The Actual Meaning Behind Wedding Favors

The history regarding giving favors to wedding day invitees dates back hundreds of years and was to give thanks to guests for making the occasion special.  We carry on this kind of practice today but wedding favours vary considerably, exactly what were the initial wedding favors that were bestowed 100′s of years ago? This short article looks at the history and importance of wedding favours.

In the past, wealthy Europeans, in particular those from Italy and France, gave each and every wedding guest a sugared treat presented in a trinket box. Sugar symbolised wealth and royalty and was a high priced product. The trinket boxes would have been made from porcelain or metal and decorated with delicate stones. They encased these sugared sweets called Bonbonnieres. Gradually, sugar became more affordable and less of a luxury.  Because of this, the practice of giving wedding favors passed on to people of lowlier means and so was no longer exclusive to the rich.

As time passed, Bonbonnieres were substituted by almonds and these were given to wedding guests instead. In the thirteenth century, the almonds developed into sugar coated almonds , generally known as Jordan almonds. These wedding favours are still frequently given at today’s wedding receptions. The tradition of wedding favour boxes has also continued to today, with emphasis being placed on the design and colour theme.

The marriage of two people was viewed as a lucky occasion, so the wedding couple would offer their guests 5 Bonbonnieres or Jordan almonds as a means of spreading this luck. These five sweets were to represent good health, wealth, fertility, joy and longevity.

The wedding favor also served as a momento of the celebration and remains so today, something which the wedding guests could take away and think of the occasion by. The kind of wedding favors used these days range considerably, although the tradition still carries on and is popular amongst cultures worldwide.

Nowadays the kind of favour presented to guests may be based on the theme of the wedding and reception or perhaps connect with the bride and grooms lifestyle, there really is no restriction. Together with furnishing the tables, the wedding favors can also supply a source of amusement for the guests or a talking point.

The tradition of offering favours wasn’t restricted to weddings. At other special occasions and birthday celebrations, guests received a souvenir of the occasion. Offering favors was a gesture of thankfulness and was a important part of any wedding or special event.

There really isn’t any restriction to what you could offer guests as favours these days. Although the custom of giving a gift to say ‘thank you’ to the guest carries on there aren’t any formal rules to what the favors should be. There’s a tremendous range of readymade wedding favors available or you can make your own, which ever you decide on it should be individual to you and your wedding.