Sometimes it’s the simple touches that make a party unforgettable.
I’d heard of Favorite Things Parties years ago and always thought they sounded like such a fun and unique way to bring people together. And let me tell you — they are!
The beauty of a Favorite Things Party is that there are so many ways to make it your own. So, I thought I’d share how I planned my very first one (which has since become one of my favorite traditions!), along with a few tips and ideas you can borrow for yours.
Because that’s the best part — it’s your party… you get to decide!
Theme: A Few of My Favorite Things 🎶
Sure, the theme is technically Favorite Things, but I still wanted to put my own spin on it.
I’d often seen these parties hosted during the holidays — which makes total sense! A Christmas Favorite Things Party is such a fun twist on the traditional holiday gift exchange. But I already have my own Christmas tradition: my Hallmark Christmas Movie Night Party (where everyone shows up in their favorite Christmas PJs — talk about instant cozy vibes!). So, that time of year was out for me.
Instead, I decided to host my first Favorite Things Party in May. After a quick Pinterest-and-Google spiral (you know the kind), I found my inspiration: sheet music from The Sound of Music. I mean, who doesn’t love Maria?! A little “Do-Re-Mi” magic was the perfect way to tie everything together.
Invitations: The Old-School Way Still Has My Heart
Call me old-fashioned, but there’s something special about receiving a real invitation in your mailbox. In today’s world of texts, emails, and e-vites, a handwritten invitation feels like a big ol’ hug delivered by the USPS.
Now, I’m not above sending a digital invite when life gets busy—they absolutely have their place. But for this party, I had the time, I had the creative itch… and apparently, no one was around to stop me. 😂
Confession: I’m a recovering perfectionist, and this party sent me into full-blown craft mode. Did I buy invitations like a normal person? No. I made them myself. Time-consuming? Yep. Necessary? Nope. Did I love doing it? Absolutely!
[See how I made my invitations.]
And because not everyone had been to a Favorite Things Party before, I included the instructions right on the back. No guessing, no confusion—just show up ready for FUN!
These are my invites:
Favorite Things Party “Rules” (a.k.a. How We Played)
There are lots of ways to organize a Favorite Things Party, but I kept our gift exchange pretty simple:
- Bring three of the SAME favorite item, individually wrapped, with a suggested budget of 15–20 per gift.
- Drop your gifts at the gift table when you arrive.
- Write your name on three white slips of paper for the gift drawings.
- Write your name on one yellow slip for our bonus raffle.
- Bring a favorite appetizer, dessert, or beverage to share.
When I first started hosting, our gift budget was closer to 10–15. But let’s be real—prices have gone up! 😅 I’ve since adjusted it to 15–20 so everyone can still bring something they genuinely love.
Fun-Size Tip: Set a budget that works for your group. The goal is sharing favorites, not sending anyone home with credit card regret!
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🎶 Décor: A Little Music, a Little Magic
I kept the color palette classic—black, white, and red—and let The Sound of Music inspire the details.
- Black and white linens with checked table runners
- Black, white, and red paper lanterns hanging under the pergola
- Sheet music from The Sound of Music for signage, banners, and even the raffle box
- Cocktail napkins with musical notes (because why not go all in?)
- Candlelight everywhere!
I buy votives in bulk and scatter them generously because, honestly, we all look better in candlelight. 😉
HOT TIP: To remove leftover candle wax from glass votives, pop them in the freezer for 5–10 minutes. The wax usually slides right out. Easy peasy!
Little Details That Made a Big Difference
For the check-in and food stations, I created signs using sheet music to carry the theme throughout the party. I even made pennant banners from printed sheet music and black cardstock and covered the raffle box to match.
Was all of that necessary? Absolutely not. Did I enjoy every minute? You bet!
And then there were the flowers.
I did what any budget-savvy hostess does—I hit Trader Joe’s! I mixed white hydrangeas, blush and red roses, hypericum berries, eucalyptus, and a few fillers for arrangements that looked much more expensive than they were.
Fun-Size Tip: Grocery-store flowers can be gorgeous with a little rearranging.
[See my easy flower-arranging tutorial.]
Food & Drinks: Little Bites, Big Hits!
Even though I asked everyone to bring a favorite appetizer, dessert, or drink to share, I couldn’t resist adding a few goodies of my own.
And because my first party happened just after COVID, I leaned into individual servings. Turns out, I loved them so much that I’ve kept using them!
They’re cute, convenient, and no one has to juggle a plate, a drink, and a conversation at the same time.
Appetizers:
- Individual charcuterie cups, complete with matching cocktail skewers
- Shrimp cocktail shooters served in individual glasses
Desserts:
- Salted Caramel Brownies
- Mini cheesecakes served in individual dessert cups with spoons
Beverages:
A little something for everyone: champagne, red and white wine, margaritas, beer, iced tea, sparkling lemonade, sodas, and water.
And because I couldn’t resist another Sound of Music reference, we also had Raindrops on Rosé. 😂
A framed drink menu added one more fun little detail to the beverage station.
Fun-Size Tip: Individual servings aren’t just pretty—they make mingling so much easier. And isn’t that the whole point of a party?
Gifting Time: Let the FUN Begin!
Once everyone had a chance to mingle, grab a drink, and enjoy some food, it was time for the main event!
I started by sharing the favorite things I’d brought—Maybelline’s 24-Hour Super Stay Lipstick and Sally Hansen’s Double Duty Base & Top Coat—and explaining why I loved them.
Then I drew three names from the bowl, and those lucky ladies received my gifts. The first person drawn went next, sharing her favorite thing and drawing three names of her own. We continued until everyone had a turn. If someone drew her own name or a duplicate, we simply drew again.
Easy, fair, and SO much fun seeing what everyone brought!
The Raffle: Because Why Stop at Three Gifts?
Because apparently a gift exchange wasn’t enough for me, I decided to throw in a little bonus raffle. 😂
Remember those yellow name slips from check-in? Here’s where they came into play!
I put together three prizes:
- Voluspa Candle – Who doesn’t love a good candle?
- Travel-themed “Care Package”:
- Luggage tag
- Pop up Laundry Basket – I throw one in every suitcase
- Microfiber Towel – cleans sunglasses like there’s no tomorrow
- Hot Iron Case – throw that hot flat iron in there & off you go
- Movie-themed “Care Package”:
- Popcorn holder – perfect to use as the “gift bag” to jeuge
- AMC gift card – I dig the whole movie-going experience
- Milk Duds – best movie candy ever
A little something extra for a few lucky winners. And honestly, there’s something about a surprise prize that makes everyone feel like a kid again.
Party Favors: Brown Paper Packages Tied Up with String
Of course, I couldn’t let everyone leave empty-handed!
Each guest received a little brown box of my favorite homemade cookies tied up with string—a nod to one of my favorite lines from The Sound of Music. Simple, sweet, and perfectly on theme.
I also provided shopping bags so everyone could carry home their gifts. Lesson learned: My original 10″ × 5″ × 13″ bags were too small! I’ve been using something closer to 16″ × 6″ × 12″ ever since.
Apparently, three favorite things can take up more room than you think. 😂
Make It Your Own: Favorite Things Party Variations
One of the reasons I love this party is that you can change it up every year!
A few ideas:
- Switch up the budget: Five $10 gifts, three $20 gifts, or whatever works for your group.
- Try a shopping-style exchange: Display all the gifts and let guests choose instead of drawing names.
- Choose a theme: Beauty favorites, travel essentials, cozy home goodies, or even Christmas favorites!
- Add a little extra fun: A raffle, themed food, or simple take-home favors.
And here’s something I started doing after each party: I send everyone a recap email listing the gifts, brands, and who brought them.
That way, if you didn’t win that fabulous little gadget or beauty product, you know exactly where to find it!
I also share a link to our Shutterfly photo book, thanks to my sweet friend Lisa, who puts it together.
Looking for gift inspiration? Check out my 50+ Favorite Things Party Gift Ideas Under $25 for plenty of fun, practical, and crowd-pleasing ideas.
The Bottom Line: It’s About Your Favorite People
This party has become one of my favorite traditions, and not because of the gifts (although those are pretty fabulous!). It’s about gathering some of my favorite people, sharing a few laughs, discovering something new, and making memories together.
And if you decide to host your own Favorite Things Party, I’d love to hear how you put your spin on it! After all, the best part of a Favorite Things Party isn’t really the things. It’s the people you share them with. ❤️
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Here’s to making memories with our favorite people—one FUN gathering at a time! ❤️
