Favorite Things
1960s Retro-Themed Favorite Things Party Ideas
35+ Favorite Things Party Gift Ideas Under $20 (Unique, Fun & Crowd Favorites)
Favorite Things Party Ideas: How to Host Your Own (& Why It’s My New Favorite Tradition)
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!
Over time, I’ve learned there are endless variations on how to throw this kind of bash, and really, it’s completely up to your own hosting style. I wanted to share my favorite things party ideas, so I’ll walk you through how I planned mine (and how it’s become one of my favorite traditions!), along with a few tips for making it your own.
That’s the best part — it’s your party… you get to decide!
Theme:
Sure, the ‘theme’ is technically Favorite Things, but I still wanted to make it feel personal. Here are some fun favorite things party ideas to help you put your own spin on it.
I’d often seen this type of party hosted during the holidays — which makes total sense — but I already have my own Christmas tradition: my Hallmark Christmas Movie Night Party – click here (where everyone shows up in their favorite Christmas PJs — talk about instant cozy vibes!). So, that time of year was out for me.
Since this was my first Favorite Things Party, I decided to host it in May and keep things true to the core theme. 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:
Call me old-fashioned, but nothing says special like receiving a real card 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 totally have their place. But for this party, I wanted to go the extra mile. I had the time, I had the creative itch… so I went all-in with paper invitations.
Confession time: I’m a recovering perfectionist, and this party had me on full-blown craft mode. Did I buy invitations like a normal person? No. I made them myself. Time-consuming? Yep. Necessary? Nope. Did I do it anyway? Absolutely.
- Click here to see how I made my invitations.
These are my invites:
The “Rules” (a.k.a. How We Played)
There are so many ways to structure a Favorite Things Party, but I landed on these simple “rules” to keep it light and fun:
- Bring 3 of the SAME favorite items, $15–$20 each, wrapped to exchange.
(I originally started with a $10–$15 range for my first party, but let’s be real — prices have gone up! 😅 Bumping it to $15–$20 keeps it doable while still letting everyone share something they truly love.) - Upon arrival, each guest dropped their wrapped gifts on the dining table
- Each guest wrote their name on 3 slips of white paper (for drawings)
- Each guest wrote their name on 1 yellow slip (for the raffle box)
- Guests also brought a favorite beverage, appetizer, or dessert to share
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and absolutely no additional cost to you.
🎶 Décor:
I went with a classic black, white, and red color palette.
- Black and white linens with checked 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?)
And of course — candlelight everywhere. I buy votives in bulk and scatter them generously because honestly, we all look better in candlelight. 😉
HOT TIP: To remove old candles from glass votives, pop them in the freezer for 5–10 minutes — they slide right out. Easy peasy!
For my signage, I got a little fancy (okay, maybe extra). Check-in and food & beverage tables were all dressed up with Favorite Things sheet music to keep the theme flowing. I even made pennant banners from printed sheet music and black cardstock for the different stations, and covered the raffle box with sheet music. It’s those little touches that make everything feel cohesive and, dare I say, Pinterest-worthy. 😉
For florals, I did what any budget-savvy host does — I hit Trader Joe’s. I mixed white hydrangeas, blush roses, red roses, hypericum berries, eucalyptus, and fillers for a lush but affordable look.
For a quick tutorial on my Easy Peezy way to turn market flowers (like Trader Joe’s) into beautiful arrangements, Click HERE!]
Food & Drink
Even though I asked everyone to bring a favorite drink or bite to share, I couldn’t resist adding my own touches. From individual charcuterie cups to Salted Caramel Brownies, here are some favorite things party ideas for food and drinks that are always a hit with guests.
Appetizers:
- Individual Charcuterie Cups – (with cocktail skewers to match)
- Shrimp Cocktail in Shot Glasses
Desserts:
- Salted Caramel Brownies
- Individual Cheesecakes in plastic dessert cups (with spoons)
My first Favorite Things Party happened just after COVID, so individual servings were the way to go — and honestly, I’ve stuck with them ever since! They’re cute, convenient, and no one has to balance a plate and a drink at the same time.
Beverages:
Champagne, wine (red, white & Raindrops on Rosé — yes, I went there), margaritas, brewski, iced tea, sparkling lemonade, sodas, and water.
A framed “menu” of the drinks added an extra festive touch.
Gifting Time
Once everyone mingled and grabbed a drink, it was time for the main event!
I started by sharing what I’d brought — Maybelline’s 24-Hour Super Stay Lipstick and Sally Hansen’s Double Duty Base & Top Coat — and why I loved them. Then, I drew three names from the bowl, and those guests received my gifts.
The first person drawn went next, and so on. If you pulled your own name or a duplicate, you simply redrew. Easy, fair, and so much fun to see what everyone brought!
The Raffle
Because I can’t resist adding a little extra FUN, we wrapped up with a raffle using the yellow name slips.
My Three Prizes Were:
- 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
There’s just something about winning a surprise prize that makes the night extra special.
Party Favors
Each guest went home with a “loot” bag— though I learned my lesson on sizing. (Note to self: 10″x5″x13″ = too small. Go with 16″x6″x12″ next time!)
For favors, I gave everyone a brown paper box tied up with string — filled with homemade cookies. A little nod to The Sound of Music and a sweet way to end the night.
Favors don’t have to be fancy or expensive — just thoughtful.
Final Thoughts & Variations
This party was a huge hit — and it’s now a yearly tradition. But what’s great about Favorite Things Parties is how flexible they are.
A few fun variations to try:
- Adjust the price point (e.g., 5 gifts at $5 or 3 gifts at $30+)
- Display all gifts for “shopping-style” picking instead of drawings
- Add a theme twist (beauty only, travel favorites, or cozy home picks)
No matter what route you go, the key is keeping it light, fun, and friendly.
After each of my parties, I send a recap email listing all the gifts, brands, and who brought them — so guests can track down items they didn’t win. I even include a link to a Shutterfly photo book (shoutout to my sweet friend Lisa who put it together — thank you, Lisa!).
A small taste of our “Favorite Things”:
Check out over 35+ Fabulous Gift Ideas on what to bring to a Favorite Things Party here!
The Bottom Line
Whether you stick with the classic version or switch it up each year, you really can’t go wrong. You know your people — make it fit your vibe. And who says you can’t change it up every year until you find your favorite version? (See what I did there? 😉)
Most of all — have fun with it. Because life’s too short not to!
I hope these favorite things party ideas inspire you to host your own gathering filled with fun, laughter, and a little friendly gifting. And if you do throw your own, I’d love to hear all about it—especially how you put your own unique spin on things. Remember, the most important rule is to have FUN!
Want to join in on my Fun-Size FUN and get exclusive access to my Resource Library? Subscribe below and you’ll get my latest tips, tricks, and party scoop delivered straight to your inbox—so you’ll never miss a thing. Confirmation email not arrive? Check your spam in case it’s hiding. :). Wanna chat? Email me at: Shelley@funwithfunsize.com
And don’t forget to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @FunwithFun_Size for even more ideas, inspiration, and…dare I say it?… FUN!
