized with a photo (perhaps from the outdoor venue you're getting hitched at), along with your names and date to remind friends of your big day.
8. Mini Sunscreens
Photo: EventGalDecals
Sometimes, the best wedding favors for summer weddings are the most practical ones. If you're exchanging vows on the beach, help your guests stay protected from the sun with mini bottles of sunscreen. These travel-sized containers are filled with SPF 30 and feature summer-themed labels that you can personalize with your wedding details. Guests of all ages will be grateful for these beach wedding favors, especially if they're sensitive to UV rays or prone to sunburn.
9. Paper Hand Fans
Photo: The Knot Shop
Summer weddings can bring on the heat, especially if they take place outdoors and AC is not available to help cool things down. These paper fans will provide guests with some sweet relief from the hot weather and offer a fun photo prop for all those special snapshots. Keep things simple by adding your names, or include your wedding hashtag and a funny message for a light-hearted touch. Choose from various designs to match your summer wedding colors and overall theme.
10. Bags of Flavored Popcorn
Photo: The Popcorn Factory
Looking for an edible party favor that won't melt in the midday sun? Check out these snack-sized bags of popcorn. These yummy treats come in a variety of flavors, including cheese, butter and caramel, and are sure to relieve your guests' cravings for something sweet or salty. Bonus: They're available to bulk buy in sets of 100, so you can easily stock your snack station.
11. Heart-Shaped Bottle Stoppers
Photo: Amazon
Wine fans will praise your good taste in thank-you gifts when they see these cute bottle stoppers. Functional and stylish, each one is made from silver-toned metal and shaped like a heart for the perfect tribute to your summer love. Guests will be delighted to have these practical souvenirs to keep their vino fresh. Bonus: They come with individual drawstring bags for a thoughtful presentation.
12. Personalized Scented Candles
Photo: MissKindlyCandle
Get creative with these little candles, which are available in summery scents like Pineapple Coconut, Tropical Paradise and Love on the Beach. They're made from 100% natural soy wax and come in amber glass jars that can be personalized with your names and wedding details. Our suggestion? Opt for fragrances like Summer Citrus or Eucalyptus for a practical party favor that'll help keep bugs and flies away.
13. Custom Luggage Tags
Photo: PongsArt
Here's one of the best wedding favors for a summer wedding: custom luggage tags personalized with your wedding details (or even each of your guest's names.) They're especially fitting for a destination wedding and are a thoughtful way to acknowledge the effort your loved ones have made to be there for your celebration. Best of all, they can reuse these stylish (and practical) party favors for future trips.
14. Mini Bud Flower Vases
Photo: My Wedding Favors
Flowers are synonymous with summer and all the beauty the season brings. These mini bud vases are really unique summer wedding favors your guests may not expect but will definitely love. They're sold in sets of five and come in an array of pretty colors, so you can mix and match them to suit your theme.
15. Personalized Mason Jars
Photo: Amazon
Mason jars immediately make us think of sipping fruity cocktails or iced tea by the beach. If you're hosting an outdoor summer wedding, serve up refreshments with these cute glass jars personalized with your names and wedding date. They're available to buy in bulk, so you can save time and money for the fun stuff—like celebrating with your nearest and dearest. Cheers!
16. Flower Petal Confetti Cones
Photo: FlauraeConfetti
Planning to exit your wedding with a cute confetti toss? Add a summery twist to the tradition with these flower confetti cones. Each one is filled with rose petals, lavender, cornflower and jasmine, which are all 100% biodegradable for a more eco-friendly wedding favor. Just be sure to get your venue's approval first, especially if it's an outdoor setting or a remote location.
17. Custom Can Coolers
Photo: Zazzle
We couldn't complete a round-up of the best summer wedding favors without including some cute koozies. These practical gifts will help guests keep their drinks nicely chilled while the sun shines—both on the wedding day and any time after that (like backyard BBQs or tailgating during football season.) We love the aquatic theme of these starfish can coolers, but Zazzle offers a slew of other designs you can personalize with your names, wedding date or a fun message.
18. Tasty S'mores Kits
Photo: AuburnCraftWerks
Are you having a bonfire at your reception? These tasty s'mores kits are the perfect summer wedding favors to give to your loved ones. Each one is individually wrapped and comes with everything they'll need to make their favorite gooey snack, including graham crackers, a marshmallow and pieces of chocolate. Guests can also take them home to toast these sweet treats in their own backyards.
19. Wedding Day Bubbles
Photo: Amazon
While blowing bubbles is typically reserved for children, it's a whimsical wedding activity guests of all ages can enjoy. Your friends and family will be charmed once they see these cute heart-shaped bubble wands. They'll add a bit of light-hearted fun to your big day and make a creative alternative to throwing rice or petals. Just think of how adorable those photos will be.
20. Fun Party Games
Photo: LaserChimp
Having a summer wedding is the perfect excuse to add some sweet (and silly) touches to your celebration. These wooden party games will encourage guests to have fun and mingle with new people between cocktail hour and the rest of the festivities. Choose from three popular games, like Tic-tac-toe, Snakes and Ladders and Ring Toss, for a really cool wedding favor that may inspire some friendly competition at the dinner table.
