Confetti fiori, from the word "confection," are tulle flowers with candy-coated almonds set inside the petals to convey best wishes. The tradition goes back to Roman times when confetti was comprised of honey-coated seeds. When sugar came to medieval Italy from the Orient, apothecaries began giving sugarcoated pills, and sugarcoating became associated with healing powers.
Confetti fiori were developed in the 16th century by nuns of the Santa Chirara convent in Sulmona. Sugared almonds, which were already being given out on special occasions in bundles of five for good luck, were fashioned into flowers with the five petals signifying health, happiness, prosperity, fertility, and a long life.
Confetti can be given out in three traditional ways: loose, in tulle bundles, or in flowers. If you give out loose confetti to your guests, do so as you're walking around the room at your reception greeting everyone. The groom should hold the basket while the bride scoops out the almonds and offers them to guests.
A tulle bundle containing five candy-coated almonds is now among the most widely recognized wedding favors across many cultures, although the couple may not even know the story behind it. You can bet that your guests don't either, so it's a good idea to include a small slip of paper inside your little bundle (fortune-cookie style) briefly explaining the tradition. The tulle you use can be any color imaginable, or two contrasting colors of loose-weave tulle layered together. Your tie can be anything from a simple small bow to an explosion of curling ribbon, and you may choose to accent it with a small flower or charm. The details are completely up to you.
You may also choose to put five candy-coated almonds into a decorative box or tin and tie it up with ribbon. You can find traditional Italian favor boxes in bulk at craft-supply stores, in catalogs, or online, in a variety of shapes including square, a streamlined "satchel," a fancy tulle "wrap," or a cone. These generally cost forty to fifty cents apiece. For general purposes, a small paper craft box with a nice bow works just as well.
Single-stem confetti flowers may be laid at a guest's place at the table either as-is or tucked into a napkin. You might also wrap them in tissue or rice paper tied with ribbon. A nice touch is to have a tag or gift card telling the history of confetti fiori attached to the flower with ribbon. They can also be put with live flowers or arranged by themselves as an excellent breakaway centerpiece. You might want to put your confetti fiori together in an elaborately decorated basket and hand them out while circulating among your guests. This is an excellent task for children. (Your flower girls will have had plenty of practice!)
With traditional Italian confetti wedding favors, you can share with your guests a rich cultural tradition while expressing to them your appreciation and blessings. Plus, itÂ?s a nice way to say grazie.
