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Wedding favours are small gifts given as a
gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride
and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.
The tradition of distributing wedding favours is a very old one.
It is believed that the first wedding favour, common amongst European
aristocrats, was known as a bonbonniere. A bonbonniere is a small
trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones.
The contents of these precious boxes were generally sugar cubes
or delicate confections, which symbolize wealth and royalty. (In
this era, sugar was an expensive commodity and was treasured only
among the wealthy. It was believed that sugar contained medical
benefits. As the price of sugar decreased throughout centuries,
the tradition of providing gifts to guests reached the general populace
and was embraced by couples of modest means.
As sugar became more affordable, bonbonnieres were replaced with
almonds. For centuries, almonds were commonly distributed to wedding
guests to signify well wishes on the bridegroom's new life. In the
thirteenth century, almonds coated with sugar, known as confetti,
were introduced. Confetti soon transformed to sugared almonds, which
later evolved into the wedding favour for modern day weddings. Traditionally,
five Jordan almonds are presented in a confection box or wrapped
in elegant fabric to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, health
and happiness. The bitterness of the almond and the sweetness of
the coated candy exemplify the bitter sweetness of a marriage.
Today, gifts to guests are commonly known as wedding favours and
are shared in cultures worldwide. Wedding favours have become a
part of wedding reception planning, especially in the United States
and Canada. Wedding favours are diverse and usually complement the
theme or season of the event. Classic favours can range from the
classic sugared almonds or individual chocolates to candles and
scented soaps. Modern gift trends include: CDs with the favourite
music of the bride and groom, shot glasses filled with coloured
candy or silver picture frames with a photo of the couple. Gifts
may also be personalized with the couple's names, initials or wedding
date. |
