Planning a wedding is no simple task. Let our experts make your wedding favour choices a little sweeter and easier to digest.

If you are planning your wedding, chances are you’ve already got an idea of what you want the day to look like: 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 from your big day festivities. They act as a thoughtful and caring gesture to your guests, allowing them to remember your special day long after they’ve danced (or stumbled) out of the reception. But, how can you choose a wedding favour that will satisfy your guest list? Well, let’s start with the basics.

What is a wedding favour, and where did it come from?

The tradition developed many centuries ago, deep within European aristocracy, and notably in France and Italy. Guests would receive a small gift called a ‘bonbonniere’, also referred to as ‘bomboniere’ by our Italian counterparts. It would consist of a small box, typically made out of gold, crystal, stones, and porcelain, filled with a delicious treat. A sure-fire way to ensure your big day wasn’t 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. These were usually only handed out by the wealthy, as sugar was an expensive commodity at the time.

This tradition lives on in certain cultures, such as in Greece and Italy, where Jordan Almonds are given to guests. Legend says that, if an unmarried woman puts the Jordan Almonds beneath her pillow, she’ll dream of her future husband.

Fast forward to our present day, and 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 to reflect your own taste and, most importantly, budget. We don’t all have boxes made out of crystals and porcelain laying about…

Why choose a chocolate wedding favour?

We may be slightly biased, but let’s face it: chocolate has a special universal appeal. It’s also known for creating happiness due to the endorphins we release when eating it. What’s not to love? If you’re still not convinced, here are a few other examples as to why chocolate wedding favours should be your go-to.

Chocolate means a variety is at your disposal

White, milk, dark, ruby, vegan, the choices are endless. Whether you’re dealing with food intolerances, allergies, dietary requirements, or even preferences, it’s good to be able to offer options to your guests. This also means you’re going that little extra way to make sure your chocolate wedding favours really hit the spot with each person’s taste!

Top Tip: Have a little questionnaire included in your save-the-date invitations to make this a little easier to plan!

Chocolate equals affordability

Compared to our European aristocrats, we don’t need to lavish wedding guests with expensive gifts. However, there’s no need to compromise on luxury due to your budget. Chocolate wedding favours are an affordable option that still retain a touch of class and sophistication.

Chocolate goes with every wedding

A formal affair at a swanky hotel with elegant champagne-flavoured truffles, a mob-themed twenties style knees-up accompanied by liqueur chocolate, or a rustic barn dance paired with novelty chocolate batons. Chocolates can go with pretty much any theme you can imagine. Its versatility is why we simply can’t get enough. Some weddings may even serve scrumptious hot chocolate, particularly if it’s a cold night!

Chocolate wedding favour ideas

With so much chocolatey goodness on offer, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed with choices. As your experts in chocolate, we’re here to help you narrow down your options, so you can find the perfect chocolate wedding favours for your guests. From sophisticated Rare and Vintage single origin chocolate to quirky animal characters, we’ve got you covered at Hotel Chocolat.

Proceed with caution as you may not be able to resist buying a little something for yourself!

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 extremely pleasing from an aesthetics perspective, but you also have the bonus of choosing macarons that match in with your wedding day colour scheme. How brilliant is that?

Unfortunately, macarons don’t always retain their crunch for long, so you might prefer a chocolate alternative. You can go fruity with Raspberry Macarons, adventurous with Caramel Cheesecake Macarons, colourful with Neapolitan Macarons, or go back to basics with Vanilla Macaroons.

Chocolate-infused beer

A beautiful partnership between beer and chocolate that can’t be ignored. Typically an ale or lager with the addition of chocolate or cacao, their combination brings out dynamic flavours which are hard not to love. We can vouch for its subtle balance between the distinctive undertones of bitter chocolate and those delicious malty tones that really pack a punch.

Why not try out Cocoa Beer as a wedding favour for beer enthusiasts? Once you taste it, you’ll never want to switch back to traditional beer!

Chocolate Liqueur

To satisfy that perfect equilibrium between alcohol and chocolate, chocolate liqueur could be your answer. What better way to raise a toast to love than with these as your chocolate wedding favours?

As with most of our ranges, we have a variety of alcohol-infused chocolates available. After a drink? Our range suitable for wedding favours include Cacao Gin 50ml and Chocolate Cream Liqueur 50ml. If you’re after something a little bigger, we have two varieties of chocolate liqueur gift sets: The Little Tipples Liqueur Gift Set and The Little Tipples Collection. Don’t just take our word for it though. Our liqueurs, including the Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Cacao Gin, and Salted Caramel Cacao Vodka Liqueur have all won awards for their outstanding tastes!

If you’re after alcohol-flavoured chocolates, give our Tipsy Truffles H-Box a go for added finesse to your chocolate wedding favours.

Chocolate Batons

The unadulterated flavour of expertly crafted chocolate won’t get much better than with Chocolate Batons. We designed them to be the perfect shape for chocolate tasting. They’re also ideal as a quick sweet treat or dipped into your morning cup of coffee.

By choosing from our extensive range of batons, you can offer different flavours to fit in with your guests’ preferences. Caramel Chocolate Batons, Mint Batons, Orange Wafer Batons, Peanut Butter Batons, and many more. We’ve even got 70% Dark Chocolate Batons for all dark devotees.

Hot Chocolate

Useful for warming up our hands and tummies, hot chocolate also has the power to transport us to a sense of tranquility and coziness as it’s often referred to as a ‘bedtime drink’.

We even have our own hot chocolate system – The Velvetiser – which creates silky-smooth hot chocolate in just 2.5 minutes.

Offer velvet choc goodness with any of our Hot Chocolate sachets or tubs as your chocolate wedding favours. These include our Vanilla White 250g Tub, Chocolate Latte Sachets, and our Salted Caramel 250g Tub.

Alternatives to traditional chocolate wedding favours

When we say chocolate wedding favours, we don’t always mean edible chocolates. You can still think outside of the box and let your guests experience the vast selection of chocolate gifts to choose from. Chocolate truly has transformed the way we produce many everyday objects, such as homeware and cosmetic products. Did you know you could even buy chocolate-flavoured toothpaste? As chocolate lovers, we can’t say we’re not tempted.

Particularly popular as wedding favours, our Chocolate Almond Lip Balm will bring a smile to your guests’ faces. Its blend of natural ingredients offers several benefits above the simple act of moisturising your lips. It smells pretty great too. If you like the scent of chocolate, why not indulge your guests with a Cacao and Vanilla Candle?

Everlasting (chocolate) love

We hope our guide has offered you an insight into the ever-expanding world of chocolate delicacies. It is hard to go wrong with chocolate wedding favours. With the plethora of options at your disposal, you’re bound to surprise and impress your guests with high-quality, luxurious, mouth-watering chocolates. Whether you go for cozy hot chocolate, delicate macarons, or tipsy chocolates, your guests are unlikely to forget your wedding day any time soon. The next time they reach for a box of chocolate, they’ll reminisce back to your exchanged vows, the look of love on your face all day long, and your family members’ amazing dance moves.