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The tradition of giving wedding favors began with European aristocrats many centuries ago. Back then it was customary to distribute little boxes made from crystal or porcelain known as bonbonniere. These miniature boxes would contain a sweet treat such as a sugar cube or other confectionary, as sugar was rare & only afforded by the wealthy.As sugar became more affordable & readily available, wedding favours were adopted by couples of all means as a gift of appreciation & thanks. The tradition of giving gifts was widely believed would lead to good fortune for many years.Over time the original bonbonniere was replaced with almonds, which in the 13th century were known as confetti (almonds coated in sugar). These were wrapped in little boxes or pretty fabric & presented to the female guests. Inside each gift were placed five almonds, representing fertility, longevity, wealth, health & happiness. The sweet sugar coating & the bitter taste of the almond were said to represent the bitter sweetness of marriage. Guests who could not attend the wedding was also sent a favor from the bride.Today brides throughout the world have adopted the tradition of giving favors to all their guests. Modern favors are varied & range from cheap wedding favours like confectionary to keepsakes & it is nice to personalize your favors with your names & wedding date. The choice of favor can be overwhelming, although you should bear in mind that a wedding favor should be meaningful & practical. One way to please everyone is to give a food favor such as chocolates, cookies or miniature cakes. Or give a food-related favor such as recipes along with an associated utensil.No matter what the cost of your favors they should look unique & specially made for your guests. Creative attention should be given to wrappings & decorations, such as boxes, bags & labels. Wrap every favor individually & don't forget to include a thank you note. Creating your own wedding favors would make them extra special although you may want to ask a close friend or relative to help you as you may have too many other things to organize!