Making your own chocolate wedding favors has become, in many circles, nearly a rite of passage. They are great as bridal shower favors, but chocolate wedding favors are equally great for the wedding itself. In fact, it's an event that the bride and her bridesmaids can look back on as a fun evening of laughter and crafting where the music was playing, the chocolate was plentiful, and the laughter was nearly endless.

To be sure, for many, make-your-own-wedding-favors are nearly an essential part of the entire wedding experience. But what options do you have if you want to make (or at least assemble) your own chocolate wedding favors without giving in to the tired standby of Jordan Almonds bound in a sheer piece of colored organza tied closed with a ribbon?

One option that is relatively simple, with the help of your local craft store, is the molding of chocolates. With a high quality chocolate, some candy colors, a double boiler, molds, and a little bit of creativity you can create fun bite size candies that fit your wedding theme. For example, if you are having a Hawaiian themed wedding you could make orchid shaped chocolates in the colors of your wedding. Or perhaps, if you could find a mold, you could create chocolates in the shape of a hula dancer... or sea turtles... or palm trees. The possibilities in molding you own chocolate wedding favors are nearly endless.

For the more ambitious bride and bridesmaids, homemade chocolate truffles are bound to please your guests. Nearly everyone loves the sinfully rich indulgence of truffles, but few realize how accessible recipes are, meaning that your guests will be delighted to end the wedding dinner with a homemade chocolate truffle presented as a wedding favor in any number of favor packaging options to match the decor of your wedding.

Fortunately there are plenty of options within the chocolate wedding favor realm that lend themselves beautifully to such an endeavor. For an adult crowd, why not try creating Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans? Chocolate covered strawberries or other fruits (are you known for always eating a particular fruit?) are always a hit and once again easy to do with the help of your local craft store. Fill a chest favor box with the treats and call it good, or you can intermingle them with an assortment of chocolate foiled balls and foiled chocolate hearts in a clear hexagon favor box. Or perhaps even choose some personalized ribbon and use it to adorn your hand crafted gift.

Chocolates and other edibles are not something you can make months in advance like a woodworker would be able to do with trivets or wooden puzzles they planned to present as wedding favors, but neither should you wait until the last moment. Chocolates will keep for a few days in a refrigerator so plan ahead. Remember, anytime we set out to do a project the odds are that it will take longer than we planned so give yourself the time and flexibility of schedule to make your experience creating your own chocolate wedding favors with your closest girlfriends a good memory.