Traditional Asian Wedding Favors
Perhaps one of the first images that comes to mind when envisioning an Asian wedding is that of paper lanterns. Paper lanterns are long associated with Asian culture. Their soft glow and warm luminescence tranforms any space into something magical. Paper lantern favors are lovely and are available in a variety of shapes, styles and colors. Consider giving each guest their own lantern.
Some people claim that colored light bulbs (low watt only) are preferable to colored lanterns. Guests might enjoy receiving their own white lantern and then choosing their favorite colored bulb to go with it. One can also incorporate the lantern motif into Asian wedding favors by presenting guests with lantern charms for jewelry or lantern-shaped candles.
The sharing of sake is an old Japanese tradition. The sake toast has come to honor and symbolize the sacred wedding bond. Including a sake theme is an authentic way to lace your wedding with Asian history. Have your guests partake in this ancient toasting ritual, and then send them home with beautiful sake cups to use again and again.
The crane, known as the tsuru in Japan, is a powerful symbol in Asian culture. In Korea, China, and Japan, the crane stands for peace and long life. Legend has it that 1,000 folded origami cranes have the power to make a wish come true. Imagine 1,000 paper cranes of every color presented on a special table at the wedding reception. This lovely legend could be shared with guests and they could take home a graceful paper bird as a wedding favor.
Chopsticks, too, make delightful Asian-themed wedding favors. Whether they are simple wooden chopsticks tied with festive ribbon or elegant lacquer chopsticks presented in a personalized silk pouch, they will add to the pleasure of the day. If you are serving an Asian wedding meal, you could give each wedding guest their own set of elegant chopsticks to use during the reception and then take home. Or, you might prefer to wrap chopsticks in a traditional Asian fabric and tie the package with bamboo string.
Set Your Imagination to Work
There are many fun and dramatic Asian wedding favor ideas. The following is a brief list of possibilities:
- Fortune cookie box: wedding suppliers stock cardboard, silver-plated, and silk fortune cookie boxes. They can hold a variety of gifts, in addition to actual fortune cookies.
- Gourmet fortune cookies: These delectable treats come in a variety of flavors, including hand-dipped in nuts and chocolate, and can be personalized with wedding-related fortunes.
- Asian fans: whether you choose paper or silk, these fans are crowd pleasers and hold a delightful appeal.
- Incense: with its holistic and life-restoring properties, incense can be distributed in varying aromas.
- Asian candles: sushi and takeout container replicas add a touch of whimsy to your favors.
- Orchids: actual flowers or artwork
- Buddha statues
- Asian brocade wallets
- Straw bags
- Asian edibles and drinkables: wasabe beer, green tea, rice candy
- Musical CDs
- Origami paper and instruction booklets
When one considers the rich Asian culture, it is not surprising that there are so many Asian wedding favor ideas to choose from. Your guests are sure to appreciate receiving these tokens of gratitude.
