Favors
 |
Good parties deserve good favors, but you do not need to break the bank trying to avoid clichéd favors like key chains and bubbles. It is easy to find simple and unique gifts that will not cost you an arm and a leg or take you half the week before your event to prepare. Craft and special occasion stores now have a multitude of options that will help you find the perfect favors that are simple and affordable, no matter your party budget.
The most important thing to remember when choosing a favor for your special occasion is that you need to find a gift your guests will recognize and appreciate as your token of gratitude to them for sharing in your celebration. Remember that when you are throwing a party, the favors are your way to say thank you. Since they will be speaking for you, you need to pick something that matches your party’s theme and your personality. So, when you are picking out your favors, use it as an opportunity to make your celebration unique and special for you and your guests.
At least once in our lives, we have all received favors we secretly did not want, but with the limitless options for favors out there, you never have to give an impersonal favor again. Whatever your party or your theme, you will be able to find something that will match your décor and will make your guests remember your celebration for years to come. The following are some ideas to get you started.
Edible Favors
The most common favors, and the most well liked by guests, are edible favors. Everything from candy hearts to chocolate truffles will likely be a hit with your guests. However, if you are hoping for something a little more unique than a tin of M&Ms or after-dinner mints, try small, elegantly wrapped boxes of white and dark chocolate dipped biscotti or packages of gourmet coffees and teas. If you are looking for something with a little spice, purchase little bottles of specialty hot sauce. Even rock candy, seasonal fruits, or personalized jars of honey can be fun takes on the traditional edible favors.
Living Favors
If you are hoping to send your guests home with something that will last a little bit longer than a package of candied nuts or espresso beans, consider choosing a living favor. Small plants, like miniature rose bushes, tree saplings, or flowering cacti, can be the perfect environmental friendly favors that will live on long after the party is over. A more unique living favor is a tropical fish in a small glass bowl; however, if you choose this option, be prepared to bring home the superfluous fish that your guests did not want. If you are afraid of having to take home a bunch of fish, order packages of live butterflies that your guests can release after a toast or when the party is over. A great alternative to paperweights, bookmarks, or figurines, living favors are the gifts that keep on giving, since your guests can plant them in their yards, keep them on their desks at work, or release them back into the wild.
Themed Favors
Seasons are often the easiest theme to center a party around, since finding unique centerpieces and favors is much easier. Miniature snow globes, pinecones, hot chocolate mugs, or a stocking filled with small treats can all be exceptional winter favors. For a Christmas wedding, decorate a tree in the banquet hall and let guests choose their own ornament to take home. Personalized seed packages, miniature spades, and elaborately painted eggs are perfect favors for spring, while fans can be both handy and beautiful for summer parties. For autumn, try maple leaf-shaped maple syrup jars or bundled dried spices, such as cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, or rosemary. If you are leaning towards a culturally themed occasion, multicolored confetti is perfect for an Italian celebration, and lavender sachets are ideal for French parties. Incense is a fragrant accompaniment to a Japanese or Indian occasion, and bamboo shoots make splendid place card holders that can double as favors for Chinese-themed festivities. Beach-themed weddings and parties are becoming increasingly popular with hosts, and personalized messages in bottles make beautiful and memorable favors. They are time consuming to create, but they are great favors for small and intimate occasions.
Whatever you choose for your favor, remember that it is easy, and fun, to get caught up in the little details like napkins and favors when planning a special event, but the party as a whole is what is most important. Most of your guests will love whatever you come up with, so even though it is fun to find little, themed gifts that will tie the whole party together, try not to sweat the small stuff. Your wedding or special occasion will be unique to you and beautiful, even if you do not come up with a groundbreaking idea for a favor.