The Giving Season


The joys of any great party are fleeting. Food is consumed. Conversations wind down. Music mellows. In our experience, and surely yours too, the more you're enjoying yourself, the faster the festivities pass by.

One way to commemorate a great event-to, in a sense, extend the life of the party-is to send your guests home with a small gift, otherwise known as a party favor. Like a good photo, party favors can help recapture a fond moment, whether that moment is a wedding or a special holiday. Sure, in the scheme of an important gathering, party favors are just a small detail. But given all they do to honor your event and your guests, they are a small detail worth attending to. Toward that end, consider one of these popular party favors for your next event:

Truffles — Chocolate is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, especially when it's chocolate blended with cream and butter and flavored with everything from hazelnuts to caramel. Drop a pair into a small, decorative box so your guests can savor them later.

Party Crackers — Long enjoyed by the British, party crackers are now easy to find this side of the Atlantic. The small, wrapped tubes break apart when pulled from both ends and surprises spill out from inside, including jokes, candy, noisemakers and—most importantly—paper party hats. While party crackers are very much enjoyed during the party, the surprises you put inside can last long after your event is over.

Votives — Votives never go out of style and you'll never have to spend more than a couple dollars for them. If you also use them during your event to brighten your table, buy some extra candles to replenish the votives before your guests take them home.

Cookie cutters — Ideal for holiday gatherings and luncheons, cookie cutters can double as ring napkins, adding a whimsical touch to your table setting.

Potted plants — Plants are popular party favors because they're around long after the event is over. Choose plants that are easy to grow, like Ivy, or impress your guests with something more exotic, like orchids. As a general rule, look for hardy plants, improving the chances that they will be long-lived even if your guests lack green thumbs.

Bookmarks — You can make your own from elegant fabrics, personalizing them with your guests' names and using them during your party to mark their place at the table. Or purchase a design that catches your eye from just about any bookstore.

Sugared almonds — Sugared almonds are ideal for evening events. A traditional wedding favor, they'll evoke a sense of romance among your guests familiar with their bridal legacy. Typically five almonds are bundled in a paper package for each guest. Five represents the five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity. Wishes that are worth bestowing on friends and family even if it's not their wedding day.