FAVORITE THINGS PARTY
How to Throw a Favorite Things Party
If you love getting together with friends, discovering new must-have items, and leaving with some fun goodies, a Favorite Things Party is the perfect excuse to host a night in! Here’s how to plan one and make it a fun, stress-free experience for everyone. I’ve seen various ways and price points, but this is my personal favorite way to host a Favorite Things Party!
Rules for Your Guests
Set a Budget – I recommend keeping it around $20-$25 per item, but you can adjust based on what works for your group.
How Many to Bring – Each guest selects one favorite item within the set price range and brings three of that same item. You can also choose to have guests bring two instead—it’s flexible, but be clear on the invite.
Gifts Should Be Unwrapped – This makes it easier to see what’s available and speeds up the choosing process.
No White Elephant Style – No stealing! Unlike traditional gift swaps, everyone will get to pick their favorite new items instead of risking ending up with something they don’t want or already own.
Invitation Wording + Example
Make it clear what your guests need to bring! Here’s a simple invitation example:
🎉 Join Me for a Favorite Things Party! 🎉
Bring: 3 of the same item, priced around $25 each – something you LOVE!
You’ll go home with 3 new favorite things!
Snacks, drinks & fun provided. Can’t wait to see you there! ✨
📍 [Insert date, time, and location]
📩 RSVP by [date]
You can create a cute invite on Canva or even just send a group text with these details!
How It Works at the Party
When guests arrive, have them place their items on a display table.
Go around the room, and each person shares why they love their item.
Each guest picks a number out of a hat—this determines the order of choosing.
When it’s their turn, they get to select one item from the table.
Redraw numbers for each round.
Repeat until everyone has picked three items!
Do’s and Don’ts
✅ Do’s:
✔ Set a clear budget so everyone is on the same page.
✔ Encourage guests to select one really good item they personally love and bring multiples.
✔ Make it fun with drinks, snacks, and a cozy atmosphere.
✔ Let guests choose their items so they go home with things they’re excited about.
❌ Don’ts:
✖ Don’t wrap the gifts – seeing everything makes picking easier.
✖ Don’t do a white elephant-style swap where items can be stolen.
✖ Don’t make the price range too high—it should be accessible for everyone.
✖ Don’t set the price range too low. Choosing a reasonable budget helps ensure that the gifts are high-quality and feel like a special treat rather than everyday items.
✖ Avoid bringing a goody bag with multiple small items. While thoughtful, these often don’t have the same impact as one carefully chosen favorite item and tend to be picked last.
Favorite GIFT ideas:
If you’re stuck on what to bring, here are some tried-and-true favorite items that have been a hit at past parties:
I've found that the most successful items are things that feel like a little luxury—something people might have had their eye on but haven’t treated themselves to yet. For example, a candle warmer is a fantastic gift because it’s useful, but not necessarily something someone would think to buy for themselves.
On the other hand, I don’t recommend bringing a goody bag filled with multiple small items. While it might seem like a fun idea, these tend to feel like everyday purchases rather than a special treat, and they’re often chosen last. A single, well-thought-out item tends to make a bigger impact!
A Favorite Things Party is all about fun, friends, and discovering new things you’ll love! Have you ever hosted one or attended one? Let me know your favorite item you’d bring! ✨