Wedding Favours
Wedding favours are small tokens of appreciation and gratitude given to guests by the bride and groom on their wedding day. Originally known as bonbonniere and used by European aristocrats, these would be small crystal or porcelain trinket boxes containing a sugar cube to symbolise wealth and royalty. Over time the sugar was replaced with five sugared almonds in a confection box or wrapped in fabric, and these represent health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life
Today wedding favours are diverse and reflect the theme of the wedding or the season - there are many ideas available and something to suit everyone. Many couples like to give favours that are a little different or unique. These are usually placed at each guests table
setting and are matched into the wedding theme or colour scheme. They can also be personalised to suit the age and gender of
your guests. Confectionery or almonds are traditional options that will fit a traditional wedding. For an inexpensive yet long lasting and touching favour, try seeds or plants. These can fit particularly well with a country wedding and in this way, each guest will have a little part of your special day to keep forever and remind them of it
Photographs in frames are a popular choice, as these can be personal and work for male or female guests. If you are having
a winter wedding, individual Christmas decorations can look beautiful
and can be used again and again
Favours can be presented in a wide variety of different ways. The traditional trinket box can be a pretty way of displaying favours. Fabric pouches can look elegant. More unusual forms of packaging can include open shells, miniature buckets and toy cars and all of these can easily be matched to the colour scheme or season: silvers and blues work well with a winter wedding, whereas candy pinks will suit a summer wedding
Wedding favours are a great way of adding your individual touch to your wedding
The Wedding
Reception
After the formality of the wedding ceremony, it will be your time to
relax and party. Your reception
should say something about you - from your choice of decor to the wedding
breakfast, whether it be a themed
or traditional setting - the goal is to treat your guests to a great party to
celebrate your special day with
you
Your choice of wedding venue should take into consideration
what sort of reception you would like - whether it be an out door marquee, an indoor formal
sit down or special interest
venue. Will you require accommodation for the wedding night for just the bride and groom or will some of the guests need accommodation too?
Careful
planning of the entertainment at your reception together with the food and
drink will ensure your reception is a success. A live band or a DJ, or perhaps both will keep the party
mood flowing. Surprise acts can
also be hired such as singing waiters, magicians or celebrity doubles
The wedding breakfast can be for all your guests or for
close family and friends only, with an evening buffet for everyone else. Chocolate fountains, champagne
fountains and ice cream barrels
can be hired to add a bit of fun to the proceedings. The hire of a toastmaster will ensure that everything runs smoothly
Gifts
A gift for the happy couple is one of the oldest traditions
at a wedding. In today's more modern times we give gifts from a wedding
list chosen by the bride and groom or money, which is the tradition of many
Mediterranean countries. At a
Greek wedding there is a special wedding dance where the bride and groom dance
and the family and friends pin money on the couple
Gifts are also given by the couple to the guests, often
called Bonbonnerie or wedding
favours. Favours can be anything
from beautifully wrapped chocolates to perfume bottles. These are placed at each guests table
setting and are usually matched into the wedding theme or colour scheme. Favours are a way of saying 'thank you' to your guests for sharing your special day with you
Bouquets of flowers are usually given to the bride and
grooms mothers to say thank you for the help that they have given. The best man, bridesmaids, ushers and pageboy would also be
given gifts. There are many gifts
for this purpose such as pens, cufflinks, tankards, jewellery, teddy bears and many other gifts that can be
personalised
Wedding Jewellery
Your wedding jewellery will hold precious sentimental value for years to come, encapsulating memories from your special day. And with so many styles available, it won't be difficult to find one which is perfect for you. Choosing your wedding jewellery is an important decision which can make or break your desired look, leaving a lot to be considered! From the style of wedding dress, surface decoration, the neckline, shoes, flowers, your budget and of course the style of your ring
Popular trends for wedding jewellery this year include the rise of vintage styles, classic pearls, delicate
floral designs and bold chandelier earrings. Dazzle with unique vintage
pieces with high quality glass beads and faceted stones, perfect to
adorn any plain neckline, or a strapless design to create a focal
point. Or go for the full effect to create a truly memorable impression by combining a beautifully beaded vintage dress with a similarly crafted vintage necklace
The passing down of family jewellery is also a poignant way to adorn your dress. Vintage pieces and family heirlooms are also environmentally friendly options, saving the need for new jewellery to be produced
If more delicate vintage and floral pieces aren't to your tastes, there are some contemporary designs incorporating the classic pearl, looking perfect with most necklines, and not clashing with beading or embellishment. If it is the contemporary look you're striving for, diamante or semi-precious stones are also a timeless statement for any bride
