In recent years, “theme” weddings have become a great way to express the personalities of the bride and groom. We see all kinds of them: weddings at sea, costume weddings of every stripe, and candlelit night weddings in the dead of winter. I like to think of myself as a pretty independent, outside-the-box kind of person, but let’s face it; when I imagine the perfect wedding for myself, at least it’s outdoors on a beautiful spring morning. I don’t think I’m alone in allowing myself a little bit of old-fashioned sentimentality, and this article is for those of you who feel the same way.

Whether your wedding is very traditional or decidedly unique, the ever-popular outdoor spring wedding is a natural choice. A beautiful garden in May could feature the bride in white and the groom in a nice tuxedo, or both in Victorian attire, or in Lord of the Rings elf costumes. The sunny, flowery atmosphere gives cheer and joy to any such happy gathering, and guests will always feel comfortable.

Soon there will be an influx of weddings with the coming spring. Most spring wedding favors are heavily themed to suit the season. Candles are decorated to match the floral arrangements utilized in the wedding, coasters or picture frames come in bright colors that portray spring and are usually decorated with blossoms as well. The garden wedding favor is the most ubiquitous for the season. Most of these gifts are designed to match with certain flowers and blooms, such as white orchids and lilies, or contain imagery of butterflies and general garden findings.

Here are some ideas for affordable spring or garden wedding favors: decorative wildflower seed packets, flower-shaped candles, floral glass coasters, flower-shaped soaps, pressed flower bookmarks, miniature vases with flowers, floating butterfly tealight set. . . you get the idea. For presentation you might try little terra cotta pots or miniature watering cans to evoke a garden theme, or gauzy gift bags with floral details for a springy finish.

Remember, if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for and you have some time to spare before the big day, you can always take a look at your local craft store for inspiration. You may be able to put together a gift or custom wrapping for a fraction of the price (and no shipping costs!) Plus, your guests are certain to appreciate the personal touch. It could even be something as simple as hand-stamping a pretty design on a personalized card or tucking a few pretty dried or fabric flowers in with the gifts.

Clearly, for those interested in the joyful tradition of a spring garden wedding, there is no shortage of ideas for garden wedding favors from the whimsical to the tasty to the useful. A variety of well-chosen spring wedding favors or garden wedding favors for your guests will surely do a great deal to please beloved friends and family.