Unique and meaningful Bonbonniere ideas
Calling all creative couples: this is your time to shine! Us folks at Wedding and Event Creators are big believers in treating your guests to a memorable keepsake for attending your special day. Introducing bonbonniere or guest favours.
The tradition originates from Italian weddings, when sugared almonds tied in a little bag were gifted to guests. Five sugared almonds would symbolise health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life, which are all the things you would want for the newlyweds! However in modern day weddings bonbonniere take many different shapes and forms.
Trends
Much like fashion trends, the trends & styling of bonbonniere has changed over the years. Some couples have chosen to step away from the tradition of wedding favours, it’s completely your prerogative. However, I have seen lots of different ideas! Here are a few relics from weddings of the past:
- Cake in a jar
- Stubby holders
- Succulents
- Candle votives
- Bottle openers
- Loose leaf tea
- Drink coasters
- Jars of honey
- Coffee beans
- Macarons or other sweet treats in takeaway boxes
These have all had their moment as the to-go gift. Lately I am noticing the popularity of hand sanitisers as a bit of a COVID-19 trend.
Unique & meaningful is key
The most important thing to remember with favours, is if you are going to give them I think it’s important to choose something that is meaningful to you as a couple. Nowadays receiving a gift is definitely not expected by guests so if you are racking your brain and can’t find anything suitable or your budget allows, cull it, don’t find something cheap and tacky for the sake of it.
it’s important to choose something that is meaningful to you both
Here are some really unique and meaningful favour ideas. But if a cheap, cheerful and fun or silly favour is your cup of tea, then there is absolutely no judgment, as I always say on here, your wedding, your way!
your wedding, your way!
Family participation
There is nothing nicer than receiving something that has been specially handmade just for you, whether that be the couple themselves, a close family member like a mum, aunty or grandma but if time and love has been put into the bonbonniere. I actually think it’s such an ideal way to involve a close family member in the wedding, how nice would mum or grandma feel to be able to make something that was given to your guests and displayed at the wedding.
Bonbonniere could be a super special way for family participation
If you don’t have a mum available or handy then this is a bridesmaid wine evening project or if you’re into that sort of thing, take the project on as a couple.
Key things to consider:
Bare in mind that wedding favours require effort, time and money. Which undoubtedly run in short supply the closer it gets to your special day. So don’t bite more than you can chew, take on a project that isn’t going to make you wish you never started it in the first place and space the work out.
I recommend trying to choose things you can make much earlier than the week before your wedding. For example: things like cupcakes are perishable and will not last. Potentially baking is too time consuming for the bride and groom on the week of their wedding to undertake. So either delegate this project to others or plan in advance!
My top handmade ideas:
- Personalised cookies (I’ve seen ones with edible photograph stickers)
- Personalised cupcakes
- Personalised jars of jam
- Soaps
- Candles
- Olive oil
- Loose leaf tea in individual glass vials
- Little potted plants
- Handmade chocolates or snack mixes
- Or something special that has been made such as a coaster with calligraphy maybe a small embroidery.
Personalised & Practical ideas
This is your special day and I would recommend discussing between your loved one what suits you best. There are so many options of personalised bonbonniere ideas you can choose from. Do your own research but make sure it’s something you both agree upon and love.
Look at how wedding favours can be multi purposeful! Here the gift is also a reception place settings.
Some other fun ideas include:
- Seedlings for guests to take home and grow in their garden
- Food items like boxes with speciality chocolates
- Engraved marble or crystal coasters (with the guests name)
- Hangover kits (for those guests who might have sore heads the day after the wedding)
- Matchboxes (the punnier the better eg: Matt & Vanessa have found their perfect match)
- Personalised glassware with a sign (attached with their name which can double as a place card)
- Basically personalisation is anything you can engrave or write the guest name on and they can keep.
Think outside the box!
Lets go over a couple of unique favour ideas:
At my own wedding we gave engraved pizza cutters as we both love pizza!
- For the party animals – Got a favourite drink you both order when you’re out n about? There are the small bottles of individual cocktails that come with whatever is your poison made by speciality bottling companies. Like Three Foxes!
- For the aromatherapy lovers -Mini Perfumes there are also companies that can do a personalised perfume scent that you as a couple design and give to your guests- very unique
- For the spice fans – hot sauce customised with your own logo / blend
- For the sweet tooths– Chocolate hearts that you can basically smash or crack and inside spills out candy, which is a fun experience for your guests and they are packages beautifully
- For the midnight snackers– I have seen little boxes or late evening feasters come out which are a little bottle of coca cola with some fries or a burgers
- For the eco warriors – Maybe having a make your own favourite bar for leftover deserts a donuts, dessert or lolly table as a take home option, or flower bar where guests can package up some flowers to take home.
Charitable gifts
I have seen couples leave little donation cards to the bushfires or other charities in replacement of the money they would spend on favours too which is another idea.
Things to remember:
The other thing I say is, if you get stressed and run out of time in the lead up to your wedding, maybe you planned to make some cookies, or purchase something online and time got away, remember the only person that knew you planned this is yourself! So scrap it, don’t stress, as your guests never knew they were getting something anyway.
Need more reception styling inspiration? Check out our Pinterest board for Place Setting Styling ideas
The blog is written by Wedding Planner Vanessa from The Wedding and Event Creators.
