Votive candles in delicate holders make good party favors for women.
When you're hosting an elegant, ladies-only banquet, you want to do everything you can to make the occasion memorable. Add a touch of class to the event by setting a small, richly-wrapped gift at each place setting--it will look beautiful and create a pleasurable feeling of anticipation. After all, no matter how grown up we are or how refined our "party clothes" may be now, we never outgrow our excitement at receiving a present at a party. Does this Spark an idea?
Bookmark
This favor is adaptable to any budget or party theme. If you're hosting a banquet for your book club or to meet a favorite author, make a bookmark featuring the writer's picture or a copy of the cover art for that month's reading selection. Make or buy bookmarks featuring inspirational quotes for any occasion or make them to look like first-place ribbons for awards or appreciation gifts. If you have a slightly bigger budget--or your banquet is a more formal occasion--buy slender bookmarks made of silver or gold. Have them personalized with engravings of the recipients' names or other sentiments.
Seasonal Ornament
If your banquet is taking place at holiday-time, use the holiday as the theme for your party favors. Give small plastic jack-o-lanterns filled with penny candy in October, tiny menorahs or Christmas tree ornaments in December and marble "eggs" at Easter. Another option is to give small gifts that reflect the season of the year, such as garden gnomes in the spring, beach balls in the summer, mittens in the fall and bayberry-scented incense in the winter.
Potted Plants
Give an assortment of flowers, houseplants or herbs in small terracotta pots. Give plants that match the banquet's theme, such as pots of rosemary and basil for a cooking club or Forget-Me-Nots for a reunion. Tuck each pot into tissue paper and tie it with a colorful bow to match your decorating colors. Bunch the plants together to use as a centerpiece and encourage each guest to take one when she leaves.
Candles
Most ladies love candles, so they make excellent party favors. Choose richly-scented votive candles in jewel-colored holders, pairs of hand-dipped taper candles (perhaps with several shades of wax) or handsome pillar candles, in addition to novelty candles in various shapes, colors and sizes. The thoughtful host will have an unscented candle or two on hand for the guest who is allergic to scented products.
Tags: party favors, your banquet