party favor ideas

by a professional party planner

on this page:

Why most party favors get left behind or thrown away
Why treating favors as a thank-you gift is the mistake that wastes your money
The one question to ask before you buy any favor
How to use party favors to create atmosphere
How to turn party favors into design details

i’m matt james

professional event producer

29 years event-planning experience
Winner of 30 industry awards
Clients include:
Elton John,
Stella McCartney,
Sarah Jessica Parker,
Kevin Spacey……and more

welcome

OPEN BIO

01 Party favors

Favors that enhance the guest experience, create atmosphere, or add to the design of your event

custom photo personalized Happy Birthday m&m's

Framed illustrated portrait place card for Rachel on a gold charger plate, unedited product photo

custom photo party hats on each place setting at a dinner table

custom portrait cookies on each place setting at a dinner table

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in this section

advice from a pro

Why You Shouldn’t Treat Party Favors as Just a Gift for Guests

Most party favors get left behind or thrown away,
so they can feel like a waste of money and effort.
But that’s because most hosts make the mistake of treating them as just a gift to thank their guests for coming,
which, understandably, makes them question whether they’re just an unnecessary expense they could cut to save money.
Whereas they should be asking themselves, how can I use this to enhance the guest experience?
It could be something interactive that they use, wear, play with, or photograph themselves with at the event,
that serves as an ice-breaker or conversation-starter, or that just helps everyone relax and get into the party mood,
such as custom fans, tambourines, temporary tattoos, buttons, or party hats featuring cute, funny, or embarrassing old photos of the guest of honor –
Because engagement creates atmosphere.
Alternatively, it could be something that contributes to the event design:
adding a creative twist, personal touch, or clever little detail,
that then doubles as something they can eat, take home and use, or save as a keepsake,
such as custom portraits of themselves used as place cards,
a caricature cookie, left on every place setting at dinner, to celebrate the guest of honor,
or a miniature pot of the artisanal honey that was used throughout the menu.
You should never feel obliged to give party favors,
but if you do, make sure that first and foremost, they serve a purpose at the event:
to create atmosphere or enhance the design,
but then double as a gift for your guests.
Favors like this are a far better use of your budget than cheap trinkets that guests don’t actually want.

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