As coffee shop culture reaches ever more towns and cities, so its influence over our lives increases. Choice of wedding favours has often been led by the overall theme of the wedding and this can be influenced by any number of outside influences.

So could it be that the new colour taking 2008 by storm is pure coincidence or could it be that an increasing number of brides are choosing coffee, mocha and chocolate brown in keeping with new trends sweeping the nation? Is coffee shop culture really changing our behaviour?

Similarly the huge growth in gardening and outdoor activities may also take credit for another popular colour - green in all its varieties... sage green, lime green. olive and spring fresh green. Our national obsession with gardening and the great outdoors appears to be breaking through to influence the entire look of our weddings this year. If a link can be established between lifestyle trends and wedding trends then the future in wedding favours may be accurately predicted.

At a national wedding show last week around 50% of brides visiting our stand requested either browns or greens when requesting wedding favours. The popularity of these colours is immense. Rich browns and vivid greens offer a variety of options when choosing wedding favours, accessories, boxes, ribbons and embelishments can all be sourced to complement these natural colour schemes.

Flowers as wedding favours are one interesting idea which fits with these earthy colour schemes. If you want to go a step further and really surprise your guests then chocolate flowers work a treat. You can find some lovely examples of these in many different varieties from daisies to calla lilies to roses and everything in between. These favours can be tied with a ribbon and your guest's names attached or alternatively simply place on chocolate flower favour delicately across each guest's place setting to add to your beautiful table decorations and to create a wonderful talking point.

Whatever wedding favours you choose your guests are sure to be delighted with their gift and keepsake of your day as they relax with a hot, frothy after dinner coffee, in the garden.