Destination weddings are so enjoyable to plan! Gathering friends and family in one fantastic location for a few days of fun in the sun—or snow—is memorable for everyone. However, your guests are traveling far and incurring expenses. Therefore, a destination wedding is a great time to put extra thought into your thank you gifts. From tangible items to interesting experiences, here are a few suggestions on choosing the perfect destination wedding favors. 

Perfect Destination Wedding Favor Ideas

Give your guests a handcrafted favor unique to the destination.

Immersing yourself in a place is part of the experience. Do a bit of research and ask your wedding planner about sourcing locally-made gifts. Your wedding guests may not be able to experience each and every aspect of a destination, so give them a head start—or fabulous sendoff—by giving them something only available in your location. 

• Regionally made beverages, such as distilled spirits and wine. 

• Artisan items, such as pottery bowls, jewelry, and mini watercolors.

• Locally produced foods, such as candy, royal icing cookies, and honey.

• Area-specific items, such as cigars, coffee beans, and dried herbs.

Select an upscale souvenir wedding favor.

If you can’t find a handmade item specific to your destination, search for something that can serve as a personalized keepsake. Favors that feature maps, famous landmarks or the language of a country make lovely souvenirs.

• Commission tote bags with a hand-drawn map of your destination.

• Give each guest a tea towel that features famous sites in the city where your wedding is taking place.

• Depending on how long your guests will be in the area, a souvenir book is perfect. The subject matter is up to you, but worthy choices are books on local history, sites, or language. 

Skip tangible wedding favors and go for experiences instead. 

One of the best things you can do is provide an experience for your guests in place of wedding favors. Hire a catamaran, have a professional chef teach a cooking class using local ingredients, or send guests on an organized tour of the area’s highlights. It’s even better if you can participate, too! What a fabulous way to spend time together while making memories and exploring your destination. 

Curate a welcome basket to greet your guests. 

When you can’t select just one wedding favor, create a welcome box for your guests. Fill it with local snacks and drinks, and pop in a few tickets for local museums and sights. It’s a fabulous way to let your guests know that you are excited to host them, and it also gives them a taste of what’s in store with your destination wedding. Conversely, you could give your guests a sendoff bag. Just fill a tote with location-centric favors, and present it to them at the close of your event. 

Select practical, travel-centric destination wedding favors.

When in doubt, go for something practical that will help your guests travel. Items such as leather luggage tags, passport covers, and packing cubes can make their trip home a bit easier. Also, you can present them with things to use at the destination. A combination of sunscreen and a luxe Turkish beach towel is both functional and practical for an oceanside event.

Destination Wedding Favors to Avoid

Yep, I’m going to go here. When it comes to your destination wedding, giving practical, thoughtful gifts is essential. Think about your guests and what they would want to keep and use on a daily or at least semi-regular basis.  I want to state that unless it truly has its place, say on the label of a wine bottle, do not personalize things with your names and wedding date. Most guests would make use of a classy tote bag that features a lovely cityscape drawing. However, it may go unused if it’s personalized with your wedding information. 

Avoid overdone destination wedding favors. 

I’m not saying that these favors don’t have their place because they can certainly be done right. However, for those who crave something a bit more unique, pass on the following options. Skip out on the “tradeshow style” wedding favors, and choose something a bit more creative instead. Honestly, most guests probably don’t need more of the items below.

• Koozies, mugs, and water bottles. We all have too many of these, and chances are that guests don’t need another one.

• Keychains and bottle openers. Skip these unless these are handmade or genuinely unique.

• Sunglasses. These are personal as everyone has their own style, but feel free to give sunnies if you are springing for luxury pairs.

• Travel tchotchkes. I’ve seen many ideas about giving guests items, such as compasses, but how practical is a compass for most people? Sure they look cute at each place setting. However, consider how useful your wedding favors are.

Shy away from favors that don’t travel well. 

Think about your guests and what they will have to lug home. They may find a few souvenirs on their own, which will make their bags a bit heavier. Think about your destination, travel time, and mode of travel when considering the destination wedding favors below. 

• Liquids - I mentioned local beverages and honey. However, these will need to be under 100ml or carefully packed in checked luggage to make it home safely. 

• Chocolate - Who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s a favorite. However, it can become a burden if it melts in a tropical climate. Therefore, consider the temperature before settling on favors that could melt.

• Plant Parts - If you are traveling to a different country, check on the regulations concerning plants. Bulbs, seeds, and fruit can be big no-nos when you are going through customs. 

• Oversized Items - It would be so fun (as in REALLY fun) to give everyone their own blow-up water toy. I’ll admit that everyone floating on unicorn rafts the day after the wedding would make a fantastic photo. However, guests may not have room to take bulky items home, so consider size when choosing your destination wedding favors.

No matter what you choose, having a destination wedding is a fabulous opportunity to include your location into your wedding favors. Let your guests know that you appreciate the time, effort, and cost for them to attend your wedding, and choose something that is both practical and meaningful. Your guests will enjoy celebrating your union while having an extra memento from your time together.

Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.