Once Upon a Time ...
Giving gifts at parties has old roots — go back in time and you'll find the practice showing up in ancient Norwegian guild halls and Native American lodges. It's always been a powerful way of strengthening groups and bringing people together.
And even though today's wedding guests aren't likely to lift a spear or patrol your borders, most people still find that the warm, communal feelings flow a little freer when you hand out a tangible token of appreciation. (Or, you could just be really generous with the wine.)
Favors Throughout the Ages
When most people talk about wedding favors, they start with the aristocrats of Europe, who had a habit of dishing out expensive bonbonniere — or ornate little boxes or dishes made of porcelain, silver, crystal or other showy things — at weddings and other big shindigs. Inside the boxes would be sugared treats, which cost almost as much as the boxes. Naturally, this was a big way of flaunting your status (in the days before you could charter private jets or cruise down Sunset Avenue in your Phantom).Of course, the tradition continues today with our own brand of aristocrats. At the wedding of Nicole Kidman to Keith Urban, they handed out silver gift clocks from Tiffany & Co. to each and every guest — not cheap!
Hot Trends of the 1800's ....
But the notoriously romantic Victorians handed out favors every chance they got. They especially liked surprising or symbolic ones, and their choices ranged from sprigs of rosemary to ornate hand fans, and bejeweled ornaments crafted from eggs to miniature dolls with movable parts.
America's Wild & Crazy Favor Frontier
Favors in America used to lean toward the traditional, drawing strongly on the couple's ethnic heritage. Many weddings skipped them altogether. Later on, you were more likely to see them in the coastal areas — and less in the heartland.
But today, you'll find them everywhere. Sure, wedding gown might be white forever, with a few brides opting for ivory or champagne. But the cakes, colors and favors are slaves to fashion — and from season to season, all bets are off.
Favor Photos at Flickr
Boxes of chocolate as wedding favors.
The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Bruno.I took some shots, as a favor, at a f...
Rachel chose this really really beautiful paper to wrap around the cd tins.
![6609 favors bubbles by Chris[topher] Lin](http://static.flickr.com/145/437271907_cdb5592c9a_s.jpg)
Bubbles as wedding favors, later to be used as
Oh Where? And What? Here's Your Answer
Most people buy their favors online. Today, the choice is simply staggering — the wedding favors market's kept pace with the growth of e-commerce, if not blown it away. Your choices number in the thousands, and range from tin lanterns and "fair trade" chocolate to moss sachets and caramel apples.There's a tension between "wanting to see" and "wanting a choice." Have the best of both worlds. Order a sample to sniff, shake and fondle before you order a gazillion.
How to Choose, How to Choose ....
Beach-themed favors are big, as are Asian-influenced favors with a cosmopolitan feel. Brides and guests love practical favors, like wine bottle stoppers, decorative notebooks and luggage tags.
Anything you can eat or drink, like custom-labeled bottles of sparkling wine, remains a big hit. Black & White, always popular, is reaching higher heights as couples reach to integrate stylish, modernized damask and toile into their linens, stationery and favors.
Asian takeout boxes are popular both for favors and candy buffets. Wedding planners are always on the hunt for favor boxes that make a big presentation on the dinner plate: pearlized or satin finishes, silk flowers, and funky ribbons (polka-dotted grograin, for example). Tiffany Blue gets stronger every year.
Q: When Should I Buy Those Favors? A: It Depends.
Brides are often torn about when to buy favors. One factor is the dreaded backorder situation ... which incents them buy early. The other is the final guest account, which brides don't have until near the end of their planning.Compromise. If there's a particular favor you can't live without, buy extras and order early. If you're more flexible, wait until your guest count comes in.
Hint: Having a winter wedding? Buy early. The surprising demand for winter favors has led major suppliers to come up dry on many popular items around Christmas.
Popular Ways to Present Your Favors
You can put your favors in the foreground or the background, stack them into a centerpiece or punch up a place setting, hand them out personally or simply place them in a basket.Favors in elegant boxes look gorgeous stacked up like an ersatz cake in the middle of your tables. Some, like ornaments, can dangle from small trees or bare-branch arrangements. An ornate box looks smashing in the center of a plate. If your wedding's not too large and you want to make sure you've chatted with everyone, hand them out personally while thanking your guests for their time and trouble in coming — they'll love it.
Favors also look nice piled in baskets by the door, but they also run the greatest risk of being forgotten.
A rose isn't just a rose, and a favor isn't just a favor. Many brides find a fancy package really sets the scene. Anticipation, after all, is half the fun.
Favorite Photos
A pink theme.
this is a yummy white chocolate truffle in a purple flower pot. these were wedd...
Rules of Thumb for the Freshest Favors
Chocolate wedding favors: They'll last about nine months in a cool, dark place of average humidity. Don't refrigerate or freeze - and skip them entirely for a summer wedding on a sweltering microclimate in Mississippi.
Cookie wedding favors: Six months.
Fortune cookies: Individually cello-wrapped cookies: three months. Unwrapped cookies: one month.
Tinned mints: One to two years in a dry spot.
Great Favors on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Wedding Favor Must-Sees
- MyWeddingFavors
- The 900 pound gorilla of the favor world, MyWeddingFavors rivals the economies of some small countries. There's a reason for that — their favors are huge crowd-pleasers and reasonably priced, plus they enjoy a reputation for good customer service.
Some people chart the progress of MyWeddingFavors the way Wall Street follows short skirts. - BellaRegalo
- BellaRegalo gets oft-mentioned in the big bridal magazines, and that's not just because of their cozy-close ties. They really do offer distinctive favors. Strolling the virtual aisles of BellaRegalo feels a little like being a Hollywood mommy in Petit Tresor (Beverly Hills' hot spot for fashionable newborns and in-uteros).
- Jean M. Favors
- Quirky and tasty, Jean M. favors are the Audrey Hepburns of the wedding world. Virtually everything here is exclusive, which makes it more fun to shop, and the color schemes (like chocolately brown + aqua) are this season's "to die for."
Hot Starting Points for Wedding Favors
One of the great things about owning a favor site is, we know what favors and themes are hot and happening for 2007-2008. Here are some of the smokin' sections.
Las Vegas Wedding Favors
Plenty of brides have quick & more...0 points
Fairytale Wedding Favors
What bride doesn't dream of being Princess for a d more...0 points
Tiffany Blue & Tiffany Theme Wedding Favors
This arch and urban theme appeals to many brides w more...0 points
Black & White Wedding Favors
Brides are embracing Black & W more...0 points
Place Card Holders
In terms of those small details that lend a weddin more...0 points
Christmas Wedding Favors
The desire to share the joy grows even stronger th more...0 points
Wedding Favor Boxes
Presentation is everything ... now, more than ever more...0 points
Corporate/Holiday Party Favors
This time of year means that not only brides, but more...0 points
You'll Also Like ...
- Beaucoup
- Another great favor destination with exclusive items and a satisfyingly girly, boutique-y feel. Their paper hand fans are favorites, and their American-Asian line's strong.
- Favor Ideas
- My own site (disclosure!), FavorIdeas tries to provide just about every possible favor on earth, air or water relating to a particular theme ... not to mention an almost mind-boggling collection of bridal shower favors, baby shower favors and Save the Dates.
- HansonEllis
- HansonEllis also has many exclusive favors. Like MyWeddingFavors, their selection could be categorized as less boutique-y (or frilly), and in some cases, more likely to appeal to a wide range of guests. Especially good for beach, silver and crystal favors.
The Last Word on Favors?
Want to make sure your favors shine? Follow the advice of pro wedding planners, and choose favors that are either edible or practical.
For example, practical: people love wine bottle openers that fit the event (seashell-theme, or vineyard). Mini-notebooks or coasters you can personalize: hot!
Or edible: popcorn bars, candy buffets, hot sauce jars, anything from truffles to jelly bellies in gorgeous, personalized packaging. Try biscotti you've wrapped in a swatch of gorgeous fabric that matches your colors, and tied off with a ribbon. Or an aqua blue favor box tied off with crisp black grograin.
Bottles or splits of wine are never taken amiss, either -- and mint tins are both practical (great for those job interviews) and edible!
Talk Back on Favors
Spotted a trend? Stumped by a question? Or just feeling verbal? Leave a note ...
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DTanner
Wow great lens...very informative! Posted December 28, 2007 |
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Janet21
Feel free to submit your lens to my new Party group, Posted July 18, 2007 |
