How to pick the fairest favor in the land
When attending a special event such as a baby shower, it’s always pleasant to look forward to receiving that favor at the end of the party. It’s like going on vacation and coming home with a neat souvenir. It’s funny, though, how all favor ideas are not created equal. It’s important to consider the age of your guests as well as the type of occasion when choosing a favor for any event. Considering your tastes, too, is important when choosing the right favor. Whether you are planning to give candy, soap bubbles, handmade crafts, candles or other decorations, remember that some favors can be useful and others could have been more well-thought-out. For instance, most people love chocolate, so if you like the idea of candy bar favors, just make sure your event isn’t in the middle of July and those favors are going home in purses and jacket pockets- yuck! You want to make sure that your guests remember this special moment the way you do – often and fondly – and the favor you choose should complement that goal.
Here are some recommendations:
- Do your homework - Don’t just take old Aunt Agnes’s word for it – the favors she got at a baby shower in 1976 are probably outdated. Shop around for the favor that you feel best fits your occasion. We humbly like to think our site has not only the best prices, but also makes it easy and convenient to shop for different types of favors by category, such as color, type of favor, or event. Choose a useful gift or one that can be used as a decoration for the home.
- Personalize the favors - If you really want to throw your guests for a loop, write the date backwards like the Europeans do. That way, based on the number of guests that come up to you and tell you you got the date wrong, you’ll know how many actually cared enough to give your favor a second glance. A dirty trick, yes (use only when all other dirty tricks have failed you). But seriously now, putting your name, the date of the shower, or the appropriate color of the sex of the baby is a nice way to enhance a favor for remembrance’s sake.
- Be creative and nifty - Think outside the box. Don’t always use the same favors that everyone sticks to, and definitely don’t copy anyone in your family – you’ll never hear the end of the “mother knows best” comments. Be bold and not afraid to try new things. Feel free to add adorable sentiments from the heart or appropriate boy/girl/season symbols.
- Make sure you get a headcount in advance – Don’t let Grandma Grouch leave yet another family function with all the favors in her purse and tell the other guests that you were too cheap to get enough for everyone but, because she’s such a self-sacrificing soul, she’ll give up hers to anyone who wants it. Manipulation with a pink or blue ribbon attached! Keep in mind how many people bring additional guests, and always keep an eye on the grabbiest guests, to make sure there is enough to go around. You may even want to consider keeping the favors in gift baskets or bags to be distributed at the end of your event, rather than leaving them randomly on tables for guests to find on their own.
Keep in mind that these favors are a thank you to your guests and a nice way to remind friends and family of how much them sharing this special occasion with you means. Remember that the goal is having fun – don’t over-plan your favors or your baby shower. Most times, just getting together with family and friends make plenty of lasting memories (unless, of course, there’s an open bar – then you definitely need personalized favors)!