Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Have Favors Fallen Out of Favor?
The short answer is No. Favors given to the guests of special events- weddings, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, etc. are still a popular way to thank your guest for attending the special event, add some flair to your dining tables, add a unique reflection of who you are and add a more gracious tone to the event. However, we are seeing a significant change in the type of favors most often given.
The custom of giving the guests of special events a small gift, dates all the way back to the sixteenth century. These early guest favors were fruits and nuts and were presented to guests by the bridal couple. Over the years the tradition was extended to the myriad of other special events we celebrate with family and friends. Today favors are given not only at wedding receptions but all of the events leading up to that day. From the engagement party to the bridal shower to the rehearsal dinner, a small guest memento is a much-appreciated gesture of hospitality.
Further, they are not relegated only to the wedding related events but today favors have become a popular way for the host to express hospitality at most any special event- birthdays, anniversaries, baptism/christenings, first communions, bar/bat mitzvahs, confirmations, sweet 16s, quinceaneras, holiday parties and even corporate events.
In modern times, the initial custom of giving fruits and nuts was expanded to include inedible gifts such as candles, and small photo frames. However, while this type of favor is still widely used, there seems to be a growing trend back to the edible favor that is beautifully packaged and wrapped.
In addition to thanking the guest of the event for joining you, favors add to the table dcor and event theme. Dining tables certainly look more festive when there is a favor at each place setting. The choices for favors are limited only by your imagination. The tone that you wish to set for the event can be further enhanced by your choice of a favor. Sophisticated and Elegant? Simple and Charming? Unique and Personal? Your memento can be any of these.
In order to make the favor a personal reflection, consider the interests, hobbies, careers of the special event star(s). Consider also adding the date of the event and the name(s). For example:
Bar Mitzvah: The boy plays soccer on his middle school team. Consider a favor of a soccer shaped chocolate. Wrap in a cello bag and add ribbon in the colors you have chosen for the party color palette. Add a tag with the boys name and the event date.
Baptism: Consider a favor of a large white cross-shaped cookie. Put it in an organza bag (blue for boys and pink for girls, of course) and add a tag with babys full name and date of baptism.
Wedding: Favors presented in mini Chinese take out style boxes in colors to coordinate with those of the table flowers and linens. Tag each with: "An abundance of family and friends is the greatest fortune of all" with the addition of the bride and grooms name and event date.
Rehearsal Dinner: With the bride a teacher and the groom an ex-player and avid fan of football set the tables with decorated cookies. Alternate little red schoolhouses with footballs to make for a very personal tablescape.
Sweet Sixteen: Simple small white favor boxes filled with a decadent piece of chocolate fudge take on a much more personal note when the box is tied with ribbon in the event colors to which a small silver heart charm has been added and is further embellished by a simple seal with the girls name and event date.
Favors are a wonderful opportunity to make your guests feel warmly welcomed and as such they continue to be a popular part of the special event.
Webmasters are free to reprint this article provided that it is not edited, the author's information is included, and the links are included as live links.
Teresa Franko, who is never happier than when hosting her large out-of-town family members at any event, treasures the many milestone events in the lives of her family and friends and cherishes the memories of each. She is the owner of the website, http://www.exquisitegiftsforguests.com a company that celebrates those special events which are joyously shared by family and friends.
¶ 9:22 AM
The custom of giving the guests of special events a small gift, dates all the way back to the sixteenth century. These early guest favors were fruits and nuts and were presented to guests by the bridal couple. Over the years the tradition was extended to the myriad of other special events we celebrate with family and friends. Today favors are given not only at wedding receptions but all of the events leading up to that day. From the engagement party to the bridal shower to the rehearsal dinner, a small guest memento is a much-appreciated gesture of hospitality.
Further, they are not relegated only to the wedding related events but today favors have become a popular way for the host to express hospitality at most any special event- birthdays, anniversaries, baptism/christenings, first communions, bar/bat mitzvahs, confirmations, sweet 16s, quinceaneras, holiday parties and even corporate events.
In modern times, the initial custom of giving fruits and nuts was expanded to include inedible gifts such as candles, and small photo frames. However, while this type of favor is still widely used, there seems to be a growing trend back to the edible favor that is beautifully packaged and wrapped.
In addition to thanking the guest of the event for joining you, favors add to the table dcor and event theme. Dining tables certainly look more festive when there is a favor at each place setting. The choices for favors are limited only by your imagination. The tone that you wish to set for the event can be further enhanced by your choice of a favor. Sophisticated and Elegant? Simple and Charming? Unique and Personal? Your memento can be any of these.
In order to make the favor a personal reflection, consider the interests, hobbies, careers of the special event star(s). Consider also adding the date of the event and the name(s). For example:
Bar Mitzvah: The boy plays soccer on his middle school team. Consider a favor of a soccer shaped chocolate. Wrap in a cello bag and add ribbon in the colors you have chosen for the party color palette. Add a tag with the boys name and the event date.
Baptism: Consider a favor of a large white cross-shaped cookie. Put it in an organza bag (blue for boys and pink for girls, of course) and add a tag with babys full name and date of baptism.
Wedding: Favors presented in mini Chinese take out style boxes in colors to coordinate with those of the table flowers and linens. Tag each with: "An abundance of family and friends is the greatest fortune of all" with the addition of the bride and grooms name and event date.
Rehearsal Dinner: With the bride a teacher and the groom an ex-player and avid fan of football set the tables with decorated cookies. Alternate little red schoolhouses with footballs to make for a very personal tablescape.
Sweet Sixteen: Simple small white favor boxes filled with a decadent piece of chocolate fudge take on a much more personal note when the box is tied with ribbon in the event colors to which a small silver heart charm has been added and is further embellished by a simple seal with the girls name and event date.
Favors are a wonderful opportunity to make your guests feel warmly welcomed and as such they continue to be a popular part of the special event.
Webmasters are free to reprint this article provided that it is not edited, the author's information is included, and the links are included as live links.
Teresa Franko, who is never happier than when hosting her large out-of-town family members at any event, treasures the many milestone events in the lives of her family and friends and cherishes the memories of each. She is the owner of the website, http://www.exquisitegiftsforguests.com a company that celebrates those special events which are joyously shared by family and friends.
¶ 9:22 AM
