Wedding Gift Party Favor

Party Favors Began As Wedding Gifts For The Guests

The tradition of giving wedding gifts as party favors dates back to the French upper class that used the wedding gifts as a party favor to impress their guests with elaborate gifts. The original practice was for the wedding couple to give each of their wedding guests small artistic boxes filled with “bonbons” or sugar treats. These often elaborately decorated boxes were usually made out of crystal, porcelain or gold and many were inlaid with precious gemstones. These tiny gifts were then filled with candies and sugared treats for the guests to enjoy after the wedding ceremony had ended. This was considered a very elaborate gift, as sugar was highly prized during this time and very expensive. These gifts became known as “bonbonniere”. The tradition of giving bonbonnieres or wedding favors grew among the upper class as a symbol of wealth and royalty.

The Tradition Of Party Favors Replaced Elaborate Wedding Gifts

Over the years, the expense of sugar declined and with the decline in price the act of giving wedding gifts as party favors traveled down into the mainstream weddings. In addition, to what was given as wedding gifts as party favors shifted in focus as well. Where wedding gift party favors were once elaborate gifts, they became less an impression of wealth and were replaced by a symbol of sentiment from the bride and groom. The original purpose of the wedding gift as a party favor was to impress the guests. Today the reason for wedding favors is to extend a gracious thank-you to each guest for having attended the wedding. These small but thoughtful gifts have become a tradition of good will rather than an extreme display of wealth.

Party Favors As Wedding Gifts Become A Sentimental Image Of Wedding

Over the years, as wedding gifts turned into party favors, almonds became a popular item to give the guests at a wedding. It soon became customary to give each guest sugarcoated almonds, known at the time as “confetti”. This tradition evolved into the currently popular gift of five Jordan almonds wrapped in tulle or another elegant fabric. The five almonds in each bundle represent the health, happiness, wealth, fertility and the longevity of the bride and groom’s marriage. They are also said to be significant of the marriage itself, the candy coating is sweetness and the bitterness of the almond combine to reflect the bitter sweetness of marriage and all of its ups and downs in life.