Wedding favors are a must at a reception. They're little tokens to tell the guests how much you appreciate their presence, and they can take a lot of time if you choose to do them yourself. Even if you purchase them instead - maybe you don't know where to start looking, and that in itself will take time. You want some killer wedding favors? Below is a list of various ideas. Some are really easy, some are clever, and some have included tutorials.

Sunglasses. Great for a summer wedding, you can buy sunglasses for as little as a dollar a pair at your local dollar store.

Homemade Jam. You can buy mini canning jars to give each guest a sample of your favorite spread. Don't have a favorite? Below is an easy recipe. Be sure to always taste test before giving it to your guests.

Berry Rhubarb Jam

• 8 cups chopped rhubarb
• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 can of your favorite berry pie filling
• 1 package strawberry flavored gelatin
• 1 package raspberry flavored gelatin

Put the rhubarb, sugar, and pie filling in a large pot over medium-heat. Once it boils, set a timer and keep it boiling for ten more minutes. Stir in gelatin mix until dissolved. Remove pot from heat. Transfer to small, sterilized jars, cap them, and cool.

Do this fairly close to the wedding, as this recipe isn't meant to keep very long, and also include a note that this is best kept cold until eaten. I chose this recipe because it's very easy to make for beginners. If you want a recipe you can do months out, you may want to pop over to some recipe websites.

S'mores Kit. Package four graham cracker squares, two chocolate squares, and two marshmallows in a clear gift bag.

Cookie Bouquet. This wedding favor will double as a centerpiece. So while it's a more timely process, you do knock out two things at once. My mother made the cookies several weeks before and froze them until it was time to assemble the bouquets. Use the following recipe because the cookie will hold its shape better and won't break as easily.

You'll need:

• Sugar cookie recipe
• Cookie sticks (can buy at a craft store)
• Plastic bags and ribbon (only needs to be big enough to cover cookie part)
• Flower cookie cutter
• Painted flower pots and wet foam/Styrofoam (enough for each table)
• Fake grass for decorations
• Newspaper or other extra stuffing
• These icing recipes:
  • Glaze (for full cookie coverage)
  • Royal icing (for decorations)
  • Tip: Use color paste instead of liquid food coloring to make colors more vibrant

Sugar Cookie:

• 1 cup softened unsalted butter
• 1 ½ cups sugar

Beat together, then add

• 1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla
• ½ teaspoon clear almond extract (or use extra vanilla if worried about allergies)
• 2 ¾ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

Mix completely

Cut out two cookies for each flower. Place stick in the middle of one on a cookie sheet and place the other on top, pressing together firmly. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-20 minutes. Makes 12-18 flowers, so double the recipe accordingly.

Icings:

Glaze (make as many batches as need):

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 2 teaspoons corn syrup
• ¼ almond extract or vanilla extract
• Food coloring

Royal Icing (make as many batches as needed):

• 3 tablespoons meringue powder
• 4 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons water
• Food coloring

Beat all ingredients 7-10 until peaks firm. Keep bowl covered with a wet towel to keep from drying out.

Once cookies are cooled completely, place glaze on one side of cookie. Once dry, decorate that side with royal frosting. Freeze until ready for assembly.

The day before the wedding, assemble bouquets using blocks of wet foam or Styrofoam to stick the flowers in the pot. Use newspaper for padding and keeping the flowers stationary, and then cover newspaper and foam with grass, felt, or other decoration.

Candy Coated Jumbo Pretzels. This is a really easy DIY wedding favor. All you need are:

• Jumbo pretzels. One for each guest. Or you can use the mini ones and do about five or six per guest.
• Candy coating or chocolate coating. Or both. As for how much you need, that depends on whether you want a partial covered pretzel or a fully-dunked pretzel.
• For partials you'll need twice as many packages of pretzels compared to coating.
• For fully-covered ones, buy in 1:1 ratios. This may vary depending on the brands you purchase.
• Sprinkles
• Plastic bags and ribbons. Or little gift boxes.

All you need to do is melt the coating or chocolate in the microwave or stove and then dip the pretzels in. Remember, when melting the coating, don't melt it all the way in the microwave. Stirring it usually melts it the rest of the way. Then while the pretzels are still wet, add the sprinkles. Let harden completely before packaging and keep in a dry, cool place.

Tea Bags and Sugar Cubes. Place two different tea bags and two sugar cubes in a little mesh bag or clear plastic gift bag.

Temporary Tattoos. Sites like Tattly.com offer lots of fun tattoos and even the option to customize designs just for your event. It's about $2.50 per tattoo though, so if you're wanting a cheaper route, go somewhere like Tattoosales.com.

Ornaments. These are great for winter weddings and don't even have to be Christmas or wedding themed if you don't want them. You can pick out a couple different and fun neutral ornaments to leave for guests. Mix them up on the tables so families don't take home doubles.

Charity Donation. Use the money you were going to spend on the favors and donate to an organization of your choice. Create little notecards to inform your guests about your charity.

Luggage Tags. If you have a destination wedding, buy or make personalized tags for your guests.

Homemade Soaps. Below are several links to soap tutorials.

Basic soap: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/stories/easy-homemade-soap

Lemon soap: http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2013/05/homemade-lemon-soapmothers-day-gift-ideas.html

Loofah soap: http://www.humblebeeandme.com/how-to-make-loofah-soap/