The honest take
Seed packets are one of the few wedding favors with genuine take-home value. People actually plant them. They’re cheap, lightweight, easy to personalize, and have a natural story (“grow something from our wedding day”).
The downside: they work best at spring and summer weddings when planting is immediately relevant. Handing out seeds at a December wedding in Minnesota slightly misses the moment.
Options
Wildflower seed packets — most popular, easiest to source. Mix of annual and perennial flowers. Guests can scatter in a patch of soil, no expertise needed. Best for outdoor-themed weddings.
Herb packets — basil, mint, thyme, coriander. More useful than wildflowers but narrower appeal (some guests don’t cook). Good for food-focused weddings.
Vegetable packets — tomato, courgette, sunflower. Seasonal and specific; works for late spring weddings.
Plantable paper — seed-embedded paper (sometimes used as the favor tag or the entire packet). Guests plant the paper itself. More of a novelty; germination rates vary.
DIY vs. pre-made
Pre-made personalised packets:
- Companies like Botanical PaperWorks, American Meadows (US), or Seedball (UK) sell custom-printed packets
- Cost: $1.50–$3 per unit including custom printing at quantities of 50+
- Lead time: 2–4 weeks
DIY:
- Buy bulk seed mix online ($15–$30 for 500g covers many packets)
- Make custom envelopes from kraft paper or buy blank glassine envelopes
- Print custom labels or stamps
- Cost: $0.50–$1 per packet at scale
- Time: 2–3 hours for 100 packets
Seedballs (no-envelope option):
- Pre-made compressed wildflower seed balls, packaged in a small bag
- No gardening skill required — throw in a sunny spot and water
- Cost: $1–$2 per unit from specialist suppliers
Personalisation ideas
- Couple’s names + wedding date on the label
- “Grow with love” or similar — keep it short, not twee
- Include planting instructions on the back (many people need them)
- Tie with a ribbon to match the wedding palette
Display at the wedding
- Loose in a wooden box on each table for guests to take
- In a basket at the exit — guests pick up on the way out
- As a place card holder (packet propped against a name card)
Checklist
- Choose seed type appropriate to your wedding season and region
- Order or make packets 4–6 weeks before
- Include brief planting instructions (or a QR code to a care page)
- Display where guests can easily take them on the way out
- Order 10–15% extra for breakage/extras
Works well with
- Charity Donation Instead of Favors — if some guests prefer no physical favor
- Local Honey Jar Favors — another nature-themed favor that pairs well