|
There are no definite dates on when the tradition of giving wedding favors started. However, it is an accepted fact that this tradition dates back several centuries ago. The popular belief is that wedding favors started with the Europeans, especially the Italians and French nobilities and aristocrats. The wedding favors were then made of sugar cubes or delicate confections, since sugar was quite an expensive commodity during that era. In addition, sugar also symbolizes wealth and royalty. These sugar cubes or confections were placed inside small trinket boxes called “Bombonieres”. The boxes were made of crystal, porcelain or metal and decorated with precious or semi-precious stones. These bonbonieres were given by the bride and groom to their wedding guests as gestures of thanks for sharing in the happiness of their wedding day.
As sugar became more affordable, this tradition spread to the common masses. The delicate confections were also replaced with sugar coated almonds called “confetti”. Eventually, the confetti were replaced with Jordan Almonds, which are sugar-coated almonds. Traditionally, five Jordan Almonds are wrapped in artistically shaped containers, usually in the form of exquisite flowers or corsages, that are made of elegant fabric to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, heath and happiness for the bride and groom. Some says that the sweetness of the sugar coating and the bitterness of the almonds also symbolize the realities of married life.
Today, choosing wedding favors has become an intricate and necessary part of wedding planning. The wedding couples are no longer limited to bonbonieres, confetti or Jordan Almonds, although these are still popular. The choice of wedding favors is usually given to the bride to decide. She has the option to select wedding favors based on her wedding theme, her wedding colors, her wedding season or anything she fancies. Her choice is limited only by her imagination, budget and taste.
Brides usually ask how many favors should they buy or make. The number of favors to purchase for your wedding depends on; you guess it, your wedding budget. A good rule of thumb is to plan on purchasing one favor for each couple or, if the favors are expensive, one per family in your wedding guests list. However, budget on giving each guest one edible favor, unless you have at least two in the edible favor container. In essence, each guest should get a taste of the edible favor.
Some brides choose keepsakes and practical wedding favors such as photo frames, photo albums, wind chimes, seedlings or personalized gifts that their guest will remember them by and still enjoy using the keepsakes years after the wedding.
Placing a disposable wedding camera per reception table is also a simple and affordable way to get your guests’ perspective on your special day. Remember to have someone to collect the wedding cameras after the reception. This way, the pictures can be developed and you will have shots of the moments you may have missed. You’ll cherish the memory-filled photos each of these disposable wedding cameras contains and they will give your guests fun times playing “photographer” at your wedding reception.
Best of all, once you have chosen your wedding favors, relax and look forward to having a grand time at your wedding reception.
|
|
