History of Wedding Favours

I recently went to a wedding this weekend. I don’t understand why people get married in the winter, it’s so cold that it doesn’t matter what you are wearing because you are going to be wearing your heavy coat regardless.

Anyways, when we got to our table and there were so many things on the surface to discovery. There were centrepieces, our name tags, candy and of course our wedding favours. This made me think, what is the significance of a wedding favour?

According to WeddingVendors.com:

Wedding favors were an extravagance at celebrations hosted by European upper classes, who had the wealth to provide elaborate gifts to guests. 

The early wedding favors began as small fancy boxes, known by their French name of bonbonniere. A bonbonniere was fashioned of crystal, porcelain, or gold, and often encrusted with precious stones. The delicate boxes were meant to hold bonbons or other confectionery delicacies, at a time when sugar was quite expensive. Sugar was also highly valued by all, as it was believed to have medicinal benefits.

So this is why our gifts are presented in a small fancy box and why we received a crystal candy holder. But what does the candy represent?

For more than a millennium, almonds were commonly given as wedding gifts to the couple, signifying the good wishes on their new life together. In the thirteenth century the practice of coating almonds in sugar became popular, the new confections were called “confetti”. Over time, confetti has transformed to Jordan almonds, now a staple of many wedding celebrations.

The combination of the almond and candy signify the bitter sweetness of marriage. Today, Jordan almonds provide one of the most common and traditional wedding favors when they are wrapped in small bundles of delicate fabric or lace and tied with ribbon. Though the most traditional of wedding favors are still appreciated, a bride is only limited to her imagination when it comes to selecting the gifts that will demonstrate esteem from the blessed couple.

I love that the combination of the almond and candy represents the bitter sweetness of marriage. That’s it’s all about tradition and sharing the blessings they received from the community and the celebration of that union.