With This Ring: August 05, 2016

With This Ring 105
& FLAVOURS
Wedding favors
aren't always
necessary but they
are a thoughtful way
to thank your guests
for sharing your
wedding day
with you.
Wedding favours are small gifts
given to wedding guests as a souvenir
of the day, a gesture of appreciation
for attending the wedding or as a token
of good luck.
The tradition is thought to have originated
among European aristocrats who gave their guests
“bonbonnieres” – small decorative trinket boxes made
of crystal, porcelain or precious metals. Designed
to hold “bonbons” or other confectionery, they
were a show of wealth when sugar was an expensive
commodity.
In Europe small bags or boxes of 5 sugared
almonds are still the most traditional confections
for wedding favours and signify the 5 wishes of
Health, Happiness, Longevity, Peace and Love.
With different variations and interpretations
the custom of giving wedding favours appears
in many different cultures; candles in
Russia, tiny bells in Ireland, shortbread in
Scotland, a little hand crafted elephant
for luck in India, a glass luck charm
in Greece, Bridal sugar in the
Netherlands and fortune cookies in
China.
In Europe the customary
wedding favours remain small
and chic, in North America
the custom has tended to
become lavish, while in New
Zealand wedding favours are not
obligatory and may be chocolates,
flower seeds, photo cards of the
couple or perhaps a flax flower.
Without doubt, wedding favours
will add dollars to your budget, so it’s
your choice whether you give your guests
a gift, or simply provide memorable food
and drink at the reception or you simply send
them a personal note of thanks afterwards.