Favors

One of the most common questions I get is about wedding favors. Should I have them at all?What should I do? How many should I do?

My answers are:

• Give one if you want to
• I recommend something edible - otherwise they tend to get left (not always, but quite often)
• One per couple (depending on what is it and cost)

Giving your guest a favor is a small token of appreciation for attending the wedding and, depending on what it is, can possibly serve as a souvenir from the wedding as well. In many cultures, there are specifics favors given and they have a meaning behind them as well.

• Sugar-coated almonds are a traditional wedding favor in many cultures, particularly in Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern. These treats, which are thought to symbolize the bitter and the sweet in marriage, are often present in combinations of three or five. Three almonds are said to represent the husband, wife and hoped-for child. Five almonds stand for health, wealth, happiness, longevity and fertility.
• At traditional Armenian weddings, a godmother may collect money for the couple from guests, and in turn distribute gifts of dried fruit and nuts.
• On the wedding day, traditional Chinese couples hold tea cermonies with their parents. Today, some Chinese-American couples give out delicate teacups or fragrant tea bags in a nod to tradition.
• Guests are highly respected in Japan, where a bride and groom may spend $50 or more per guest on gifts, called hikidemono. Less pricey are the kohaku manjyu, round steamed buns with bean paste filling, which are often presented in pairs to guests, one red bun and one white bun.
• Russian wedding guests generally receive thank you gifts, which may range in extravagance from candy to bud vases.
• At a traditional Malaysian wedding, guests may be presented with fertility symbols in the form of decorated hard-boiled eggs.
• In some regions of Switzerland, a godmother will distribute red handkerchiefs to guests, who donate coins for the couple in return.

That is just a few ideas. I love the couple that ties in their state where they grew up, like I had a bride do this awesome candy from Arkansas because that was where she was from. Make it about the two of you and not just some random meaningless trinket.

Danielle
Colorado Wedding Planner


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