The True Meaning Behind Wedding Favors
As a token of appreciation for having assumed key roles in the ceremonies, wedding favors were traditionally given to the wedding entourage during the wedding party. The close friends and relatives of the wedded couple as well as the best man were similarly rewarded. Apart from signifying the gratitude of the couple, these gifts were also meant for the pleasure and gratification of the guests and to serve as memorabilia for everyone.
Originally, wedding favors were candies placed in expensive tin boxes and could only be afforded by the rich. Today many different kinds of favors have become popular. While we still have the traditional candies in boxes, very often married people give away an assortment of objects as their gifts of appreciation to their guests. Custom photographs of the bridal entourage and close relatives are taken for this purpose sometimes days ahead of the wedding. This is to give the couple the time to frame and sign all the photographs and include them in the wedding favors on the wedding day itself.
Silver jewelry items are also suitable for giveaways. These pieces of jewelry may often be adorned with semi-precious stones or swarowski crystals. Pendants engraved with the name of the recipient are often included with necklace and earring sets for ladies while gentlemen receive silver rings, often engraved also. Alternatively, necklaces made of beautifully colored crystals may be given to the ladies while cufflinks may be given to the gentlemen.
Wedding favors need not even be made of silver and birth stones. Practically anything that can be used, or consumes or kept as memorabilia is eligible for giving. Some of the more frequent gifts are scented soaps, engraved match boxes for gentlement, compact mirrors for ladies, votive and tea light holders, personalized cutlery, personalized handkerchiefs, mint candy tins, mugs and glasses. There is practically no limit to the choices.
Specialty shops specializing in cutlery, jewelry and soaps are the places where you can have your wedding favors customized for your guests. There are also, companies that specialize in wedding favors themselves. These are associated with specialty outfits and are a kind of one-stop shopping place where one can buy favors or have them customized in case none of the catalogued items meet the preferences of the client.
Another alternative people have is to make their own favors at home. Such gifts as candy pouches and boxed muffins can quite easily be done with the help of some instructions from the internet. Making boxes will require one to get the template drawing for the outline of the box. There are templates that can be downloaded for free, complete with folding instructions. A person can simply cut out cartolina paper into those shapes and fold them in the right places to come up with a box.
All you need do is to print out an image of the template plus instructions on how to create a box from that template. The material for the box will depend on the shape of the box. Most boxes can be made of cartolina paper and if you choose paper with the appropriate design, your box will be textured. When you are done with the box, some candy and some lace to tie it up is all you need to complete the wedding favors.
Bennetta Elliott is a writer for Personalized Gift Express, which offers wedding favors, bridesmaids gifts and groomsmen sports gifts.
