Wedding bomboniere Articles
Bomboniere, Favors, Place Names etc
Bomboniere: What Should We Give?
Bomboniere: what exactly is bomboniere and what should I give?
Bomboniere - What is it?
Bomboniere is the Italian word for the gifts or favours given to guests on special occasions such as weddings or confirmation. Traditionally bomboniere consists of 5 sugared almonds symbolising health, wealth, happiness, fertility and a long life. The sugared almonds (white for weddings) are wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon.What should I give?
Are you completely confused as to what to give your guests? Do you need to give them anything at all? While you are under no obligation to give gifts to your guests, it is a nice gesture to thank them for attending your wedding, and they’ll appreciate having a special keepsake to remember your wedding day. You certainly don’t need to go overboard with your gifts. It’s nice to give something that relates to your wedding theme but is also meaningful. It’s also a nice to give something that can be kept by your guests as a memento, even if it’s just the tag. If you have a cause or charity that is dear to your heart, you could consider making a donation to the charity and leave a card or note for your guests letting them know.BOMBONIERE STYLE
So what sort of bomboniere should you choose for your wedding?
For a formal traditional wedding
If you are planning a formal wedding, you may like to stay with the tradition of almonds in tulle. Traditionally, the 5 almonds are wrapped in 3 tulle circles and tied with ribbon, this gives a nice fullness to the tulle.
A variation on this is a photo frame with a personal message from the couple printed inside (a love poem or quote), and almonds in tulle tied to the back. This is a traditional gift as well as being practical, as guests can later make use of the frame.
For another variation, you could have almonds in a box or clear cone – if you have more than the 5 almonds, always have an odd number as this brings good luck.
Colours for traditional, formal weddings include white, ivory, gold and red.
For a contemporary wedding
Personalised items are a way great to add a meaningful touch to your wedding – use personalised ribbon or stickers to finish off your boxes. You could give chocolate bars with personalised wrappers or even rock candy featuring your names.
Again, you don’t need to go overboard – if you have an adequate home printer, print up your bomboniere tags with a love poem or your names and wedding date, and this will make a great keepsake for your guests.
Colours for contemporary weddings can include black and white, mocha and brown, chocolate and pale pink, and pale green.
Often, less is more, and style can be in the detail. Take a simple box and a beautiful textured or patterned ribbon (you’ll find some lovely ones at craft shops), add a simple tag and it will look very elegant.
A plain square box finished with a silk flower can look great too – a silk rose or peony for a classic look, or a daisy for a fun, fresh look. Boxes with a subtle pattern or detail will add further detail.
Buckles are great too, thread them onto ribbon and you can add real bling to your bomboniere. You can do the same with your stationery to co-ordinate invites and bomboniere. There are a great range of buckles available, from diamente to pearl and square, round or loveheart.
If you`re looking for something more unusual or fun, why not go for a novelty item – mini gumball dispensers, miniature birds nests, hand fans just to name a few.
Informal beach/garden weddings
For beach weddings, a large coloured starfish tied with a tag can double as a place setting by printing your guests names on the tag.
Decorate boxes with mini starfish or crust the edges with tiny shells or sand. Of course frangipani is great beach theme, and you can find silk frangipani at most craft shops.
Colours for beach weddings can be turquoise, blue, yellow or more subtle sand-inspired shades.
For garden weddings, use vintage garden parties as inspiration – crisp white lace, lovely old fashioned pink roses and greenery.
If having an eco-wedding, consider recycled boxes in earthy tones. Or you could buy little terracotta pots, paint them and plant with a seedling.
Vintage theme wedding
If you’re going for a 1920s look, think feathers or diamente buckles, and the colours of black and white. Emerald green is also a great 1920s colour. Your bomboniere tag could be printed with a great art deco pattern for a lovely 1920s touch. If you have a good home printer, simply download some free clipart with an art deco border.
For an early vintage feel, think lace – perhaps tie 5 sugared almonds in vintage lace handkerchiefs or lace doilies. Alternatively, use a lace ribbon tied around a co-ordinating box. Colours include mocha, cream, pink and brown.
Don’t stress
When it comes down to it, don’t stress too much about your bomboniere – keep it simple, use your wedding theme and colours to inspire it, and it’s sure to look fantastic and be a hit with your guests.
For a formal traditional wedding
If you are planning a formal wedding, you may like to stay with the tradition of almonds in tulle. Traditionally, the 5 almonds are wrapped in 3 tulle circles and tied with ribbon, this gives a nice fullness to the tulle. A variation on this is a photo frame with a personal message from the couple printed inside (a love poem or quote), and almonds in tulle tied to the back. This is a traditional gift as well as being practical, as guests can later make use of the frame. For another variation, you could have almonds in a box or clear cone – if you have more than the 5 almonds, always have an odd number as this brings good luck. Colours for traditional, formal weddings include white, ivory, gold and red.For a contemporary wedding
Personalised items are a way great to add a meaningful touch to your wedding – use personalised ribbon or stickers to finish off your boxes. You could give chocolate bars with personalised wrappers or even rock candy featuring your names. Again, you don’t need to go overboard – if you have an adequate home printer, print up your bomboniere tags with a love poem or your names and wedding date, and this will make a great keepsake for your guests. Colours for contemporary weddings can include black and white, mocha and brown, chocolate and pale pink, and pale green. Often, less is more, and style can be in the detail. Take a simple box and a beautiful textured or patterned ribbon (you’ll find some lovely ones at craft shops), add a simple tag and it will look very elegant. A plain square box finished with a silk flower can look great too – a silk rose or peony for a classic look, or a daisy for a fun, fresh look. Boxes with a subtle pattern or detail will add further detail. Buckles are great too, thread them onto ribbon and you can add real bling to your bomboniere. You can do the same with your stationery to co-ordinate invites and bomboniere. There are a great range of buckles available, from diamente to pearl and square, round or loveheart. If you`re looking for something more unusual or fun, why not go for a novelty item – mini gumball dispensers, miniature birds nests, hand fans just to name a few.Informal beach/garden weddings
For beach weddings, a large coloured starfish tied with a tag can double as a place setting by printing your guests names on the tag. Decorate boxes with mini starfish or crust the edges with tiny shells or sand. Of course frangipani is great beach theme, and you can find silk frangipani at most craft shops. Colours for beach weddings can be turquoise, blue, yellow or more subtle sand-inspired shades. For garden weddings, use vintage garden parties as inspiration – crisp white lace, lovely old fashioned pink roses and greenery. If having an eco-wedding, consider recycled boxes in earthy tones. Or you could buy little terracotta pots, paint them and plant with a seedling.Vintage theme wedding
If you’re going for a 1920s look, think feathers or diamente buckles, and the colours of black and white. Emerald green is also a great 1920s colour. Your bomboniere tag could be printed with a great art deco pattern for a lovely 1920s touch. If you have a good home printer, simply download some free clipart with an art deco border. For an early vintage feel, think lace – perhaps tie 5 sugared almonds in vintage lace handkerchiefs or lace doilies. Alternatively, use a lace ribbon tied around a co-ordinating box. Colours include mocha, cream, pink and brown.Don’t stress
When it comes down to it, don’t stress too much about your bomboniere – keep it simple, use your wedding theme and colours to inspire it, and it’s sure to look fantastic and be a hit with your guests.This article by: Karen Vance
I own The Wise Bride, an online store selling wedding bomboniere, gifts and accessories
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