Wedding Etiquette Forum

What's the etiquette behind favors?

Hello,
I've tried to find information on TK about why people provide favors at weddings. Anyone know why?

After paying for food, drinks and entertainment, why do we send 100+ people home with a $2-$5 token of appreciation? (I'm excluding bridesmaids/groomsmen from this, because I do believe the couple should thank them for standing up for them.)  

Even as a guest, hey, the couple provided free food, drinks, and entertainment- that's enough thanks for sharing in their day, as far as I'm concerned....

Thanks! 


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Re: What's the etiquette behind favors?

  • I think people do it just because it's a cute little thing for people to take home. You certainly don't have to if you don't want to.
  • Don't worry about it. You need not do it. Most popular favors are a couple chocolates.

  • Skip it and save the money. Or do something edible. No one wants a knick knack that collects dust.
  • Skip it. We did and no one mentioned missing it. I don't think there's any etiquette that says favors are necessary.
  • They're optional.  If you don't want to do it, by all means skip it.
  • Instead of each person getting a little thing they either wont want or is just a nibbly trifle, we are decorating our fairly bare tables (outdoor bbq, buffet so no place settings per se, flowers are mason jars with daisies and a ribbon) with scattered, multicoloured hard and gummie candies, individually wrapped (think Jolly Rancher).
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  • I don't know about ALL of them. But in some older traditions those favours are not just random items. They are very specific and they symbolize something,
    like these:

    "In traditional Greek weddings, sugarcoated almonds are called koufetta. They are placed in little bags in odd numbers and are served on a silver tray. Because odd numbers are indivisible, this symbolizes that the newlyweds will share everything and remain undivided. Tradition holds that if an unmarried woman puts the almonds under her pillow, she'll dream of her future husband."

    "At traditional Italian weddings, five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. These almonds decorate each place setting as favors, tucked into pretty boxes or tulle bags called bomboniere that are often personalized with the couple's names and wedding date"

    from here http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-favors/articles/all-about-jordan-almonds.aspx

    Somewhere else it was a  coin ( not much , just a penny maybe), grains and candy , because supposedly  what you give to others comes in multitude to you.

    As far as I understand, it's not much different than guests throwing grains, or rice over the couple - just a symbolic wish for something








  • TiaTea said:

    ..."At traditional Italian weddings, five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. These almonds decorate each place setting as favors, tucked into pretty boxes or tulle bags called bomboniere that are often personalized with the couple's names and wedding date"

    from here http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-favors/articles/all-about-jordan-almonds.aspx  ..............








    Our escort cards are actually little boxes that will hold 5 Jordan almonds for this exact reason (not that we need any fertility help...I'm done birthing for a long time lol) FI is Italian so we wanted to incorporate some Italian traditions. Otherwise we'd be skipping favors. I know I wouldn't want some salt shaker or coaster with someone else's wedding date and/or names on it so why would most others?


     

    After 6 years and 2 boys, finally tying the knot on October 27th, 2013!

  • I'm actually to the point where I am against favors. So many better uses for money.



    Anniversary
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  • Thanks all, and Tia for the Italian info. Fiance is Italian so I will look into that!
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