The History of the Wedding Favour
A wedding favour is a small token gift given to each guest as a thank you from the happy couple and their family and a memento of the big day.
The earliest recorded version of a wedding favour was back in the 16th century in England when couples would give their guests love knots made out of lace and ribbon as a symbol of the bond of love and matrimony.
In Europe, aristocrats started the trend of giving ‘Bonbonnieres' at their weddings; little boxes made of porcelain or crystal and decorated with precious metals and stones. They would contain sugar cubes or delicate sweet treats because sugar was such a rare commodity and heralded as a status symbol and the couple spreading their good luck with their guests.
As sugar became more affordable and couples wanted to give favours but couldn't afford the luxury of bejewelled boxes, it became fashionable to give five almonds to symbolise health, wealth, fertility, happiness and a long life, wrapped in tulle or other light, delicate fabric. These evolved into the sugared almond, also known as a Jordan almond that is still popular today as the sugar symbolised the sweetness of marriage.
Just like other traditions, as the wedding favour gained popularity over Europe and the rest of the world, countries developed their own signature favours. The Dutch give five pieces of candy in place of the almonds, whereas the Italians give chocolate or marzipan fruits. In Ireland, they believe that the sound of bells wards off evil spirits and gives the newlywed couple good luck, so it is traditional to give miniature bells as a favour.
The tradition of giving wedding favours has even spread as far as India, where tiny, hand-painted elephants are given as gifts to symbolise good luck and Malaysia, where ornately decorated eggs are given to represent good fertility.
Although the traditional western wedding favours were given in gathered material or little boxes in white or pastel colours, as the wedding industry has exploded and weddings become more unique and personalised, they now come in any imaginable shape and all colours of the rainbow. In the USA, a bride and her bridesmaids and close friends will often turn favour making into a fun, girly night-in and the favours are a crucial part of the wedding.
As well as sugared almonds and small chocolates, there are all kinds of tiny edible treats that are given as wedding favours nowadays from iced biscuits to handmade truffles and even personalised ‘Love Heart' sweets. Some couples prefer to give favours that can be kept as mementoes of their big day, such as candles or personalised little tins or coasters with the couple's names or initials and date of the wedding. It is also popular around the world to give a photo as a lasting wedding favour. Couples can hire a wedding photo booth for their big day so they can take instant photographs with their friends and family that they can take home with them.
Wedding favours can also be tailored to suit the theme of the wedding or even the time of year, for example candy canes for a Christmas wedding or miniature chocolate eggs for a springtime one. They are an on-going tradition that add a fun touch to your wedding and give your guests something to remember it by, no matter how traditional or avent-garde you make them.
The earliest recorded version of a wedding favour was back in the 16th century in England when couples would give their guests love knots made out of lace and ribbon as a symbol of the bond of love and matrimony.
In Europe, aristocrats started the trend of giving ‘Bonbonnieres' at their weddings; little boxes made of porcelain or crystal and decorated with precious metals and stones. They would contain sugar cubes or delicate sweet treats because sugar was such a rare commodity and heralded as a status symbol and the couple spreading their good luck with their guests.
As sugar became more affordable and couples wanted to give favours but couldn't afford the luxury of bejewelled boxes, it became fashionable to give five almonds to symbolise health, wealth, fertility, happiness and a long life, wrapped in tulle or other light, delicate fabric. These evolved into the sugared almond, also known as a Jordan almond that is still popular today as the sugar symbolised the sweetness of marriage.
Just like other traditions, as the wedding favour gained popularity over Europe and the rest of the world, countries developed their own signature favours. The Dutch give five pieces of candy in place of the almonds, whereas the Italians give chocolate or marzipan fruits. In Ireland, they believe that the sound of bells wards off evil spirits and gives the newlywed couple good luck, so it is traditional to give miniature bells as a favour.
The tradition of giving wedding favours has even spread as far as India, where tiny, hand-painted elephants are given as gifts to symbolise good luck and Malaysia, where ornately decorated eggs are given to represent good fertility.
Although the traditional western wedding favours were given in gathered material or little boxes in white or pastel colours, as the wedding industry has exploded and weddings become more unique and personalised, they now come in any imaginable shape and all colours of the rainbow. In the USA, a bride and her bridesmaids and close friends will often turn favour making into a fun, girly night-in and the favours are a crucial part of the wedding.
As well as sugared almonds and small chocolates, there are all kinds of tiny edible treats that are given as wedding favours nowadays from iced biscuits to handmade truffles and even personalised ‘Love Heart' sweets. Some couples prefer to give favours that can be kept as mementoes of their big day, such as candles or personalised little tins or coasters with the couple's names or initials and date of the wedding. It is also popular around the world to give a photo as a lasting wedding favour. Couples can hire a wedding photo booth for their big day so they can take instant photographs with their friends and family that they can take home with them.
Wedding favours can also be tailored to suit the theme of the wedding or even the time of year, for example candy canes for a Christmas wedding or miniature chocolate eggs for a springtime one. They are an on-going tradition that add a fun touch to your wedding and give your guests something to remember it by, no matter how traditional or avent-garde you make them.
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