Candle wedding favour
Why do people give wedding favours at their wedding? Why and how did this tradition start?
Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception. Usually they are given to people when they leave the venue, or if it is a table seated event then, the favours are placed at each table seated place.
The tradition of giving wedding favours is one that is very old, started when sugar was seen as a luxury commodity and treasured amongst the wealthy. The first wedding favours were known as a “bonbonniere”. This was a small trinket box probably made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones. Usually the bonbonniere was filled with sugar cubes or sweet confectionary – a symbol of wealth. When the price of sugar decreased throughout the centuries, the tradition of giving gifts to guests at a wedding became common place amongst the populace.
As sugar became more affordable – no longer seen as the luxury it once had been, the bonbonnieres were replaced with almonds. For centuries, almonds were commonly distributed to wedding guests to signify well wishes on the bridegroom’s new life. In the thirteenth century, almonds coated with sugar, known as ‘confetti’, were introduced. Confetti soon transformed to sugared almonds, which later evolved into the wedding favor for modern day weddings. Traditionally, five Jordan almonds are presented in a confection box or wrapped in elegant fabric to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness. The bitterness of the almond and the sweetness of the coated candy exemplify the bitter sweetness of a marriage. A beautiful metaphor.
Today, gifts to guests are commonly known as wedding favors and are shared in cultures worldwide. Wedding favors have become a part of wedding reception planning,
Wedding Favours
I have been to countless weddings and have loved the variety of the wedding favours that have been given. Wedding favors are diverse and usually complement the theme or season of the event. Classic favors can range from the classic sugared almonds or individual chocolates to candles and scented soaps. Modern gift trends include: CDs with the favorite music of the bride and groom, shot glasses filled with colored candy or silver picture frames with a photo of the couple. Gifts may also be personalized with the couple’s names, initials or wedding date.
We are currently introducing a new range of wedding favours onto our site, however we do have a number of gifts that would make wonderful wedding favours. For example if you have the budget and you have a seating plan then why not consider the idea of engraved cufflinks for the men at your wedding? They would add a personal touch to the favours. Engraved each favour with the initials of the men who are attending. I have known a few couples to do this. But usually the engraved cufflinks have been given when the guest list is quite small (only about 100 people) or to the main members of the wedding party – i.e. close family members or those sat on the top table. Engraved cufflinks are beautiful as well as a functional. Most favours take time to make and they do go into the cost of the wedding, but sadly once they have been opened and the sugared almonds or sweets have been eaten it is likely that it will all go in the bin. With the engraved cufflinks it is very unlikely this will happen.
For the women, why not consider the idea of engraved compact mirrors? Again I have known couples to use these when the guest list is small. Though brides usually give them as bridesmaid gifts rather than favours. But if you wanted to give something a little special to the women in your wedding party you could give engraved compact mirrors as wedding favours.
Wedding favours are something I look forward to at a wedding. It’s a nice thing to recieve a gift when you attend a wedding!
