To have or not to have that is the question with regard to wedding favors. The first time I became familiar with wedding favors was when my brother married into an Italian family. The beautiful bride although born in Australia came from a very traditional Italian family.

We have over the years been overwhelmed by the heartwarming hospitality of our Italian relatives. My husband just loves their homegrown and homemade food. We are delighted to have been accepted and welcomed into the whole family. They just love us to death and we do them.

The giving of wedding favors started in Italy

Traditionally each guest is given five sugared almonds they are given to represent the mix of sweetness and bitterness in life. The almonds represent health, happiness, fertility, wealth, and longevity. I must confess I just love almonds so my hubby has no chance I usually eat them all.

Thinking of Almonds makes me fondly remember one holiday when I was decidedly decadent my sister and I treated ourselves to too many cups of Almond tea and chocolates. Oh, it is a heavenly mix.

Favors of all different sorts have become a big trend at weddings in recent years. It really does depend on your budget whether or not you want to include favors. The little gifts selected can be chosen to work with the style, theme, and colors you have created for the big day. Sometimes the favors can be personalized with the guest’s name and double up as place cards. Some wedding planners/brides select different favors for males and females.

There are numerous choices of wedding favors available today. Favor boxes in various colors filled with a vast variety of chocolates, love hearts, colored jelly beans, or biscuits. The list is endless and the boxes can be decorated with ribbons, feathers, and flowers.

Candles can be used as part favor and part table decoration. Tea light candles are popular and can be personalized with the guest's name and your wedding details. If cost is a big factor then using candles in this way can act as place cards, table decorations, and favor. In this way, you get three wedding items in one.

Toiletries are a nice option; little soaps, bath confetti, or miniature bottles of perfumes for the ladies and after-shaves for the men would really go down well with your guests. Mini plant pots with a plant or packets of seeds would be a great option for a garden wedding. Sea shells maybe one large one with smaller shells would make a nice memento for a beach-themed wedding.

Mini bottles of alcohol; bubbly, port, wine, or whisky are always popular. Of course, this sort of favor is not suitable for children. A wee goodie bag containing things like colored pencils, activity books, or a wee cuddly toy would be a great idea for the children. You could include activities for the children for example a wedding quiz or a coloring competition.

If you want to keep the cost of favors down maybe an individual chocolate for each guest or a bowl of chocolates placed where guests can help themselves would be the best option. But if you are on a really tight budget you can forget about them altogether, after all, it is your wedding.

Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com – concept creation online