Decorating with Party Favors
Traditionally, when we think of
party favors, we think of the "loot" bag passed out at the end of a child's
party. Today, most hosts and hostesses enjoy giving each guest a memento of
the party to take home. Every celebration from weddings to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs,
children's birthday parties, retirement parties, anniversaries, reunions,
graduations, milestone birthdays, or just a fun themed party with dear
friends should be marked with a favor to treasure. The gesture doesn't have
to be expensive or extravagant, and we have favors to fit every budget.
Rather than waiting until your
guests are making their exit to give them a party favor, you can give your
guests favors during the party, which will add color and fun! Favors can do
double-duty at any party, as they provide perfect tabletop accents that can
be used as decorations. Select favors specific to your theme from one of our
"themed" stores, and place them on the tables, or if you are decorating
around a color theme, any of the following would be perfect:
GLASSWARE
Check out the huge selection of custom imprinted glassware,
click here. Flutes,
goblets, mugs, and snifters in a multitude of sizes, shapes, style and color
options. Guests can drink water, wine, soft drinks, etc. from a special
glass, then take the glass home and fondly recall the party every time they
see the glass. In addition, there are parfaits, dessert dishes, and
candy dishes. All will add a lovely, elegant touch to your tables. Tie a
small piece of satin ribbon, curling ribbon, gossamer streamer, or even a
party horn to each stem (attached with metallic garland) for a festive look.
The glassware can also hold a gathered cloth or paper napkin to create a
tall dramatic look at each place setting.
Glassware filled with candy,
mints, or chocolate treats or with metallic shred to match your theme colors
also creates a terrific table accent. For a black tie or other formal
affair, add a charming
black, white, gold or silver tux ties to the stem
of your glassware.
More glassware available at
Plum Party. They also offer a large selection of
wine charm and glass adornments.
Party Favors
CANDLES
With the exception of giving candles to small children, a
candle favor
is
sure to be a big hit with all party guests!
Filled glassware candles
provide a gorgeous addition to any tabletop, and are available in as many
style options as are listed above in our glassware section. They can be
imprinted with your theme or special message. There are a number of glitter
candle colors, including mixed glitter, glitter banded, and volcano glitter,
mini confetti (primarily gold, silver and iridescent), 14 different wax
colors, stacked wax (combine two or three theme colors), or gel candles in
numerous colors. You can also add a scent (choose from 13 different flavors)
to any of the
candles. Set one at each place setting on tables, or group
several together in the center of the table. Set the candles on a round or
square mirror, and add gem stones, curling ribbon curls or confetti to the
base for a beautiful centerpiece.
Votive candleholders can also be
used as place cards. Purchase unimprinted votive holders. Add clear or
decorative computer generated labels, or print names on with a paint pen
(gold or silver look best). Most computer software programs now have a
calligraphic font, which creates a wonderful formal look.
FRAMES
Give guests
frames imprinted with special party details. Click here for a
huge variety of imprintable frames, in a wide array of sizes, colors and
styles. If your budget is limited, try one of these
imprinted acrylic
frames. Place a frame at each place setting, and use the frames as place cards. Using white or colored paper, create a placecard for each guest
using a fancy font in your computer. As an alternative, print names with
colorful markers or paint pens, or paint names with watercolor or acrylic
paint. Cut each piece of paper to fit the frame. The effect on the table is
beautiful.
If you will not have assigned
seating, and will not be using name place cards, put a special message inside
each frame. A heartfelt thank you poem from the guest of honor to each guest
(weddings are a perfect occasion for this), a funny limerick or poem about a
guest of honor, the menu for the evening, or your party slogan would look
great in the frame.
When the party is over, the
frame can be filled with a photograph. Either use a Polaroid™ camera to send
a picture home with each of your guests, or mail souvenir photos at a later
date. Make sure that you have plenty of film on hand, so that you can take
lots of pictures of the guest of honor with each family/couple/ or
individual in attendance. Place disposable cameras on tables and encourage
guests to use them. You'll have plenty of warm memories captured to pass
along to your appreciative friends. A nice touch for any celebration would
be to set up a photo backdrop area - either a balloon arch, or a metallic
curtain - so that the guest of honor can have his picture taken with either
individuals or groupings of his choice.
PHOTO ALBUMS OR PHOTO
BOXES
Imprinted photo albums or Photo Boxes make a very special favor, and one
that your guests will treasure for many years to come. Both of these favors
can be imprinted with ink to match your color theme. A white photo album
with a red imprint would be ideal for a red and white theme.
Stand the photo
albums or photo boxes at each place setting. The photo boxes can be used as place cards in much the same way that frames can be used. To make the boxes
really stand out at a table, add a little metallic shred to "peek" out of
the sides. Add little treasures (candy, mints, special message) inside if
you wish. As an alternative to standing the frames or photo boxes at each
place setting, tie a piece of satin ribbon, curling ribbon, or a gossamer
streamer (the bows hold their shape much the same way that wired ribbon bows
do…at a fraction of the cost). Lay each favor at the center of each place
setting.
As suggested in the frame favor
section above, take lots of pictures at the party, or leave disposable
cameras on tables and encourage guests to use them throughout the evening.
Disposable cameras can be spray-painted (silver, gold, purple, etc.) to
match your color theme, and provide yet another unique decorative touch.
Just make sure the lens is left unsprayed! The Photo Box can also hold the
invitation, program, confetti from the tables, other photos, and small
decorations saved from the party.
TOTE BAGS
Glossy and metallic colored
totes look great sitting at individual place
settings, with tissue or metallic shred peeking out of the top. Fill the
totes with fun favors. The totes can either be imprinted with a special
message or you can personalize each one using a paint pen. With each
guests' name spelled out on the bags, they can be used as place cards. If
your party is theme based and you select totes related to your theme, they
will also look fantastic sitting on the tables. Don't save the tote bags for "good-byes"…use them on the tables for
a big
decorating impact!
GLOW IN THE DARK FAVORS
Think glow in the dark!
Glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces. Not only do the children love them, but
adults do too! We've seen the necklaces worn in some pretty creative places
on the body because they can be connected together, and configured in many
creative ways. On party tables, wrap necklaces or bracelets around
glassware, use them as napkin rings, or weave them into centerpieces…There
are also glow in the dark glasses, cups, eye glasses, earrings and straws!
STADIUM CUPS
For a delightful splash of color at a budget
price, place a
stadium cup at each place setting. Use stadium cups for
beverages or fill them with metallic shred and little treats. They can be
imprinted with your special message or
you can write your guest's names on each cup with a paint pen. Stadium cups
are terrific for a classroom party, reunion, graduation, recognition
banquet, or any other fun occasion.
BUBBLES
One of the most economical and fun favors is a bottle of
personalized bubbles. The label on
the bubbles can
be printed with your theme or special graphic, in your color of
choice. Bubbles look great on tables as a stand-alone favor or you can
tie a piece of curling ribbon in an accent color to the neck of the bubbles.
Bubbles are just as much fun and a great
table accent when wrapped elegantly! Cut circles out of gossamer, netting or
tulle (9" in diameter). Place the bubbles in the center of the circle, wrap
and tie with a 12" length of thin satin ribbon or curling ribbon.
KEY TAGS
Check out the huge selection of
key tags…theme
specific, toys, imprintables, photo key tags…and they look terrific as table
accents when they are used as napkin holders. Your personal message, a theme
tie-in, or your color theme can be echoed one more time in your decorating!
SPORTS FAVORS
Cheer phones, mini balls and pom poms on tables
for a brilliant splash of color. These items make terrific favors for any
party with a sports theme or for a graduation party. The cheer phones or
mini balls can be imprinted with a theme slogan or a special message, or
they can be used as place cards. Print names on either favor with a paint
pen, and place one at each place setting. Your guests will love it!
FAVOR BOXES
Favor boxes also provide an economical table
accent. Boxes to complement different themes are scattered through our
different stores, and we also offer boxes in our Wedding store. They can be
filled with candy, mints, nuts or toy trinkets for each guest. If you are
filling the boxes with candy, select candy in a color that complements the
colors you will be using for your other decorations. To save money on the
volume of "treats" you will need to fill each box, start by filling each box
with some metallic shred or a little gossamer "puddle" in a coordinating
color.
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