17.1 Introduction
The offer of wedding favours has been done for centuries, and they hold a place in weddings from most cultures, religions and themes.
From the early days where the French gave traditional bonbonnieres to wedding guests, to the ‘anything goes’ attitude of today, guests enjoy wedding favours and they are an expected part of the big day.
17.2 Early Wedding Favours
The first wedding favours came from France and were small, decorative boxes known as bonbonniere.Usually made of porcelain, crystal or gold, these boxes were also decorated with gemstones. The boxes were meant to hold confections, such as bonbons, which were special gifts as, at the time, sugar was very expensive and seen to have medicinal benefits.
Though the first wedding favours were meant for the rich, over time, those of modest means were also giving their wedding guests small gifts or treats, as every culture sees a wedding as a joyous time, and these events should be celebrated. In many societies, the couple is associated with luck, so everything the couple touches was considered lucky. With these gifts, members of the community believed the luck was passed on to them.
One such gift was almonds, which were wrapped in gorgeous fabric. This custom, which originates from the Middle East, means that the bride must provide five almonds to her guests, which represent longevity, fertility, wealth, happiness and health. Almonds have been given as a gift to wedding guests for more than a millennium, and they all signify good wishes from the happy couple. In the 13th century, people began coating the almonds with sugar, which led to the modern Jordan almonds, a staple of modern wedding celebrations. The sweet bitterness associated with these almonds is said to represent the sweet and bitter parts of a marriage.
17.3 Modern Wedding Favours
The modern practice of giving wedding favours is based on the centuries-old practices of giving gifts to guests at a wedding as an act of gratitude.
These small gifts may vary based on the culture of the bride and groom, the wealth of the couple and the theme or interests of the couple.
As the wedding planner, it is your job to help couples choose the best favours for their wants, needs and budget.
17.4 Helping the Couple Choose the Right Wedding Favours
When it comes to taking on the role of a wedding planner, helping your clients choose the right favours can be overwhelming as the options are truly unlimited.These favours may be as simple as an affordable beautiful placard to an expensive vintage bottle of wine with a personalised label. In many cases, the bride will choose a favour that complements the décor of the reception tables.
Wedding party favours are also something your couple will need to consider, and you should serve as a sounding board for the couple. These gifts traditionally have a lot of meaning behind them and are meant to be given to the wedding party by the bride and groom. Most of the time these gifts are given before the wedding, such as at the rehearsal dinner, and are given in appreciation for their role in the planning of the day. As with guest favours, these favours present unlimited possibilities, but they are usually more expensive and often personalised with the wedding party member’s name.
It is common among modern brides to play a major role in the choice of favours, and she will rely on you, as the wedding planner, to help. Though the majority of details for a wedding are based on tradition, in this case, the bride can show off her personality and flair. Keep in mind, these do not have to be expensive, and they don’t have to be boring; in this case, the only limit is the imagination of the couple getting married.
17.5 Types of Wedding Favours
Since the choice of favours is virtually unlimited, it is best to start choosing a favour based on the type of favour.
By explaining the type of favours to the bride and groom, you can begin helping them narrow down their choice of favour.
DIY Favours
DIY favours are a popular choice for couples who are interested in saving money and adding a personalised flair. However, these favours often require a lot of time and effort to produce. There are a number of different types of DIY favours to suggest to your clients, including edibles, plants, trinkets and other options. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:
Edibles
Edible DIY wedding favours are popular as they are relatively easy, inexpensive, and many people love to receive a practical favour instead of one they will set aside or even forget to take home. Cupcakes, petit fours, cakes and confections are all good choices, as are those treats that incorporate the Jordan almond, the traditional wedding favour sweet.
In addition to that, brides and grooms have gotten more creative and started doing favours such as home-made limoncello or wine in small bottles, and even brewing their own beer. For those looking for an alternative to alcohol, edible DIY beverages include sachets of coffee or tea or decorated bottles of water.
Beauty DIY Favours
Many couples are also interested in giving favours that make their guests look or feel good. There are a number of DIY options out there that you may want to suggest to clients. For example, one option is to make a home-made lip balm for guests. This is much easier than one may think, simply by mixing cocoa butter, essential oils and other ingredients that are easily found online. Another option for those seeking out this type of favour is to make home-made soap. Again, this is much easier than it may seem, and projects like this can be a great way to get the wedding party together for a night of creativity, cocktails and teamwork; something many couples appreciate since not all members of the wedding party will know everyone else.
Seasonal Favours
Many couples also like their favours to reflect a theme or situation, so seasonal favours are a good choice, especially if there is some type of seasonal theme. For example, if the wedding is a summer, outside event, sunglasses as favours are a good idea. Not only are they practical, the glasses can shade the eyes from the sun whilst watching the ceremony. Flip-flops are also a good choice for seasonal summer weddings. For spring weddings, brides and grooms may be interested in giving their guests something that will grow, such as a tree seedling or a packet of seeds. As the plants grow, so will their love for each other. For a winter wedding, a couple might be interested in candles, home-made hot chocolate mix or even gloves. Autumn seasonal favours include leaf-themed items or drink mixes such as chai.
Elegant Wedding Favours
For those who have a refined taste and budget, there are also many wedding favours that take on an air of elegance that is unmatched by any other favours out there. These favours may consist of expensive bottles of wine, crystal decanter sets, leather iPad cases, tie cases and bejewelled zip drives. Though these wedding favours add an air of sophistication to any wedding, these favours are an investment for couples, so they may not be appropriate for all couples.
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17.6 How to Help Your Clients Choose a Wedding Favour
There are a number of ways that you can help your clients choose a wedding favour, and the first thing you want to do is to talk to them about is what type of gift they want to give their guests.Do they want their guests to keep the gift forever or if they want the gift to last only a short time, such as an edible. You should also talk to the couple about personalisation of the favour. For some couples, they always want to have their name on the favour, but others simply want something to show their guests their appreciation.
It is also important to talk to your guests about the theme of the wedding, and ask if they want to match their favours to the theme. This will help you to narrow down the suggestions you have for the couple, and whether it be a summer wedding or royal themed wedding, there are always favour suggestions out there.
You also should inform your clients that the favours are not all about what they want, but to also think about what their guests may want.
For example, if the guests are mostly going to be a younger crowd, you don’t want to give favours that are more appropriate for an older crowd.
Budget, of course, is also a consideration, and thinking about what the couple can afford is going to narrow down the choice of favours. It is also important to ensure the favours are pleasing to the eye, and that the guests will know that the item at the table is a favour, and not simply part of the table setting. Also, remind your clients that the presentation of the favours is important, and care should be taken to remove any tags or other distracting features. The last thing a guest should see is a Tesco sticker or similar on their favour.
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Module Summary
The world of wedding favours can be overwhelming for a bride and groom, so it is your job as the wedding planner to steer them in the right direction. From choosing options that will fit within their budget and theme to suggesting unique or personalised ideas, they will rely on you to make a suggestion that is fitting for this memorable day.[Tweet “I just completed Module 17 of the Wedding Planning Course”]
