Imagine a party where everyone brings something they love and gets to share it with friends. That’s a Favorite Things Party!
It’s simple, social, and full of little discoveries, perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just a casual get-together.
I hosted one with my friends, and they absolutely loved it. And I’ve gathered lots of fun ideas to guide you so you can host one too. Are you ready? Let’s go!
When we remember a special Christmas, it is not the presents that made it special, but the laughter, the feeling of love, and the togetherness of friends and family.
Catherine Pulsifer
Why You Will Love Hosting This Kind of Party
Hosting a Favorite Things Party is so much fun because it brings friends together, laughter, and a little bit of surprise in every gift.
When I hosted one with my friends, we all discovered new products and little treasures we hadn’t tried before, and the excitement of the gift exchange kept everyone smiling.
It’s a simple and interactive way to create memories, start conversations, and share the things you love with the people you care about.
For cozy fall gatherings, check out my ideas for an Oktoberfest Party and Raclette Dinner Ideas.
Supplies
Invitations digital or printed, anything cute!
Small gifts $10–$20 is a good range
Gift bags or wrapping paper
Table for display bonus points for pretty decor!
Notecards and pens for labeling or numbering gifts
Snacks and drinks, and serving dishes
Optional decorations to match your theme
Variations
You can easily adjust the theme of your Favorite Things Party to match your group or the season. Below are a few fun ideas to inspire your own twist on the party.
Theme-based favorites Ask guests to bring favorite books, snacks, beauty items, or kitchen gadgets.
DIY gifts Homemade candles, cookies, or crafts add a personal touch.
Secret favorite swap Assign a guest to bring a favorite specifically for someone else.
Seasonal favorites Celebrate summer essentials, cozy winter treats, or spring self-care goodies.
The Party Game Plan
Here’s the simple plan to make your favorite things party a hit.
Send Invitations
Include the date, theme, and budget. Invite as few as three people or as many as you can fit in your house! But you may want to limit the gifts your guests need to buy to make it easier.
Paper invitations are cute and fun; who doesn’t love to get mail that’s not junk these days? But if you don’t want to put in the extra effort, use something like Paperless Post to send them digitally instead.
The most important thing is clearly communicating the party’s “favorite thing” scenario, what you expect them to bring, and how much to spend.
Maybe something like this:
Join us for a Night of Favorite Things!
A Holiday Gift Exchange
Saturday, December 8th at 6:00 pm at the Munson’s.
Bring 3 sets of one of your favorite things to share. Each item should be wrapped and valued at $10. You will go home with 3 new gifts.
RSVP to Cindy at 555-123-4567.
If you have questions, feel free to text me.
OR
A Christmas Gift Exchange
Join us for a Few of Our Favorite Things!
Saturday, December 8th, 6:00 pm at the Munson’s.
Purchase 3 sets of one of your favorite things. Each item should be gift-wrapped and worth approximately $25. You will leave with 3 new gifts!
Text RSVP or any questions to Cindy at 555-123-4567.
Gift Sharing
Set up a gift table and arrange all the gifts so everyone can enjoy what’s to come. Below are some options based on the size of your party.
Small Party
Invite a few friends and have them bring enough of their items for each person. So if you invite three friends (4 total, including the hostess), each person will bring 3 of the same thing.
Everyone takes turns selecting a gift from the table. Each guest receives a gift from every other attendee, ensuring no one leaves empty-handed.
Large Party
If you want to host a larger crowd, set a number for the number of gifts that they bring. For example, have each person bring three gifts, and they’ll all go home with three gifts.
One way to do it is to have all the guests put their names into a bowl for as many gifts as they brought. For example, they put their name in the bowl three times if they brought three gifts.
Then, as the gift exchange gets underway, have each guest draw one name per gift that they brought (in our example, three names) out of the bowl and distribute their gifts to those people.
Consider your friends’ budgets and what they would be willing to spend on a friend’s gift exchange.
$10-20 per gift is a pretty reasonable minimum, keeping the budget under $50-60. Most people can typically find something they love for under $20.
Planning a celebration for a special occasion? Get inspiration for a Patriotic Dinner Party and Graduation Party.
If you’re looking for more ways to gather and celebrate with friends, check out my ideas for a Birthday Lunch Party and Girls Lunch Party.
Party Food
Of course, you’ll want to have food at your favorite things party, but don’t get too hung up on setting up an entire dinner party.
Since your guests will spend most of their time chatting and exchanging gifts, I recommend going with some light snacks, appetizers, or treats.
You could also serve a signature cocktail that’s easy to put together.
This party is casual, so combine homemade snacks and treats with store-bought ones to ease your workload.
Set up a grazing table featuring an assortment of savory bites like gourmet cheeses, charcuterie cups or a charcuterie board, and artisanal crackers.
Consider cream cheese sausage balls or a delicious smoked salmon dip served with baguette slices, crackers, bagel chips, or cucumber slices.
Consider a dessert station with miniature treats such as adorable Grinch hot cocoa bombs, bite-sized cheesecakes, and colorful macarons to satisfy sweet cravings.
Cut up an array of chocolate treats, such as Chocolate Cream Puffs, Oatmeal Bars with Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt, or Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars.
In the week leading up to the party, outline what you need to purchase regarding food and drinks. Also, summarize what, if anything, you must prepare ahead of time.
Ensure you have enough seating for everyone and that your house can be set up comfortably for the party.
On the day of the party, you only need to prepare the food and drinks and chat with your friends!
Gift Ideas
Not sure what to purchase for a favorite things party? Think about the things you use regularly and absolutely love.
Here are some of our (mostly) reasonably priced favorite things to help you brainstorm ideas about what to bring! Shoppable affiliate links included below.
Wearable Gifts
For all those fashion-loving friends of yours.
Reading and Writing
For those who love to read and write.
Gifts for the Home
Big and small luxuries for their home.
For Travel
Fun ideas for your friends on the go!
Looking for more fun ways to celebrate with family and friends? Check out my ideas for Fancy Picnic Ideas, Backyard Carnival Party, Kid’s Camping Party, and
Party Games for Kid’s Parties.
Favorite Things Questions
Another great activity for a favorite things party is to ask some favorite things questions.
Not only do you discover new things you might love, but you also learn more about your friends in the process.
These printables are fun, but you also could create your own. Here are some popular favorite things questions:
- Favorite color
- Favorite restaurants
- Favorite hobby
- Favorite store
- Favorite way to relax
- Favorite snack
- Favorite sweet treat
- Favorite coffee drink
- Favorite cocktail
FAQs
At its most basic, a favorite things party is a gift exchange. However, unlike a traditional gift swap, you select a favorite item of your own as your gift(s) to bring. All guests are then asked to bring a set number of the same unwrapped gift (usually 3) at a specific price point. Each person then goes home with the same number of gifts they came with.
Guests usually spend between $10 and $20 per gift to keep the party fair and fun. Setting a budget ensures everyone can participate without stress.
Yes! A Favorite Things Party can be tailored for kids by selecting age-appropriate gifts and keeping the exchange rules simple. This makes the party fun and safe for younger partygoers.
A group of 8–12 guests works best for a Favorite Things Party. This size allows everyone to interact, share gifts, and keep the game organized.
Tips and Tricks
- Set a clear gift budget to keep it fair.
- Encourage unique or unexpected favorites.
- Mix edible and non-edible gifts for variety.
- Keep groups small (8–12 guests works well).
- Plan the gift exchange order to keep things moving.
- Consider a small prize for the most creative gift.
Please let me know if you host a favorite things party in the comment box below. I love to hear from you. Be sure to subscribe or follow me on social media for more inspiration!
I’m confident you and your guests will have as much fun as we did!
xo,
Cindy
Did you host a party?
I would love to hear all about it! Let me know how it went by leaving a comment below.
Thank you!
About Bloom
Cindy Munson is a lifelong sewer, pattern designer, and former graphic design studio owner. She shares approachable, stylish sewing projects through her blog, Be Brave and Bloom. Her mission is to help others discover the joy of making and live a more creative life. Cindy works from her sunny sewing studio in Minnesota, where she lives with her husband of over 30 years.