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What are Party Favors?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

Party favors are small gifts given to guests who attend an event such as a baby shower, wedding or birthday party. The types of items given as party favors vary widely depending on the occasion and the budget. Party favors may be either handmade or purchased.

Wedding party favors are often both handmade and bought. For example, purchased candies may be added to handmade sachets tied with ribbon and placed beside each place at the wedding dinner. Or, bars of chocolate may be presented with special handmade labels printed with the word love or another appropriate wedding message. Weddings with high budgets may even have silver sugar spoons engraved with the date and/or the bride and groom's first names as party favors.

Party favors may include picture frames.
Party favors may include picture frames.

Giving out party favors is a way of thanking guests for attending the party. Traditionally, a party favor is given when guests bring a gift as a way of thanking them for their gift and for their presence at the event. Some small party favor ideas include small picture frames, seeds for planting and coffee or tea assortments. Party favors that suit the theme of an event work well such as items featuring the company's logo at a party celebrating the launch of a new business.

When hosting a baby or bridal shower, give guests small, commemorative party favors.
When hosting a baby or bridal shower, give guests small, commemorative party favors.

Party favors at children's birthday parties are usually inexpensive multiple items that may include small toys, miniature puzzles and candy. They are often given in little plastic or paper gift bags to children as they leave the party. These inexpensive party favor bags can be fun for children and they allow them to have a gift along with the birthday child.

Balloons are a common party favor for childrens' birthday parties.
Balloons are a common party favor for childrens' birthday parties.

Items that guests are given to use during parties such as hats and horns at a New Year's Eve celebration can also be considered party favors. Christmas crackers are party favors that often contain paper hats along with small trinkets. Some outdoor weddings may include a small container of bubbles and a wand on each guest's chair as a party favor for the guests to use.

Discussion Comments

subway11

GreenWeaver-I know that for my wedding, we used chocolate party favors instead of the traditional almonds.

I used Godiva thin sliced chocolate in a small sachets for every guest. I just wanted to something a little different for my wedding. I felt that they were elegant party favors.

I know for my baby shower we were considering ordering personalized little chocolate bars with my daughter’s name, but we decided against that.

There are a lot of companies that will customize party favors you. I think that it is easier to have the ribbons personalized so you can then wrap it around the items.

GreenWeaver

Birthday party favors should revolve around the party theme. If you have a pirate themed party you can offer small treasure chests filled with various other cheap party favors like a little map, and a black eye patch and a red scarf.

Kid’s party favors really are easy to put together. You can also just buy little ditty bags or treat bags with the theme of the party and add candy.

I really prefer doing this instead of a piñata because with a piñata children are competing for the same candy and I always feel bad for the kids that were not as aggressive.

I prefer giving the party favors at the end of the party as the guests are leaving.

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    • Party favors may include picture frames.
      By: picsfive
      Party favors may include picture frames.
    • When hosting a baby or bridal shower, give guests small, commemorative party favors.
      By: Hadi Yuswanto Djunae
      When hosting a baby or bridal shower, give guests small, commemorative party favors.
    • Balloons are a common party favor for childrens' birthday parties.
      By: Ilike
      Balloons are a common party favor for childrens' birthday parties.
    • Breaking open a piñata may be a fun way for guests to retrieve party favors.
      By: bst2012
      Breaking open a piñata may be a fun way for guests to retrieve party favors.