| The earliest record of giving wedding favors goes | | | | favors such as miniature bottles of spirits and |
| back to the 13th century when wealthy brides of | | | | candles became popular. |
| European aristocracy would give each of their | | | | Packaging also moved from fabrics and expensive |
| female guests a small decorative trinket box. | | | | trinket boxes, to small card boxes, tulle nets and |
| These boxes would be made from materials such | | | | novelty boxes shaped like top hats. Other types |
| as porcelain or crystal and may have been | | | | of packaging in the form of plastic containers such |
| decorated with precious stones. Inside they would | | | | as swans, champagne glasses and glass slippers |
| put delicate sweet confections or sugar cubes - a | | | | became available, providing pretty holders for |
| rare commodity only afforded by the rich in | | | | confectionary based favors. |
| those days. | | | | At the dawn of the 21st century the wedding |
| As sugar became more available and the price | | | | favor industry was undergoing something of a |
| lower, favors were adopted by the wider | | | | revolution, largely fuelled by American brides who |
| population and those of more modest means. The | | | | had taken wedding favors to their heart and |
| decorative boxes began to change to fabric bags | | | | demanded more unique and unusual favor types. |
| or wraps and eventually sugar made way for | | | | The internet also helped to expand the industry |
| almonds. | | | | making favors available to a wider market than |
| Jordan almonds or confetti where given in either | | | | ever before. |
| threes or fives, symbolizing health, wealth, | | | | Today wedding favors can range from the |
| happiness, fertility and longevity. The bitter taste | | | | traditional almonds to custom cookies, kitchen |
| of the almonds and the sweet taste of the sugar | | | | utensils and even mini trees! Packaging has also |
| coating was said to represent the | | | | become more creative with decorative card |
| bitter-sweetness of marriage! These favors would | | | | boxes in a range of wonderful shapes through to |
| also have been presented in bags or wraps made | | | | aluminum tins and novelty themed boxes. |
| from luxurious fabrics. | | | | It is now possible to find a wedding favor to suit |
| The tradition of favors continued through the | | | | any kind of wedding, be it themed, formal or |
| centuries and almonds or some other sweet | | | | casual. The choice of colors available is wider than |
| confection remained as the favor of choice. | | | | ever before and personalization is available on just |
| Through the 20th century favors began to | | | | about everything! |
| undergo something of a transformation. | | | | Things have certainly come a long way since the |
| Chocolates and candy coated almonds began to | | | | 13th century! |
| replace the sugar coated almonds and of types of | | | | |