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Wedding favors have an established role in conventional
weddings throughout history. At one time, wedding favors
were a luxury enjoyed only by the elite in European society.
A fanciful box, termed a “bonboniere” by the
French, is one of the earliest examples of the wedding favor.
A bonboniere was filled with bonbons or other delicious
sweets, and the box itself was exquisitely decorated with
gold, porcelain, or other precious materials. Sugar, too,
was a display of wealth at a time when this rare commodity
was sought after for its perceived healing benefits as well
as its rich flavor.
This custom of giving wedding favors to guests was soon
embraced by all classes of society in Europe as well as
in the Middle East and other parts of the world. The almond
has come to embody fertility, longevity, wealth, health,
and happiness. For these reasons, five almonds are symbolically
given by Middle Eastern brides to each of their guests.
Other cultures believe it is good luck to receive a gift
from the newlyweds on their special day. This belief arises
from the idea that good luck is transferred to all that
is touched by the happy couple.
The almond has remained a symbol of good fortune for over
a thousand years. As early as the thirteenth century, almonds
were coated with sugar, and the new creation was named “confetti”.
The idea of confetti or the Jordan almond “stuck”
so to speak, and to this day, brides decorate dainty bundles
of Jordan almonds for their guests. While the almond has
become a traditional gift, there is no reason to limit your
wedding favors to this sugar coated kernel.
The sky is the limit with wedding favors these days and
the style of the gift often parallels the style of the couple
or the motif of the wedding. A bottle of salsa with a picture
of the newlyweds on the label is one example of how a recently
married couple symbolized their fiery relationship. Horseshoes
turned into a framed picture of the bride and groom can
symbolize good luck at a country wedding. An upscale wedding
favor might be a fine bottle of wine to remember the day.
Whatever the bride may choose, she will usually coordinate
the wedding favor with the wedding or reception décor.
Wedding party favors are different than wedding favors
in that they are gifts presented to friends and family in
the wedding party. Usually these gifts are more expensive
than the wedding favors and often they are personalized
with a monogram for the individual wedding party member.
Wedding party favors serve as a “Thank you”
to the special people that participate in the actual ceremony
on the big day. It is a good idea to present each member
of the wedding party with their gift individually and also
to let these important people know how much their presence
is appreciated. A good time to present the wedding party
favors is during the rehearsal dinner or right before the
wedding.
Like all things in the planning of a wedding, the wedding
favors and the wedding party favors are limited only by
budget and imagination. The wedding favors are one of many
ways a bride can display her creative side. A packet of
wildflower seeds or a commemorative candle can both make
a wonderful wedding favor. Of course there is always the
historical favorite: the delicious Jordan almond.
Related:
Celebrity
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