Party Favors - Columbus,OH

I've been to and hosted many beautiful baby showers, and feel strongly that no one expects favors nor cares if they get them. People are there to honor the mom-to-be, and while little kids may enjoy favors after a birthday party (and they provide entertainment for the drive home!), grown women enjoy a lovely party and good company much more!

I'd go with something small and edible, like the chocolate pretzel idea, or little candies. Why waste money on junk no one wants?? I did pretzels as my wedding favors and it was a big hit!! I agree with maybe doing prizes for games, but other then that this is for the mom to be, don't spend money on anything you don't need too!

I don't think they are necessary, especially at little kids' parties. I like to DO something at the party and then they have something to take home. A craft is fun. for my son's 3rd birthday, I made small batches of play dough in whatever color each kid asked for and then we got out the cookie cutters and they got to play with their play dough. They took it home at the end. But I don't go out and buy a box of crayons or goody bags for each kid to take home.
As for the shower...I don't care if I walk away from a shower with a gift, so I don't give them out (I guess I've only thrown one shower). At one of my showers (I mean that was thrown for me when I was pregnant) they gave out flowers. They bought a flat of poppies and planted one in each tiny pot (they looked like little watering cans, but any cheap clay pot would work). I'm sure that wouldn't cost much.
Another cheap option is packets of flower seeds with a cute little poem about watching the seeds grow as mom will watch her baby grow. You can get them at places like Big Lots for extra cheap. I think Walgreens even has them 5/$1 or something crazy cheap this week.

I once did a small beg of jelly beans colored for either pink or blue ( I have seen M&M's these colors as well) with a small bow on top, I found them ready made and added a personalized sticker to the front.
I know this is winter but I have done small flowers (you know the type that are ready for planting) at a local nursery in blue for twin boys and recieved alot of compliments. I simply bought some sulifane bags from the dollar store and wrapped the bottom and teid with ribbon. Possibly this will help?!

I like the bath salt idea a cheaper version is Epsom salt perfumed oil @ Hobby Lobby is where i picked mine or the natural food store a lil satin/sheer bag with a tie string they come in sets for cheap
Directions :
empty salt into large bowl
add oil to desired strength
stir let sit add more drops stir then put into bags

...oh yeah I have done party favors for all the main events hosting & co-hosting. If you are on a strict budget as everybody is now a days put your $$$ on menu and perhaps start the day off with a really festive champagne punch in place of the inexpensive party favors. You are honoring the new mom to be she will appreciate whatever you choose to do.
People tend to remember the food served, cake and your way of providing creative finishing touches to make the event successful.

At my shower, guests were given a flower bulb wrapped pretty with a little card that said something like "pray for me as you watch me grow" - or some play on the word "grow". Bought in bulk - seed packets and flower bulbs can cover a lot of favors for $6-$10. Also - check out etsy.com
My bridal shower guests got cool glass magnets that averaged .50 a pop if even. Afterwards we realized how easy they were to make. And if we needed a lot - could easily have made our own.
Etsy is great for do it yourself ideas.

Maybe I'm no fun, but the party favors I bring home from showers end up in the trash. Always seems like a waste of money to me.

First of all, I don't think you need shower favors. I'm the person who intentionally "forgets" them at the shower unless it's something I'm going to use, but I know there are those folks that are sticklers about giving/getting goodie bags/favors. I just got my 12th pair of holiday socks from a party. I never, ever wear them, they go to goodwill, but this one friend gives them out at every get together. :-p

With that said, two ideas: how about taking a bulk package of bath salts and putting it in cute little jars or bags with pretty ribbons and cute computer printed labels. Most likely it'll get used. I also thought about the personalized m&ms. Once again, buy in bulk and put in sweet little bag with pretty ribbon.
S.

I did pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and then I piped pink swirls on the chocolate. Buy pretzel bags for them and seal them up with a cute ribbon and tag. I got all the supplies at Joann's (or Micheal's) and it was really inexpensive. The bag of pretzels were around $2.50 ( needed 2 bags) the chocolate was the Wilton candy mold chocolate and it was $2 a bag (I got brown and pink) and the plastic bags were about $2 for a pack of them. I had pink ribbon at home and I printed the tags at home too.

Instead of swirls, you can do sprinkles too. It was a very quick and cheap giveaway and the guest will eat it and not throw it away or donate it.

I have attended numerous baby showers and I may have received a prize for a game we played (or not) but have never had favors for adults.
I say, "People, grow up!"

I would do cookies. I have the same problem doing party favors, so for my DS birthday party we made cookies in the shape Mickey Mouse, which was the theme. Every kid got a bag of cookies, a sippy cup with their name, and a place mat with their name. For adults, I think a small treat they could take home would be fine.

I'm with you! If you are over your budget, skip it! Further, unless it is a useful item, why bother. If you feel you must, how about a diaper draw? Everyone brings diapers and you draw names or numbers and give out gift cards. Wouldn't give the quirky little plastic baby's in blue pajamas. Save the money if that is the case.

I made some delicate cookies wrapped in celophane with a decorative sticker and curling ribbon for the shower I had.

I have to say our family does not do party favors for everyone. We do a few prizes to some of the games we play and that's all. For a baby shower in the spring I gave out flowers as prizes one time. Just picked them up morning of at Lowe's. They were the first prizes gone. Then I did pocket calendars, candle holders and such in bags from the dollar store. Cute but not expensive.
I think party favors are silly! :) They just get thrown away and no one remembers them anyways! For my sons birthday we are doing an off brand of nerf guns--it's part of the game and then to avoid having 6 of them here for one kid the kids get to take them home. That's all. No candy or caddy junk toys here!

I really like all your "flower" bulb & seed responses! I have received votive candle with holder in pink, blue, or all pastel colors......chocolate covered strawberries.........holiday ornaments/small decoration.......a potted plant.......magnets.......small picture frame , which can be a color, or silver/gold/black... (used as a namecard frame for the seating at the luncheon).......small net bag of mints, M&M's, almonds, etc..... tea bags, and chocolates.....hope this gets the creatives thoughts flowing! Good Luck

We don't do favors or treat bags usually! Like you said most of the items break in no time at all. For a shower favor I would do a packet of flower seeds are good with a note attached, or simply m&m's or candy covered almonds. On the other hand, you are providing a lunch and sometimes people play games and have small gifts to the winners. Put a small dish or pastel mints on each table....keep it simple! Good Luck!

I recently through a baby shower for my niece. I don't like the favors that you just toss as soon as you get home. I prefer something a little more practical. We used the "Baby is Brewing" theme and gave small sample bags or flavored coffee (about a $1 a piece). You could also give individually wrapped tea bags with that theme. I agree that they are not necessary, but I believe thanking your guests with something they can use is always a nice thing to do.

I didn't have favors at my baby shower... I can only remember receiving favors at one baby shower ever - and I've been to quite a few. There are usually a few games and the winner gets a "prize". The only favor I can remember was pretty cute. It was a pink spatula (we knew it was a girl) and it had a cute note tied on it that said something like, "Brandi's whipping up something good!"

A really inexpensive party favor is the miniature jar candles they sell at Walmart for a dollar a piece. They have fun baby powder scented ones or you could go with something pink or blue. I've received white or ivory ones with ribbons tied around them in pink, blue, or even multi-colored baby feet. It's kind of a sweet gesture and something most people would actually put to use.

I've seen another edible favor. You buy mini cinnamon rolls that come like 30 to a pack (round pack in the deli area of Krogers, Meijers). Then put one in a box or bag and tie with a tag that says "Thanks for coming. From XXX's little "bun" in the oven." I think I would prefer something edible over some junk that will hit the trash.

I don't think party favors at a baby shower are necessary or expected. If your providing food, beverages, and entertainment, that's more than enough. At the last baby shower I went to, I received a small candle wrapped in netting with a nice bow.

P.S. I hate those stupid party favor bags at kids birthday parties.

I've hosted a few baby showers, and I'd agree most people don't expect favors, however, I've always provided gifts to the winners of the games. The games are the gifts....for example, take baby bottles (I use 3) and fill them wi, chocolate or candy. The idea of the game is for the guests to guess how pieces are in each bottle. Each bottle is a separate game and should have separate bowls/boxes for the guests to put there guesses in. The person who guesses the closest, without going over, wins the contents of that bottle - the bottle then goes to the mom-to-be, and then the second bottle.

good luck with the shower and have fun.