Planning a wedding is a wonderful task — but there’s always lots to consider. Let our experts make your wedding favour choices a little more indulgent and easier to digest. How? With the help of some delectable wedding chocolate treats.

If you are planning your wedding, chances are you’ve already got an idea of what you want the day to look like. Let us try to guess — an exquisite venue, a scrumptious menu, an intricately designed three-tier wedding cake, flowers to match your colour scheme, and, of course, the perfect outfit.

As a time-honoured tradition, wedding favours are not to be missed out on your big day festivities. They act as a thoughtful and caring gesture for your guests, allowing them to look back at your special day, made up of heartwarming memories and great taste (literally!) But, how do you choose a wedding favour that will satisfy the majority of your guest list? Well, let’s start with the basics.

Wedding favours and their origins

The tradition of wedding favours developed many centuries ago, deep within European aristocracy, and notably in France and Italy. Guests would receive a small gift referred to as a ‘bomboniera’ by our Italian counterparts.

The bomboniera is formed by a small decorative box, filled with a delicious chocolate treat. It’s a gift of experience — a surefire way to ensure your big day won’t be forgotten. These were often handed out on celebratory occasions, including birthdays and weddings as a way of bestowing good luck on guests.

Back when they first originated, wedding favours often consisted of a sugary treat to exude prosperity, often in the form of five sugar-coated almonds. Each one represented fertility, health, wealth, happiness, and longevity respectively — adding to the symbolic significance of wedding favours.

Wedding favours in the modern-day

This tradition lives on in certain cultures, such as in Greece and Italy, where Jordan almonds are still given to guests in quaint boxes. Legend says that, if an unmarried woman puts the Jordan almonds beneath her pillow, she’ll dream of her future husband. Maybe something to tell your bridesmaids about…

Fast forward to the present day, wedding favours are now usually given by the bride and groom as a small gesture of appreciation and gratitude to their guests for attending their special day.

Luckily, wedding favours can now be of any grandeur you desire — from keepsakes, and jewellery to chocolate biscuits and candles — to reflect your own taste and that all-important budget.

Why choose a chocolate wedding favour?

We may be slightly biased, but let’s face it: chocolate has an undeniable universal appeal. Cacao has several links to romance and love — some of which started as early as the 16th century, when chocolate became a common courtly token of love and romance.

The nostalgic sentiment of chocolate wedding favours will evoke a feeling of happiness and joy in your guests. What could be more apt? And what’s not to love? If you’re still not convinced, here are a few other reasons to choose chocolate wedding favours.

Chocolate offers a variety of choice

From the mellow notes of white and milk chocolate to nuanced dark, pink ruby chocolate and even Vegan* options, the choices for your chocolate favours are endless. Whether you’re navigating your guests’ dietary requirements or preferences, it’s good to be able to offer an option for everyone to enjoy. Luckily, this is something you can ensure with chocolate gifts.

This also means you’re making the extra effort to ensure your chocolate wedding favours hit the spot with each person’s Chocolate Love Match — and that won’t go unnoticed.

Top tip: Add a little questionnaire to your wedding save-the-date invitations to find out the dietary requirements of your guests early.

*We believe our dark and Nutmilk chocolate is suitable for vegans, however, as it is made in the same environment as our milk chocolate we cannot guarantee it is free from milk.

Chocolate is affordable

Compared to the aristocrats of the past, many no longer feel the need to lavish their wedding guests with expensive gifts. What matters most is that they’re sharing the special day with you after all.

However, when it comes to cacao, there’s no need to compromise on luxury due to your budget. Chocolate wedding favours are an affordable option that retains a touch of elegance, class and sophistication.

Chocolate suits any occasion and celebration

A formal affair at a swanky hotel with elegant Champagne truffles, a roaring twenties-style knees-up accompanied by a liqueur chocolate selection, or an uplifting barn dance paired with rustic chocolate Batons and Slabs.

As you can see, chocolates can go with pretty much any theme you can imagine. Its versatility is why we simply can’t get enough of it. Are you having a winter wedding? Why not serve up some comforting hot chocolate or create a DIY hot chocolate bar? It’s sure to go down a treat.

The best chocolate wedding favour ideas

With so much cacao-rich goodness on offer, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed with your choices. At Hotel Chocolat, we take great pride in our many years of chocolate knowledge, and we’re here to help you narrow down your options so you can find the perfect chocolate wedding favours for your guests.

Chocolate macarons

Two crispy, meringue-based layers with a smooth, silky filling. The satisfying blend of textures in a macaron never disappoints. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but you also have the bonus of choosing macarons that match in with your wedding day colour scheme.

You can go fruity with Raspberry Macarons, adventurous with Caramel Cheesecake Macarons, add a burst of colour with Neapolitan Macarons, or keep it classic with our beloved Vanilla Macarons.

Mini cacao alcohol favours

For such a festive affair, wedding favours of mini chocolate liqueurs fit the bill. What better way to raise a toast to love? We offer a variety of chocolate alcoholic drinks — from our Cacao Gin with a twist of zingy orange to the soothing Velvetised Chocolate Cream. Don’t forget — we offer smaller 50ml bottles, perfect for wedding table favours.

If you’re looking for a gift for your bridesmaids or groomsmen, we also have a selection of chocolate gift sets including a tipple or two: The Chocolate & Fizz Collection and The Cacao Bar Collection. Don’t just take our word for it though. Our liqueurs, including the Salted Caramel Velvetised Chocolat Cream, have all won awards for their outstanding tastes.

Minimalistic Chocolate Batons

The unadulterated flavour of lovingly crafted chocolate doesn’t get much better than in the simple form of a snappable Chocolate Baton. They’re the perfect shape for nibbling on between courses or after an hour or two or dancing — and they’re also ideal as a quick pick-me-up, dipped into a well-deserved cuppa the morning after the big day.

By choosing from our extensive range of Batons, you can offer different flavours to fit in with your guests’ preferences. Choose from Caramel Chocolate Batons, Supermilk Chocolate Batons, 100% Dark Chocolate Batons, and many more. Why not try them for yourself before you buy them for your guests? The Mellow Baton Library offers a taste of three varieties — 40% milk, caramel, and white chocolate.

Hot chocolate sachets

Useful for warming up, hot chocolate can also bring a sense of tranquillity and cosiness. A wonderful wedding favour for your guests to indulge in when they get back home from a night of celebration. If they’re lucky enough to own The Velvetiser, they’ll be able to create barista-grade hot chocolate in just 2.5 minutes.

To gift your guests the warmth of cafe-quality hot chocolate, you can create goodie bags for wedding favours. Select a few flavours of our Hot Chocolate Sachets, and match a flavour or two to your loved ones for a personalised (yet delectable) wedding favour. Do you have a dessert lover in the family? Our Black Forest Gateau Hot Chocolate will go down a hit. If you have adventurous family members, expand their taste buds’ horizons with the help of our new Caramelised Pineapple Hot Chocolate, or our Banoffee Pie Hot Chocolate.

Make your wedding favours a taste to remember with Hotel Chocolat

In our eyes, it’s hard to go wrong with the allure of chocolate wedding favours.

No matter whether you go for cosy hot chocolate, delicate chocolate macarons, or a handful of chocolate tipples, your guests are unlikely to forget your wedding day any time soon.

The most beautiful part? The next time they reach for a box of chocolate, they’ll reminisce back to your special day. And that’s what it’s all about.

Browse our chocolate collection today, and make your special day an experience to remember with Hotel Chocolat.