Homemade Jam Wedding Favors
Sometimes you just want to do something a little different for your wedding favors. Something a little more personal, yet something that’s sure to escape the clutter drawer.
Maybe you’ve thought the usual crop of wedding favor ideas fail to deliver a punch. They lack that sense of “here you are – I was thinking of you – yes, you.”
Maybe they lack the feeling that comes when you personally create something out of real appreciation for those people coming to be a part of the happiest day of your life. You want no hint of obligation or patness in your favors. You want the feeling that only comes from a woman standing over the cauldron of her kitchen, cooking with the magic of affection and reminiscence.
The thing about homemade jam is that it can be so unexpected.
Some jams are nothing more than love potions dressed for convention.
Some are astounding taste sensations that in truth, were made for
adventurous palettes. Some gleam with a metropolitan flair. Some
take you back to a toothsome moment you might have shared over biscuits
or scones with an elderly uncle or aunt. Some brim with sunshine,
like the sharp, wild and unforgettable jams of wild raspberry, blueberry,
current and blackberry for those lucky enough to be near such things.
Perhaps you watched Like Water for Chocolate, and learned about the power of food made with love — of any accent, condiment, course or sweet distilled with imagination and care. It’s almost as powerful as the things we say to each other in person or in print.
Some of your homemade jam favors will be consumed immediately upon
your guests’ return to their homes, over a thick slice of
farm bread or some lemon pancakes. And some will sit in their smart
raffia bows for years, patiently parked in your guests’ cupboards.
Years later, a hand will reach in and twist off the lid, and the
memory of your day will escape right there from the jar in all its
sun and scent and spice and sweetness.
If you want to do something a little out of the ordinary, here are some ideas for "kicking it up a notch":
Fruit and Wine. Fruit and wine jams are captivating. Strawberry and champagne make a classic jam combination. Also consider raspberry, peach and champagne jam, or port and currant jam.
Hot, Hot, Hot. Jams spiced up with jalapenos and other hot peppers are sure to make a splash. Try raspberry jalapeno, peach jalapeno, hot pepper and mango/raspberry jam, or hot apple jelly.
American Gothic. Try gooseberry, currant, serviceberry, boysenberry, cranberry, plum or rhubarb concoctions.
Almost Aphrodisiac. Try jams that feature dark sweet cherries, strawberries, or figs.
Herbal Delights. Try rosemary and currant jam, blueberry lavender jam, strawberry lavender jam, or even tomato lavender jam.
Taste of the Tropics. Try jams made with exotic fruits such as guava, pomogranate, mangos, kiwis, limes, or pineapples.
Teddibly British. Black currant, orange marmalade, quince marmalade, tayberry, or even small pots of Devonshire cream.
hey i had a question. is there anywhere i can find empty mini jam jars. My brother and his fiance got engaged in a strawberry feild, so they were thinking it would be sweet to make there own jam and have them as favours. But it would be nice to find some empty jars.
Thanks
http://www.specialtybottle.com out of Seattle is where I got mine, and they come in many shapes & sizes. They were absolutely perfect as wedding favours! If you want to size up, then as Erin wrote, Zellers (presuming you’re Canadian) has great end-of-summer deals on canning supplies.
Just found another site: http://shop.hawthornecountrystore.com/browse.cfm/canning-supplies/jars/2,325.html
Have fun!
Hi, Cheryl! I got my jam jars at http://www.specialtybottle.com, and even with paying the customs fee ($16) it was well worth it. I bought the Avery labels at staples, and played around with images & wording until it was perfect, then printed them from the computer. I also went to Fabricland and got some craft netting, and cut squares to fit the size of the lid, and narrow ribbon to tie it on with. If you want to add the tags, buy some cardstock paper from Micheals, and print the labels by hand (like I did), or print them from your computer.
Hello… We want to give jam or jelly perserves for wedding favors.. I need about 120 or them. We want to add our own person THank you tags, but would like nice labels on the jars. Can you help me.. The wedding isn’t until Oct/08
For my late August wedding (among the crabapple trees at my parents farm) we made homemade crabapple jelly in squat mason jars (about 1/2 cup) that my mother found at Zellers $4/12 jars. We cut squares of brown craft paper and then tied it off with a brown ribbon. To attach the little card I printed off the computer we glued on mini clothes pins found at a dollarstore. Everyone I have talked to loved the jelly and altogether cost less than $0.50 per favor.
For the kids favors we put together candy apple making kits (apple, stick, caramels, smarties and instructions) in brown lunch bags tied with ribbon.
This is what we’ve done for our favours. My fiance’s aunt and uncle grow strawberries so, earlier this year, we got all the berries from them and made the jam. Last week, my mom and I found some nice houndstooth material with which we cut with pinking shears and covered the tops of the jars. We used rustic twine to tie around the materials and I had favour tags made up with our names and the wedding date on them. They look great and who doesn’t like homemade jam!? Plus, I like the idea of the favour being made personally.
Thanks, Christina, I was just unsure if the tiny jars were to be treated the same as the larger ones.
Sandra, I have been told for proper canning ensure you boil each jar and lid, fill with your jam, honey etc and seal they should keep for a while
thanks for the tip about jam jars I have been searching for over a month now. Again thanks alot
I got 1.5 oz jars from specialtybottle.com, based out of Seattle, Wa. I had wanted to order through Canada, but nobody was willing to give me the deals that they did. They’re great- now I’m trying to find information on properly treating the jars prior to canning.
Anyone have any ideas on where to source jars for homemade jams?