THESE DAYS, WEDDING FAVOURS CAN BE AS PERSONAL, HANDCRAFTED OR EXTRAVAGANT AS YOU DESIRE – AND THERE’S NOT A SUGARED ALMOND IN SIGHT.
Bonbonniere, or wedding favours, have been a part of wedding tradition since the Middle Ages, when the act of giving ‘favours’ to wedding guests was seen as passing on luck and prosperity from the happy couple. Traditional bonbonniere (known as ‘bomboniera’ in Italy) included five sugared almonds encased in paper, lace, glass or silver packages. The almonds symbolised five time-honoured wishes: happiness, longevity, wealth, children and health. A modern bonbonniere may eschew almonds for chocolate, macarons, fairy floss or even Nutella. And there’s a growing trend to ditch sweets altogether and instead gift personalised Champagne, matchbooks, tea and coffee, seeds or plants, toasting glasses or candles… The possibilities are endless. Wedding favours are also being incorporated into table decoration and wedding themes.
Decorated with handwritten cards, flowers and vintage teaspoons, these petite jars of artisan-crafted jam from Princess Pantry, Cathy Armstrong’s award-winning jam and preserves arm of her catering business Kinship Kitchen, make a sweet wedding favour. Plenty of love to spread here. BML
