Wedding Confetti

The moment when the bride and groom are showered with wedding confetti, handfuls of tiny coloured paper shapes, is a great photo opportunity at many weddings, but in these eco-conscious days might be seen as a reckless waste of paper. But where and when did this strange custom originate?

You may be surprised to know that the older ceremony, that of throwing rice at the happy couple (ouch), dates back to ancient times. To the Assyrians, Hebrews and Egyptians, rice symbolised fruitfulness and fertility, so it was seen as a good omen to throw it at a newly married couple. Therefore, when you throw confetti over the bride and groom, you are re-enacting this ancient fertiity rite!

The word ‘confetti' is Italian and comes from the same root as ‘confectionery', referring to sweets, grains and nuts that used to be covered in sugar and thrown at the newly-weds. You might well find that confetti is forbidden at your own wedding venue, not on ecological grounds but because it's a devil to clean up afterwards.

So are there any alternatives? Well, some modern brides go for rainbow soap bubbles (the type kids make) as a pretty and hygienic alternative. At Henry Kaye, we prefer to offer elegant little confetti bags filled not with paper but with fragrant dried rose petals. Romantic, and biodegradable too!

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