simply chic weddings: Wedding Favors.

I hope you had a nice, relaxing holiday with family and friends. Now it's back to work and back to planning for your big day! Since the holiday of gift giving is right around the corner, three weeks away to be exact, I thought it would be a good time to chat about wedding favors. What exactly are favors? As defined via an online dictionary they are: small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to your guests from the bride and groom during a wedding reception.

But where did this tradition come from? Let's dig deeper. The tradition of giving wedding favors is a very old one. It is believed that the first wedding favor, common amongst European aristocrats, was known as a bonbonniere. It was a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain or precious stones. The contents were generally sugar cubes or delicate confections, which symbolize wealth and royalty. During this era, sugar was an expensive commodity and believed to have medical benefits. As the price of sugar dropped, the general populace were able to start this tradition as well. (thanks to encyclopedia.com for the info)

Over the last few years, I've noticed this tradition has started to fall to the wayside. Many couples are opting not to spend the extra dollars on the mini gifts. This is understandable, especially if you are inviting 200+ guests. Besides that, most favors out there are not that great anyway. If you look a bit though you can find some fun and interesting ways to say "thank you" to your guests.

Why not think about the favors as part of the decoration for your event? I absolutely love these sandalwood fans that come packaged in their own box with your names and wedding date on it. Can't you see these at a backyard wedding or at a vineyard during summer when it's warm out? They are stylish and affordable at only $1.50 per fan with box.

Let's continue with taking inspiration from the Asian cultures with these adorable customizable fortune cookies. Dipped in chocolate and then decorated with either a single heart or sprinkles, you get to choose the colors of both! The best part of these is the personalized fortune for the inside. Include your names, wedding date and a note to your guests.