How Many Jordan Almonds Should Go into a Wedding Favor?

Giving guests Jordan almonds at the reception is a tradition that is more than 3,000 years old.

Traditional Presentations

In Italy, France and Greece it is customary to offer guests three to five Jordan almonds wrapped in tuile. Known as the Italian "bonbonniere" or confetti favor, the number of almonds is important so as not to bring bad luck on the couple. In the Middle East, the five almonds represent health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity.

Modern Ideas

Many brides choose to include the traditional Jordan almond in their wedding celebration, but modify it to suit their style and taste. Some coordinate the colors of the candy on the outside of the almond to match their wedding colors. Others offer more almonds or almonds in gold or silver. Wedding favors should always contain an odd number of almonds, however, as odd numbers are indivisible just as marriages should be.

Bottom Line

According to the wedding website, The Knot, "These fancy, sugarcoated candies are rich in flavor and in cultural meaning, particularly at Italian and Greek weddings. Fresh almonds have a bittersweet taste, which represents life; the sugarcoating is added with the hope that the newlyweds' life will be more sweet than bitter."

References

• JordanAlmonds.com: Tradition and History
• The Knot: All About Jordan Almonds