Wedding favour ideas UK - suggestions from as cheap as £1!

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The centuries-old tradition of wedding favours originates from Italy, where five sugared almonds would be gifted to each guest. Five is significant because it cannot be divided and also symbolises wealth, health, fertility, long life and happiness. Today in the UK, the wedding favour has taken on a life of its own, with most couples seeking to produce an individual and personal take on the original custom. You may like to consider sugared almonds if yours is a very traditional wedding, but otherwise think about other, more modern, options.

All wedding supplies are subject to huge variations in cost, but none more so than wedding favours. It is possible to spend anything from the price of a lottery ticket to diamond jewellery. Although most brides want original wedding favours, it's important that the cost fits within your overall wedding budget. A modest expenditure will still allow you to express your style, whether that is simple and elegant, amusing and fun, or moving and personal.

For a simple and elegant wedding favour, you could consider a single truffle in a heart shaped box, or a single red rose at each place setting. Tie a co-ordinating ribbon around your favour with a hand-written note addressed to each guest for extra class. For more permanence, a small pewter photograph frame makes a charming wedding favour — by putting the name of each guest inside the frame, you could also use this favour as the place cards.

If your intention is to convey your quirky side through your choice of wedding favour, think about making it relevant to the place, style or season of your wedding reception. If it is a beach wedding, give each guest a pair of flip-flops, or refer to the area by giving local homemade jams or candies. Perhaps sparklers for a Fourth of July celebration, or individual Christmas tree decorations for a winter wedding. Small terracotta pots with seedlings or bulbs which match the season is a great way for your guests to enjoy their wedding favour in the weeks to follow.

You may prefer to pick wedding favours that are very personal and sentimental. If you have a favourite poem, you could write it in calligraphy on miniature scrolls for each guest. Alternatively, you could collect family recipes and produce a small book of them for each guest, crediting the person who contributed each recipe. A CD of your favourite music could be created — but be wary of copyright.

Whatever you choose, presentation is everything…match bows and miniature boxes, and hand write cards to go with each favour. Use this opportunity to thank guests for coming, or expressing your love for each other.

For more wedding favour ideas, have a look at the gifts pages of our shopping section.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Wedding Favour Ideas