Wedding Favors, Mementoes That Say Thank you

by: Frederick King Parker

Wedding favors have been used by wedding couples for over 500 years to say thank you to their guests at their wedding. Originally called Bombonieres they were given by French and Italian aristocracy in expensive fine porcelain or precious metal boxes to present five candies representing fertility, health, wealth, happiness and longevity. Even the sugar coating to the sweet almonds from Jordan was expensive so only the rich and famous gave their guest such expensive presents as mementoes. Originally favors were given not just for weddings but at other celebrations too. Favors were given at anniversaries such as birthdays or baptism parties. Giving favors by tradition has varied with the country. In Spain for instance orange blossom is used while in the Netherlands "bridal sugar" uses the traditional five Jordan Almonds. The way a favour is presented varies too, today the favour is used at the table place to enhance the setting decoration. Although some favors are given out by hand in exchange for a wedding gift.

In spite of the many occasions the wedding is still the main event where favors are used and have come to mean thank you for sharing our wedding with us. Favors of course are not always sweets or candies, there are many practical items used as favors some very important, some less so it is to say "Thank you for sharing our day with us" that makes the favour so significant whatever the cost.

Every couple aspires to have their wedding as special and as memorable as possible and the number of offerings for favors has expanded to include all manner of things. One of the newer arrivals on the wedding favour scene is the use of a personalised perfume as a memorable favour. It is said "nothing evokes a memory like a scent" and the fragrance favour presented in a beautiful hand made Thai silk bag in the wedding theme colours is increasingly popular. No doubt the wedding favour offerings will continue to expand over the years and personal fragrances for the wedding will find their palace alongside the traditional candies.