The wedding favor is a traditional element of weddings. But where does this significant object originate?
Historically, the wedding favor is an ancient object and originated with a different connotation than the one we are accustomed to today. Originally, it was a container for small sweets, candies, and sugared almonds, a loving thank-you gift from the newlyweds to those attending their wedding. The term "wedding favor" derives from the French "bonbon" (sweet, sugary) and in French tradition often referred to a small container crafted by prestigious goldsmiths, displayed by nobles and paragons of elegance.
What was the role of the wedding favor in the past and how was it used?
In the past, especially from the second half of the 15th century through the 17th century, the bomboniera was a must-have on sumptuous tables. It was often crafted in the shape of a ship, complete with sails and oarsmen, made of gold and precious stones, and equipped with a sturdy lock. The host used it as a private container, a sort of treasure chest, to generously distribute small, precious after-dinner sweets, such as confetti (almonds), to his guests. There are records of these vessels also being used to hold cutlery, salt shakers, or other valuable objects, but their primary purpose was always to hold confetti (almonds). Indeed, every important menu at Renaissance tables concluded with marzipan and confetti, a sign of the host's exclusivity and great economic power, given the extremely high cost of sugar, which came from the East and was initially imported by the Venetians via Cyprus.
When and how did the bomboniera take on its modern meaning of a thank-you gift to wedding guests?
It wasn't until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that wedding favors acquired their current status as special courtesy gifts from the newlyweds to their wedding guests and the accompanying banquet. In this case, wedding favors were incorporated into the table setting, often serving as its defining element, as a courtesy and thank-you gift in return for the traditional wedding gift.
How are wedding favors used today outside of weddings?
Today, the subsequent use of the wedding favor is entirely personal. It remains a significant object that, over time, has increasingly become an objet d'art, to be displayed or collected among the furnishings of the most sophisticated homes.