On the most important day of your life, you usually choose the people who are closest to you to be part of your bridal party. Your bridesmaids, your flower girl, the usher and the best man are all people you know and love and they are there to share in your special day. As are all the guests. They are your family, the people you love and they are all there especially for you. So, just how do you thank them for being there for you? Well, a wedding favor may be a good start!
How Wedding Favors Were Started
European aristocrats first gave the wedding favor centuries ago. It tended to be mainly French and Italians who gave wedding favors after the wedding, but they were not just restricted to weddings. They were called Bonbonniere’s and they were also given out at birthdays and on other celebratory occasions.
The Bonbonniere was basically a box made of either porcelain, precious stones, crystal or metal and it contained sweets. The Bonbonniere is what today’s wedding favor was based on.
Wedding Favors Today
Sweets were used in the old days but what, exactly, should you give your guests in this day and age? Well, there really is nothing wrong sticking with tradition and giving out sweets in presentation boxes, but, if you do want something a little different, there are many other things you can give your guests. Some ideas include:
• Lottery Tickets or Scratch cards
Lottery tickets and scratch cards tend to be quite a popular choice these days. It gives your guests a chance to get lucky and win money and they are also inexpensive. You could present them in an elegant envelope and add a good luck note, too, for extra effect. It really is a different type of gift to give and your guests will thank you for it.
• Tree Seeds or Lucky Bamboo
While it may sound like an extremely strange wedding give-away gift, tree seeds give your guests something that they can plant, watch the tree grow and be reminded of the day forever. Obviously, if your guests do not have a garden, this will not be the best favor for them! However you could give them a lucky bamboo in a little pot. This will be greatly appreciated and it can easily fit into any home or apartment.
• Filled Mugs
Everybody loves a good mug to drink a warming cup of cocoa from, so why not give those as a parting gift? You could always fill it with hot chocolate and cookies or coffee and cookies. Some companies offer bulk personalization services so you may even be able to get your names and pictures printed onto them for the guests to enjoy forever. They are not that expensive and they really do make good gifts.
Overall, the perfect wedding favor is one that is unique, personal to your wedding and one the guests can treasure for a long time.
Summary:
Wedding favors are a great way to say thank you to your guests and they have been used for centuries. There are plenty of things you can give as a wedding favor, you just have to be imaginative and know your guests as well as possible!
