You might think that giving a wedding favour to your guests is a modern tradition but it actually dates back to late medieval times and the nobility of Europe.
They gave gifts of sugar and confectionary that were distributed as a token of thanks and as sugar was very expensive, a display of wealth.
Sugar cubes and candy were usually presented in a 'bonbonniere', a small box made of precious crystal, gemstones or porcelain.
It was a couple of centuries before the price of sugar came down enough to make it affordable for the masses.
Then the tradition of giving wedding favours to guests reached the general population and was adopted by couples getting married all over Europe.
They began to include other gifts like small boxes of almonds and other nuts, biscuits and fruit.
In the other classes these gifts were presented at the start of the wedding ceremony so the guests could enjoy them during the celebrations.
This progressed into the tradition of presenting guests with a favour of sugar coated almonds known as 'confetti'.
This was later replaced with 'Jordon almonds', five candy coated almonds to symbolise the gifts of fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness.
Jordon almonds also represented the bitter and the sweet aspects of married life.
Traditionally the bride and groom were believed to be lucky.
By the 19th century when wedding favours had reached the lower social classes favours were given as a way for the bride and groom to spread their luck and blessings of their marriage to each of their guests.
The couple often distributed their gifts by hand to each person at the wedding as a way to share the blessing of their love.
In modern times most couples choose to give wedding favours as a thank you to guests for sharing their day.
The choice of favours can now be personal to the bride and groom.
The main factors to consider are your budget, the number of guests, your theme, your colours and whether you want something to 'last' or not.
So start with your budget, how much you want to spend per person.
Search around on the Internet as there are lovely favours available for under £1.
If your budget is tight then you could decide to make your own.
What about doing it as part of your hen celebrations? There are plenty of crafting companies who will supply you with all you need.
There are also companies who will lay on the party for you.
For example you can make great things like soap, candles and bath products.
It is nice to consider providing an activity bag for the children at your wedding.
You can buy pre-filled bags for boys and girls of different ages or if you know the children well you could consider filling your own with things you know that they will love.
Whatever you decide they will go down well and it will keep them quiet and entertained, especially during the speeches.
You could have different favours for your male and female guests too.
The girls are easy to buy for, the men a little trickier.
Perhaps a miniature bottle of whiskey, a key ring, cufflinks, a nice bottle opener or wine stopper and a cigar are just a few examples.
Your favours can also be personalised there are companies offering chocolates and sweets that are printed with your names and wedding date.
Other personalised ideas are engraved glasses, biscuits, cookies and gingerbread men and ornate boxes containing sweets.
Why not consider supporting a charity.
There are a number of charities offering wedding favours.
For example cancer research offer a personalised favour card and a pin badge for a minimum donation of £2.
There are so many ideas to choose from that I cannot possibly mention them all but I would like to finish with two that have gone down really well with guests.
The first is a lottery ticket.
This could be presented in a special holder, available online from as little as £3.
95 for 20.
When I saw it done the ticket was rolled up with a poem and tied with ribbon.
The guests really loved it and were all excited to know if anyone won! The poem was lovely and read:- "Thank you for sharing our special day, For your love and support along the way, A new life together we now start, And you have played a special part.
You helped to bring our dreams to life, Watched as we became husband and wife.
So we give our thanks and wishes too, And all our love, from us, to you.
" Of course you can use another poem or verse or even write your own.
The second is a fortune cookie.
They went down so well, lots of the children had not come across them before and the adults too were intrigued to see what they got! You can have traditional fortunes inside or wedding day quotations, romantic quotes, humorous quotes or fortune cookies with your own words inside.
Whatever you decide there are no end of choices available on-line and of course even more if you make your own!
They gave gifts of sugar and confectionary that were distributed as a token of thanks and as sugar was very expensive, a display of wealth.
Sugar cubes and candy were usually presented in a 'bonbonniere', a small box made of precious crystal, gemstones or porcelain.
It was a couple of centuries before the price of sugar came down enough to make it affordable for the masses.
Then the tradition of giving wedding favours to guests reached the general population and was adopted by couples getting married all over Europe.
They began to include other gifts like small boxes of almonds and other nuts, biscuits and fruit.
In the other classes these gifts were presented at the start of the wedding ceremony so the guests could enjoy them during the celebrations.
This progressed into the tradition of presenting guests with a favour of sugar coated almonds known as 'confetti'.
This was later replaced with 'Jordon almonds', five candy coated almonds to symbolise the gifts of fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness.
Jordon almonds also represented the bitter and the sweet aspects of married life.
Traditionally the bride and groom were believed to be lucky.
By the 19th century when wedding favours had reached the lower social classes favours were given as a way for the bride and groom to spread their luck and blessings of their marriage to each of their guests.
The couple often distributed their gifts by hand to each person at the wedding as a way to share the blessing of their love.
In modern times most couples choose to give wedding favours as a thank you to guests for sharing their day.
The choice of favours can now be personal to the bride and groom.
The main factors to consider are your budget, the number of guests, your theme, your colours and whether you want something to 'last' or not.
So start with your budget, how much you want to spend per person.
Search around on the Internet as there are lovely favours available for under £1.
If your budget is tight then you could decide to make your own.
What about doing it as part of your hen celebrations? There are plenty of crafting companies who will supply you with all you need.
There are also companies who will lay on the party for you.
For example you can make great things like soap, candles and bath products.
It is nice to consider providing an activity bag for the children at your wedding.
You can buy pre-filled bags for boys and girls of different ages or if you know the children well you could consider filling your own with things you know that they will love.
Whatever you decide they will go down well and it will keep them quiet and entertained, especially during the speeches.
You could have different favours for your male and female guests too.
The girls are easy to buy for, the men a little trickier.
Perhaps a miniature bottle of whiskey, a key ring, cufflinks, a nice bottle opener or wine stopper and a cigar are just a few examples.
Your favours can also be personalised there are companies offering chocolates and sweets that are printed with your names and wedding date.
Other personalised ideas are engraved glasses, biscuits, cookies and gingerbread men and ornate boxes containing sweets.
Why not consider supporting a charity.
There are a number of charities offering wedding favours.
For example cancer research offer a personalised favour card and a pin badge for a minimum donation of £2.
There are so many ideas to choose from that I cannot possibly mention them all but I would like to finish with two that have gone down really well with guests.
The first is a lottery ticket.
This could be presented in a special holder, available online from as little as £3.
95 for 20.
When I saw it done the ticket was rolled up with a poem and tied with ribbon.
The guests really loved it and were all excited to know if anyone won! The poem was lovely and read:- "Thank you for sharing our special day, For your love and support along the way, A new life together we now start, And you have played a special part.
You helped to bring our dreams to life, Watched as we became husband and wife.
So we give our thanks and wishes too, And all our love, from us, to you.
" Of course you can use another poem or verse or even write your own.
The second is a fortune cookie.
They went down so well, lots of the children had not come across them before and the adults too were intrigued to see what they got! You can have traditional fortunes inside or wedding day quotations, romantic quotes, humorous quotes or fortune cookies with your own words inside.
Whatever you decide there are no end of choices available on-line and of course even more if you make your own!
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