What is bonbonniere?
Wedding favors or bonbonniere are a traditional way to show appreciation to your guests for coming to your wedding.  Bonbonniere favors are set on the reception tables for guests to take home with them. Bonbonniere is simply a table gift, originating as a European practice which is becoming more popular in Australia as a way of giving guests a small keepsake of the day. 

Bonbonniere or small gifts of gratitude given to wedding guests, have been a used in weddings for centuries. It is thought that the first bonbonniere boxes were used among European aristocrats and were made of porcelain or crystal and precious stones. These bonbonniere boxes held sugar cubes and other confections. Bonbonniere boxes have undergone change over the centuries and are now constructed of various materials, such as glass, tin, organza, tulle and plastic. Now days bonbonniere boxes made from various materials, but they also take on many forms such as bags, cubes, heart shaped boxes, and plastic noodle boxes to name just a few. Regardless of your wedding style or theme, there are bound to be perfect bonbonniere to enhance your ambiance.

What gifts are suitable to be used as Bonbonniere?
Shopping for the perfect bonbonniere gift for your wedding can be a pleasurable part of your wedding planning.  There is such a large variety of bonbonniere delight to give your guests from the conventional sugared almonds in tuel to custom-made chocolates and candies in personalized boxes.

Contemporary bonbonniere can include cupcakes, candles and other trinkets.  You may also select petite gifts such as a photo frame or bath salts or a single wrapped out of the ordinary chocolate.

Adding Personal touches to your bonbonniere
One wedding accessory that should not be overlooked when planning your wedding are bonbonniere boxes. These are wedding favors or gifts given as a gesture of gratitude to those who attended your wedding. The tradition of distributing bonbonniere boxes to wedding guests is an old one. Whatever theme you have chosen for your wedding, there are bonbonniere boxes available to fit it perfectly. Today, bonbonniere boxes are constructed from various materials and come in numerous designs. Most bonbonniere boxes are made of card, sturdy paper products, stainless steel, and organza and tulle fabrics. The designs of bonbonniere boxes are practically endless from cubes, pillow boxes, hearts, treasure chests, satchels, carry boxes, noodle and hexagonal boxes to name just a few.

Once you have chosen the perfect bonbonniere boxes to compliment your wedding theme, you can have them personalised with the name of you and your beloved and the date of your special day. This can be inscribed on the bonbonniere boxes themselves or on the ribbon. The inscription is done in gold foil and adds a sophisticated touch to any wedding motif. What better way for your wedding guests to remember this special occasion than by having a keepsake that is personalised with your names and the date of your wedding?

When planning your wedding you want to insure that it will be a day to remember, not only for you and your beloved, but for all those who helped to make the day special. Regardless if you decide on a traditional or non-traditional wedding, or your style is sophisticated, classy, elegant, or down-to-earth; there are bonbonniere boxes that will thoroughly compliment your taste and wedding theme. By giving personalised bonbonniere boxes, your wedding guests will have a keepsake to remember your special day for a lifetime.

How to Choose and fill Your Bonbonniere Boxes
Everybody loves to get a little surprise—that’s why bonbonnieres are so popular at weddings. Each guest feels a thrill of anticipation when opening his or her own personal favor gift. So treat your guests like royalty, and give them a bonbonniere they’ll treasure.

Bonbonnieres come in so many styles that it is easy to find one that matches your theme, colours, or sense of style. Bonbonnieres vary from luxurious organza bags to noodle boxes.  Noodle bonbonniere boxes resemble Chinese take-out boxes, but with considerable more flare. Depending on the colour scheme decided for your wedding, there is bound to be noodle bonbonniere boxes in the perfect colour to compliment your wedding décor and style. From clear plastic, to coloured or tinted coloured plastic bonbonniere boxes, the selection and array to choose from is virtually endless.  Or if you are on a budget purchase cheaper white noodle boxes and ad your own colour with ribbon or stickers.

Bonbonniere noodle boxes can add an extra touch of modern style to the place settings at your wedding reception dinner or they can be set on a table to be taken by the guests either as they enter or leave the wedding reception. Noodle bonbonniere boxes not only add a contemporary flair  to your wedding décor, but also lovingly convey your appreciation to those who attended your special day. Regardless of what style is best suited to your unique taste, bonbonniere boxes are the perfect finishing touch to a well-planned wedding.

Even the shape of your bonbonniere box can send a message. A glossy, silver cube lends a sleek look to a contemporary reception. For a romantic souvenir that will make the ladies sigh, a heart-shaped bonbonniere box in soft, antique gold glows with warmth. Or for co-ed appeal, a candy-striped treasure chest bonbonniere adds a dash of whimsy.

A bag or satchel is another highly popular style of bonbonniere. A draw-string organza bag, a simple paper bag, or a satchel festooned with ribbon may be exactly what you’re looking for. Perhaps your guests would be charmed by a lavender organza bag filled with traditional sugar-coated almonds or heart shaped chocolates. If you’d like an elegant effect, place rose petals in a transparent satchel and decorate it with a crimson satin bow or gold ribbon. 

Bonbonniere – Where do you start!
Step 1:  think about choosing bonbonniere to suit the ambience of your wedding scheme. Is it going to be stylish or relaxed? Do you have a theme? Reducing your choices of the bonbonniere to those that will suit you theme is a great place to start. For instance a contemporary wedding would be well suited to noodle boxes as bonbonniere, where as a traditional or formal wedding would better suit to organza bags or tuel.  

Step 2:  a thought when selecting from the numerous bonbonniere options is the amount of guest who will be attending the wedding and your finances. Bonbonniere prices range from under one dollar each to costly and luxurious. The more you do yourself toward decorating your bonbonniere the more you will save.  You ought to give a bonbonniere that is going to be enjoyed by your guests and not buy the cheapest of the bonbonniere ideas simply because they are the least expensive or the dearest just to be impressive.  It is the thought that counts so be cleaver choosing your bonbonniere and try and come up with your own unique idea.

Step 3:  don’t forget about presentation of your bonbonniere. Does the bonbonniere item need to be decorated or personalized? Should it be in a box or perhaps tied with a bow?  It is the enhancements you make to coordinate your bonbonniere to enhance your wedding theme that will make it unique.

Step 4:  you guests may want to keep their bonbonniere as a memento of your wedding. So you may like to have your bonbonniere personalised with your names and date of the wedding. This can be on the bonbonniere itself or on the box or ribbon.  It is a good idea to purchase a few extra for your keepsakes and to offer to guests who were unable to attend your wedding.

There is a bonbonniere idea for every wedding theme the fun part is creating the bonbonniere that is perfect for yours!

What is the difference between bonbonniere and bonbonniere?
Bomboniere (Italian)  -  Bonbonniere (French)

The "bonbonniere" can be traced back to the early days of European history, when amongst the wealthy aristocrats they were given to celebrate birthdays, christening and marriages. In their earliest form, "bonbonniere" were made of gold, precious stones, crystal or porcelain. Even its contents were of great value as sugar was a costly delicacy, prized for its supposed medical properties.

In the centuries that followed, as the cost of sugar reduced and with the mass-production of sugared almonds (confetti) "bonbonniere" in its many forms, reached all sections of the populace. Almonds have been given at weddings to wish the couple health, wealth, happiness, longevity and fertility for over a thousand years, but not until the 13th century where they covered with a layer of sugar to become "confetti".

Today, "bonbonniere", under its various names is given in European and Mediterranean countries. In Italy, "bonbonniere" is an exquisite gift made of lace, net, artificial flowers and ribbon, with sugared almonds or chocolates. It may be given as a gift in its own right or, used to enhance another gift.

Today, in Europe, every detail of a wedding is filled with a special meaning. Certain customs are carefully followed so that each member of the community is blessed with the fresh spirit of the bride. One of these customs is the giving of favors to all the wedding guests. The bride prepares these gifts of almonds (traditionally five) elaborately wrapped and decorated. These "thank you art forms" symbolize the bride's special acknowledgement of each friend and relative who shares her special joy.

In Australia in recent years, the practice of giving "bonbonniere" at weddings, christenings etc. has truly taken hold as Australian brides discover the pleasure it gives to have a lasting memento of their wedding

DIY Bonbonniere - Make your own wedding bonbonniere.  Easy tips and hints.


WEDDING FAVORS, BONBONNIERE, BOMBONIERE  AUSTRALIA