Wedding favors are small gifts, trinkets, or tokens that are given to the bride and grooms guests either at the end of a wedding ceremony or during the wedding reception. These are usually tokens of appreciation for attending the bridegroom’s special day.

It is a very archaic tradition when you talk about giving a wedding favor during a wedding. History had it that the first ever practice of giving a wedding favor were done by ancient European aristocrats, nobles, and members of the elite and upper class. Bonbonnier, which is an Italian word, was the first term for wedding favor.

Back then, bonbonnieres were usually a small box, the size of a trinket or jewel box that was made out of porcelain, crystals, and sometimes with the addition of precious gems and stones. These boxes were usually filled with sugar, sugar cubes, and other delicate confections. This was meant to symbolize royalty and wealth. The reason for this was because back then, sugar was an expensive and hard to find product. And mostly only the wealthy, nobles, and the elites had access and could afford it. But over time, as sugar became more and more common and inexpensive, couples from lower classes were able to afford it. Thus the tradition of giving wedding favors and other such gifts of appreciation reached the masses, and couples of modest income and upbringing.

But due to the passage of time as sugar became a basic commodity and more usual, couples not belonging to the upper classes were able to have access to it. Thus, the tradition of giving a wedding favor and other special gifts of gratitude was spread to the people, to couples belonging to either upper or lower class.

Thereafter, bonbonneries were replaced with almonds because of the decreasing trend of sugar over the ages and its becoming cheaper. For many centuries, it was usual to give almonds as a wedding favor to the wedding guests to convey a message of affluence of the new couple’s life together.

It was part of the tradition to bear five Jordan almonds to be offered in a confection box or to be wrapped in a fine fabric. Each almond signifies wealth, health, longevity and long lasting joy. One fundamental reason why almonds were used, apart from being a bit expensive, was because its bitterness and sweetness of candy coat symbolizes the perfect mix of marriage.

In today’s world, wedding favors are a part of a wedding reception plan, which is especially popular in the United States and in Canada. Sometimes these gifts come in different shapes and sizes depending on the theme or the season. Classic wedding favors come in sugared almonds, individual chocolates, to mini cakes, to candles. More contemporary gifts are now in style like tokens with the bride and grooms picture with their names and the wedding date engraved.

These are just to name a few. There are more types of wedding favors out there, especially in today’s modern world.

Weddings are such joyous occasion that everyone participating in the wedding entourage are excited to experience its preparation. You can begin with wedding favors that will display a stunning effect on this big day. Or you may want to try bridesmaid gifts.