Bomboniere
The giving of bomboniere is based on both French and Italian traditions. It is customarily performed as a token of the bride and groom’s appreciation to their guests for their kind wishes and gifts.
A Little History...
Generally speaking, bomboniere is given to the wedding guests at the reception and usually consists of a small gift or sweet. Traditionally, bomboniere was introduced by the upper class society of 16th century France. Elaborate gifts were provided to wedding guests as a gesture of thanks from the bride and groom and consisted of fancy boxes (made of crystal, porcelain or gold) containing sweet delicacies. At the time, sugar was regarded as a valuable item, being extremely expensive and also known for its medicinal purposes.
The Italians also developed their own custom of gift giving (to wedding guests), in addition to the French. Traditionally, guests attending Italian weddings would receive bomboniere consisting of five sugarcoated almonds wrapped in tulle. Although this may sound like an unusual assortment, each item had a special meaning behind it.
Firstly, the almonds were covered in a sugar coating to represent the bittersweet life of marriage. The sweets were then customarily wrapped in white tulle as a sign of the bride’s purity. The uneven or odd number of almonds represented the marriage as being undividable. It was believed that the bride and groom would share everything throughout their life together and always remain undivided. In addition to this, the five sugared almonds also symbolised five hopes and wishes for the happy couple and their guests – health, wealth, fertility, happiness and long life.
As with many wedding traditions, the practice of bomboniere giving has taken on various changes over the years. Gone are the days when sugared almonds are a must and today, choices are only limited by one’s imagination. Many couples choose bomboniere to suit the theme or colour of their wedding and that of their personal style. Today, some couples may choose to forego the practice all together. Bomboniere is not necessarily an expectation, especially if you a having a small, more intimate wedding. Whether or not you decide to include bomboniere at your reception is entirely up to you. Your wedding guests certainly shouldn’t think that you are rude for not providing it, and most will understand that the cost of a wedding may not leave much in the budget to allow for it.
An alternative to bomboniere is provide each guest with a little thank you poem, rolled into a scroll and tied with ribbon. There are many cost saving ideas such as these that still allow you to say thank you without breaking the bank.
If you do decide to provide bomboniere for your guests, then you should consider your options early in order to allow enough time to order, purchase or make them. Traditionally, bomboniere is given to each female guest, or one per family. In more modern times however, most couples provide a gift to each guest.
Decide upon how you wish to disperse your bomboniere and how many you will require. If all guests are to receive bomboniere, decide whether you will provide the same item to both males and females, or whether you wish to give separate, more gender specific gifts.
As mentioned, there are many modern alternatives available to the traditional sugared almonds. Consider any colours or themes of your wedding, and be creative with your bomboniere. If your wedding is taking place on a beach, for example, you could follow the theme through by giving your guests tiny paper treasure chests filled with foil-wrapped chocolate stars. For a garden style wedding, pot plants are becoming increasingly popular as bomboniere. Weddings held at wineries could be accompanied by bomboniere of personalised wine glasses or bottles of wine with both your and your groom’s names and wedding date on the label.
When choosing items to wrap or house your gift, co-ordinate them with those of your bridesmaids or your flowers. Small organza or tulle bags, paper boxes and other items are available in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. Choose something that suits both your personal style and that of your wedding. If you’re stuck for ideas, the list on the following page may be of some assistance when selecting your bomboniere.
Ideas for your bomboniere are only limited by your imagination. You may wish to be a little more creative and come up with an idea that is truly unique. No matter what you decide, your guests are sure to appreciate your little gesture of thanks.
