The tradition of wedding favors can be traced back many centuries ago. Favors are little gifts, given as a show of appreciation from the happy couple to those who have shared their special day with them. This practice can be found in many cultures & over the centuries has only marginally changed to evolve into what we know today. These days the choice of favors is huge & can allow the bride & groom enough scope to give gifts that are a personal expression of their own style & personalities.
For some brides & grooms their culture will determine the type of wedding favor they give. Here is a guide to favors given all over the world.
In Malaysia the traditional wedding favor is a hand painted egg which symbolizes fertility.
Italian wedding almonds are perhaps the best known wedding favor & are possibly the oldest style of favor.
These candy covered almonds, also known as ?confetti?, are wrapped in tulle nets or presented in little boxes. Jordan almonds are sugar coated & are traditional in the Middle East although they are available worldwide. They are said to represent the bitterness & sweetness of marriage & are often given in quantities of 3 or 5. Three almonds represent the husband, wife & future child, whilst five represents health, happiness, fetility, longevity & wealth. In Greece they also use sugar coated almonds which are known as Koufeta.
In Japan the favors can be more expensive & extravagant, sometimes as much as $50 per guest. The more expensive wedding favors are called Hikidemono, whilst their cheaper counterparts are called Kohaku Maniyu, which are steamed buns filled with a bean paste. Many may be familiar with the Japanese tradition of 1,000 paper cranes which the brides make themselves to use as wedding decorations. They symbolize good fortune, fidelity & longevity & may also be given away as wedding favors.
In Holland the traditional favor is also sugar coated almonds or sugar cubes called Bridal Sugar. These are given in sets of five which represent prosperity, loyalty, happiness, virility & love. In Spain they give orange blossom sprigs presented in little bud vases.
Irish favors consist of a lace or linen handkerchief which has a Claddagh on it. The Claddagh represents loyalty, love & friendship. They may also give other gifts such as photo frames, cups, candle holders or boxes which will feature the Claddagh.
Each and every country has it own tradition when it comes to wedding favors. And these simple gifts symbolize something that goes within the culture. Whatever the culture dictates, what is important in the celebration is the vow of the couple.
If you are having a traditional wedding then you are probably looking for traditional packaging for your wedding favors. It is important never to overlook the packaging for your wedding favors, no matter what the style of your wedding. The right packaging will reinforce your wedding theme or style & will add a personal touch to your wedding favors. Beautifully presented favors make for memorable keepsakes for your guests.
When thinking about wedding favor packaging it is small boxes that will immediately come to mind. These are available in a range of styles, shapes & sizes. You will also find them made from a range of materials such as printed or textured card & transparent plastic. They are widely available & most favor stores will carry a wide range to choose from, often with choices in color & size.
Wedding favors that are best suited to these boxes range from candies to chocolates, bracelets to cufflinks. The trick is to purchase your wedding favors before you choose your packaging.
Another way to present your guest wedding favors is with pretty tulle nets. This works best for chocolates, almonds or candies, but could also be used for small candles. These nets are circular & after placing your favors in the middle you simply gather the tulle up & tie with ribbon. There is an art to getting these to look right, but if you get it right they look fantastic. Don't worry though if you feel they are beyond your capabilities, as you will find people online or maybe at your local bridal store who can put them together for you.
Other ways to present your favors include wrapping them in pretty papers, satin or organza wraps or even sinamay envelopes. Experiment with wrapping your wedding favors in pretty handmade papers with ribbons & a personalized tag to finish, this usually produces an elegant & stylish favor. Items which are probably best wrapped this way include almonds, fortune cookies, cookies & wine bottles.
If you wanted to present your favors in a really unique way then try bottles or jars. These are relatively inexpensive when bought in bulk & provide your guests with a useful container long after the favor has gone. Best suited to edible favors such as candies, chocolates or preserves, but you could use them for things such as bath salts, loose tea or coffee & even liquid soaps. You will find bottles in a range of shapes & sizes as well as finishes such as textured glass, colored glass & transparent or opaque versions.
Your choice of packaging will enhance the beauty & uniqueness of your wedding favors so you should take some time & thought over your final choice.
Both Georgina Clatworthy & Jason Hennessey are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Georgina Clatworthy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Marriage and Wedding Planning. house a vendor database and endless array of superlative bridal products which extends to almost every single state in the nation. This. Georgina Clatworthy's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
Jason Hennessey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Theme, Wedding Reception and Wedding Bells. Jason Hennessey is the President of 1WeddingSource.com, today's leading wedding planning directory. Available in our online store are. Jason Hennessey's top article generates over 4090000 views. to your Favourites.