You’ve booked the venue, bought your dress, had the invitations printed… you’ve pretty much ticked off everything on your list except… the wedding bonbonniere, and you have no idea what you’re going to do!

Traditional wedding bonbonniere
Bonbonniere is the Italian word for the gifts or favours given to guests on special occasions such as weddings or confirmation. Traditionally bonbonniere 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.

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.

So what sort of bonbonniere should you choose for your wedding? 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 good idea to ensure that at least one part of your gift can be kept by your guests as a memento, even if it’s just the tag.

If you are planning a formal wedding, you may like to stay with the tradition of almonds in tulle. A nice variation on this is a photo frame with a message printed inside, and almonds in tulle tied to the back.

There are also a lovely range of traditional Italian bomboniere boxes that would look gorgeous on the table of any modern wedding – the trapunta box, with its pretty embossed diamond pattern is very elegant.

Modern wedding bonbonniere
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.

If you're looking for something quirky that will spark conversation among your guests, why not go for a novelty item that matches your personality. Homemade fortune cookies with personal messages, or retro conversation hearts are always fun. Or perhaps choose a mini gumball dispenser to add a playful touch to the table. Stylish silver tins, or exquisitely designed packaging fits nicely into a modern wedding setting and also doubles as a table decoration.

For beach or garden weddings, candles are always a nice gift. Large starfish tied with a tag can double as a place setting by printing your guests name on the tag. If you have chosen a floral theme, why not tie it in with your bonbonniere by giving a living gift. Purchase some mini boxes, vases or pots and plant your favourite bloom.

If your budget for gifts is tight (and it could well be with the average couple paying around $500 for their bonbonniere), don’t overlook your local supermarket and your own personal creativity! Marshmallows, liquorice allsorts or boiled sweets look great in clear cube boxes tied with matching ribbon. You can find lots of beautiful fonts online, and print tags on your home printer, use a stamp or neatly handwrite them; and don't forget, when it comes to shopping for unique and stylish bonbonniere, the internet is your best friend... let your imagination run wild!

All products pictured above are available online at The Wise Bride.