How Many Wedding Favours to Order, and When: A Timeline for Ontario Weddings

One per guest plus a small margin, ordered at least six weeks ahead. How to count favours, a month-by-month timeline for Ontario weddings, and what to do if the count changes.

Order one wedding favour per guest, plus a small margin (roughly five to ten percent) for the wedding party, vendors and last-minute additions, and order personalised favours at least six weeks before the wedding, or eight to twelve weeks if you want time for changes. For an Ontario wedding, a practical rhythm is: choose the favour four to six months out, finalise your guest count when RSVPs close, order at least six weeks before the day, and hand finished favours to your planner or venue in the final week. Here is the full timeline, how to count, and what to do if your numbers change.

How many favours to order

One per guest is the standard

One favour per guest is the most common choice and the simplest. Nobody goes without, and couples sitting together each have their own.

One per couple or household

If your favour is larger (a full-size bottle, a jar to share), one per couple or household is reasonable. Count invitations rather than guests, and make sure single guests and children over a certain age still receive one.

Add a margin

Order a few more than your final count. The extras cover:

the wedding party and immediate family, who are easy to forget
vendors who were with you all day: your planner, photographer and coordinator
a guest who brings a plus-one at the last minute
one or two that are damaged or misplaced on the day
a few to keep for yourselves

Five to ten percent is a sensible margin for most weddings. For a guest list of 120, that means ordering around 130.

Quick reference

| Guests | One per guest, with margin | One per couple, with margin | |---|---|---| | 50 | about 55 | about 30 | | 100 | about 110 | about 55 | | 150 | about 160 to 165 | about 80 to 85 | | 200 | about 215 to 220 | about 110 |

Many favours come in fixed sets. Our scent favours come in a set of 50 and a set of 100, so a 120-guest wedding might order a set of 100 and a set of 50, and use the extras as thank-you gifts.

The favour timeline for an Ontario wedding

| When | What to do | |---|---| | 4 to 6 months before | Choose the type of favour; if it is scent, test the scents at home | | 3 months before | Decide on wording for the tag; book any venue scenting you want | | When RSVPs close | Confirm your final guest count and add your margin | | At least 6 weeks before (8 to 12 weeks if you can) | Place the order and send your names, date and tag wording | | Within 2 business days | Review and approve your proof | | 2 to 3 weeks after approval | Favours ship (within Canada) | | Week of the wedding | Check the count, then give the favours to your planner or venue with a placement note |

Two Ontario-specific points help with the plan:

Set your RSVP date with the favour order in mind. If favours need to be ordered six weeks before the day, ask guests to reply about eight weeks before so you order once, with the right number.
Your marriage licence has its own timing. In Ontario, a marriage licence is valid for three months from the date it is issued (Government of Ontario). It can be easiest to apply in the same window as the favour order, so the paperwork and the details are done together.

What our scent favours involve

If you choose scent favours from Velour and Vellum, this is what happens:

The favour: a 30 ml amber glass bottle, capped so guests can carry it home, with three black reeds tied on the outside with satin ribbon and a printed tag with your names and date.
The scent: blended by hand in Toronto with premium fragrance oils from our Hotel Collection, inspired by the world's great hotels. Thé Blanc, our signature white tea scent, is a gentle choice for a mixed guest list. To compare scents at home first, The Complete Hotel Edit has six of them in small vials.
The proof: within two business days of your order. Nothing is printed until you approve it.
Shipping: two to three weeks after approval, within Canada only.
Ordering: at least six weeks before the wedding.

If you would like the venue scented in the same scent, favours can also be added to our wedding and event scenting service.

If your numbers change

More guests after you order: order a second, smaller set as early as possible. Ask for the same tag wording so they match.
Fewer guests: extras make lovely thank-you gifts for vendors, hosts of your shower or anyone who helped.
Date change: tell your supplier straight away. Printed tags carry the date, so a new proof may be needed.

Placing favours on the day

Hand the favours to your planner or venue coordinator in the final week with a short note: how many, where they go (one at each setting is best), and who is responsible. Ask your MC to mention them near the end of the night. For ideas on presentation and choosing a favour, see unique wedding favour ideas for Canadian weddings and scent favours vs candles, sweets and succulents.

Quick answers

How many wedding favours should I order? One per guest plus about five to ten percent extra for the wedding party, vendors and last-minute additions. For 100 guests, order around 110.

Do you need a wedding favour for every guest? It is the most common approach, but one per couple or household is fine for larger favours. Count invitations instead of guests if you choose that.

When should I order wedding favours? At least six weeks before the wedding for personalised favours, and eight to twelve weeks if you want room for changes.

When should RSVPs be due if I am ordering favours? About eight weeks before the wedding, so you can confirm numbers and order once.

How long do Velour and Vellum wedding favours take? A proof within two business days, then shipping two to three weeks after you approve it, within Canada. Order at least six weeks before the wedding.

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