I’m thrilled to announce that I won the Biz Bash Chicago Event Style Award for Event for a Corporation or Association at the recent Chicago Biz Bash Trade Show and awards. It’s the first time the awards have been done, and I am excited to be one of the first. It was for my Association of Bridal Consultants “Frank’s Favorite Things” Meeting.
I’ll be featured again on Lifetime’s Get Married on August 17th.Â
As I am working on favors for a huge Greek Wedding coming up in October, I thought I’d share with you some history I researched for a presentation I did in Los Angeles a few years back….
Â
Centuries ago, European aristocrats, most notably those in France and Italy, would send their wedding guests home with a small gift called a bonbonniere (http://www.enamels.com/animals/images/7909c-frog.jpg), or as it’s called in Italian, a Bonbonniere. These weren’t exclusively a wedding staple however. They were also given out at birthday parties and other celebratory occasions.
A Bonbonniere was actually a box made of porcelain, crystal, precious stones or metal. Inside one would find delicacies made of sugar. It was from these boxed and gift wrapped confections that today’s wedding favors are derived.
A wedding was considered a lucky occasion way back when. By passing bonbonnieres and other treats onto wedding guests, the Happy Couple felt they were also bestowing their good luck upon their guests. In most cases, these lucky gifts consisted of five almonds or pieces of candy which represented fertility, health, wealth, happiness and longevity. Odd numbers are always used since an odd number “cannot be divided”. Also, one of the candies can be green for “fertility”.
Bonbonnieres evolved as confectioners began making candied almonds by dipping them in sugar or some other sweet coating. This tradition is kept alive today with the brightly colored jordan almonds (http://www.fredlyn.com/product.asp?ProductID=6932) given out at many of these joyous occasions. In fact, if you count, you may find of these tulle wrapped treats (http://www.tinytreasures.net/images/orzcdyonplatter.JPG) – still represent the five wedding wishes.
Â
These days when it comes to wedding favors, anything goes. While Americans usually give favors according to their wedding’s theme or the Happy Couple’s Lifestyle, many countries have traditional favors
Â
Favors are presented in a variety of manners, how each couple does so depends on their own tradition or what they feel is best for their wedding reception.
Some couples will display favors at each place setting, thereby adding to the table decorations. Others will have a favor table where the small gifts are displayed and a decorative card attached containing each guest’s name and table assignment. There are still others who choose to give favors out by hand in exchange for a wedding gift. It’s up to the Happy Couple to decide which scenario works best for their reception.
Wedding favors are a time honored tradition. Whether you choose to give out tulle-wrapped packages of Jordan Almonds, decorative candles or a silver plated bottle opener, your guests are sure to appreciate the gesture and will treasure their gifts for years to come.
Â
Also.. I’ve learned that thre are approximately:
Â
95 Jordans Almonds in a pound, 475 in 5 pounds, and 2475 in 25 pounds, so please use this formula to help you figure out how much you need to buy when making these types of favors. I always put 7 in each favor.Â
Â
I just got word that my Association of Bridal Consultants March 10th Meeting “Frank’s Favorite Things” has been nominated for a Chicago Event Style Award in the Category “Best Corporate or Association Event Concept”. The award ceremony is August 20th during the BizBash Conference at the Merchandise Mart. I am honored and humbled by this. Congrats to my fellow nominees as well.
If you would like to see photos from this event and view detail shots of the 11 different tablescapes I designed, you can do so at www.garbolabs.com and put in event code abc, all lower case.
Fingers Crossed!