DAY Many have said it is better to give than to receive. Certainly that's the case on a wedding day when typically guests give to the bride and groom. Giving wedding favors is the way the bride and groom thank their guests. European couples have long given favors to their guests, and in fact, that's where the tradition of wedding favors began. Italian couples give sugared almonds to their guests as a reminder of the sweet and the bitter in life.
Scandinavian couples send pieces of the wedding cake home with their guests.
Of course, it's not a breach of etiquette not to give favors to your guests. After all, favors are another item that will deplete your budget. But wedding favors need not be expensive. They can be elaborate, simple, inexpensive or extravagant. The most important thing about favors is that they are offered as a sincere gesture of thanks to your guests.