MODERN day brides are moving away from the traditional five sugared almonds for their wedding bomboniere.
Although the almonds represent health, wealth, happiness, fertility and a long life, just about anything can be used as bomboniere, including non-edible gifts.
Often the most effective bomboniere is handmade, according to website easyweddings.com.au.
"A small glass jar with a pretty fabric cover and personalised label can be a wonderful favour when it is filled with honey, jam, coffee beans, chutney or even olives," easyweddings states.
"A small decorative cardboard box with a ribbon can be filled with fudge or cookies. Where possible, choose locally produced ingredients and make bomboniere yourself.
"A current trend in edible bomboniere is to have a sweet bar with jars or bowls with lots of different types of candy. Provide your guests with little boxes or bags to fill up themselves.
"This has the advantage that you know your guests are getting treats that they like.
"To keep your table arrangements minimal, try combining your bomboniere with your place name. Attach a piece of card, perhaps with a decoration such as a ribbon or crystal, to your bomboniere with your guest's name written or printed on it in a highly visible font.
"If you want to be sure your guests will take their wedding bomboniere home with them, consider handing them out as the guests leave, or having them in a basket on a table by the exit with a sign saying they should help themselves."