To express gratitude for celebrating the big event with the bride and groom, the newlyweds usually give away little gifts to their guests. These little gifts are usually called wedding favors, bombonieres or bonbonnieres.


History

Although the specific origin of the custom is not known, it is believed that the giving away of wedding favors started among the European aristocrats many centuries ago. The word “bomboniere” is Italian, while “bonbonniere” is French. Both terms simply mean favors.

Anciently, since the tradition was then just among the high society, the favors given out at weddings, or even at other occasions, are sugar cubes or delicate sweets. At that time, sugar was expensive and only the affluent people can afford them. The sweets were usually encased in a crystal, metal, or porcelain box. Some boxes were even made of precious gems. From this old tradition came the modern one of wrapping favors in boxes or fancy silk or tulle bags before giving them away.

Lucky Five

When giving away sugary treats as favors, it was usually in groups of five pieces, which represent: fertility, health, wealth, happiness and longevity. Since weddings were considered fortunate occasions, the newlyweds believe that they are sharing their luck with the guests by giving away lucky favors.

As centuries passed, sugar gradually became more and more affordable, such that even the common people adapted the tradition of giving away wedding favors. It was then that sugar were replaced with sugar almonds, which were among the most popular favors. These are produced by confectioners by dipping almonds in sugar or other sweet coating, usually in white or other light pastel colors. These sugar coated almonds are also known as confetti or Jordan almonds.

Today’s Favors

Today, wedding favors have become a big part of wedding reception planning everywhere. The favors nowadays are no longer limited to sugars and almonds and sweets, but have become quite diverse. Depending on the theme and the budget, favors have varied from chocolates to key chains, photo frames, perfumes, music or photo albums on CD, potpourris, scented soaps or candles, figurines, and many others. In many weddings, favors have become well personalized, with many bearing the photo or initials or names of the wedding couple.

As the world has become more concerned about the environment and economy, new types of favors have been adapted. There are now paper bookmarks with seeds on them that the guests can plant. Some couples choose to have potted plants that they can decorate with a foil or ribbon, and have them serve as both table centerpieces and giveaways. Other practical couples also prefer to give away silver bottle openers , compact mirrors, or other favors which guests can use and not just display.

During the wedding reception, the favors may be distributed among the guests in various ways. Some couples prefer to display the favors around the wedding cake. Others display them at each meal table, as part of the table’s decorations or centerpiece. If not easily accessible to the guests, the favors may either be distributed by the couple themselves or by their attendants, or they can simply inform the guests to grab one before they leave.

Cheap Favors

During your wedding planning, you would want to save as much as you can on everything but still get the details of your dream wedding. Then you come to the point of deciding about the wedding favors. What are you going to give to your 100 or 200 guests? If you are not careful, you might spend so much more than what is necessary. Just an extra dollar for each favor would add up to 100 or 200 dollars, and that it a big amount that you can spend on something else.

Edible wedding favors are almost always the cheapest. One of the cheapest that you can probably get are sugar almonds. You can buy them in bulk for a cheap price and give away just five pieces to each guest. At SugarAlmonds, for example, a kilo (about 200 pieces) costs only AU$22, so if you give away in groups of five, that would cost you only 55 cents per guest. That’s both cheap and traditional too.

You can also give away chocolates instead of almonds. Many companies sell chocolates in various interesting shapes aside from the usual bars. Some are also individually wrapped in colorful foils, so you don’t have to worry much about the wrapper as a simple white tulle or a clear cellophane bag would do.

Other cheap wedding favors are:

- Potted plants…all you need is some foil and ribbon to make them more presentable.
- Seedlings… you can just place them in a nice packet and add some nice accents on the wrapper.
- Potpourri… this is usually placed in small silk bags and tied with a pretty ribbon.
- Unique seashells… perfect for beach themed weddings. You can just pick them from the shore.
- Mini-flower arrangements… can also serve as table centerpieces during the reception.
- Candles…they can be uniquely shaped colored ones, or ordinary ones with added accents.
- Small picture frames… depending on the design, you can buy some at around a dollar each.
- Magnets…it can have a picture of the couple, with the wedding date and venue.
- Poetry…you can compose it yourself and print them on scrolls or bookmarks to give away.

Also if you are a very artistic person, or have friends who are, you can DIY your favors months ahead. That will surely decrease your expenses as you will only have to pay for the raw materials without the labor.

Themed Favors

If you are having a themed wedding, many favors are now available to match your theme. If you want to have an environment-friendly wedding, you can give away potted plants, seed packets, or recycled paper products which are artistically designed to look elegant. Other favor ideas suited in this category may be a pressed leaf photo album, beach themed photo album, and wild flower seed kit.

However if your wedding is more romantically themed and you’re looking for lots of hearts, you also have a wide array of options to choose from.

. Purple Passion Favor ………. Paper Weight & Pen ……………. Measuring Spoons

Whatever kind of wedding favor you choose, bear in mind that they don’t have to be pricey. In fact, they are not even compulsory. They are just a way of saying “thank you for coming” and thank you’s need not be expensive.