About Me

My name is Marysia and I am the owner and founder of Occasional Favours Bomboniere.  Italian bomboniere (almond favours) have been a part of my life for 35 years, ever since I met (and subsequently married) my Anglo-Italian husband. Despite not being Italian myself, I have always believed in keeping this lovely tradition alive, complete with obligatory glass fronted corner unit to display all the bomboniere I have accrued over the years!

My first career was as a primary school teacher but, in 1999 after the birth of my second son, I had to give that up on medical grounds. Never one to sit still for long, I thought about what occupation I could do that would suit me and the needs of my family. It was obvious that I needed a job that I could do from home and the upcoming Christening of my son gave me the inspiration I needed. I’m also creative and love arts and craft, so it seemed a very natural fit for me to pursue a career designing and selling favours. Consequently, in the year 2000, Gabriel’s Christening bomboniere became the very first Occasional Favours product! 

Since then, I have worked hard developing my business, following the latest trends and fashions in the wedding industry, but keeping traditional Italian bomboniere at the heart of everything I do. There’s been many ups and downs along the way (2020 and the Covid pandemic was a particularly hard year for the wedding industry) but I love what I do, and I’m immensely proud of what I’ve achieved over the past 24 years. The part of my job I love the most is when I get feedback from a customer saying how much they love their bomboniere and then I know I have done my little bit to make their special day even more precious.

When I am not making bomboniere, I can be found behind my trusty Janome sewing machine, crocheting or in my kitchen baking cakes and other treats for family and friends!

-Marysia