A Favorite Things Party is one of the easiest ways to host a festive, meaningful gathering. I recently hosted one at The Athenian, a historic home in Athens, styled with a Ralph Lauren–inspired Christmas theme for a classic holiday feel.
Everyone brings one item they genuinely love, and by the end of the night, everyone leaves with something thoughtful, and actually good. Here is my guide on how to throw a favorite things party everyone will love.
The Set Up
The key to food and drinks for a Favorite Things Party is keeping things simple so guests can mingle and enjoy the gift exchange without feeling tied to a table. I opted to have a few small handhelds catered, but you could also make your own appetizers. The catering company also provided a desert tray, so I just had to pick up the food and set it out! I printed out a “Favorite Things… to Eat” menu as well to add to the Ralph Lauren vibe.
For drinks, I kept things easy and bought a few bottles of wine. You could also add a simple signature cocktail or mocktail, or do something like a hot chocolate bar which I have done in years past for a more festive option.
The Gift Exchange
Each guest brought one wrapped gift within a $100 limit, something they truly loved throughout the year, and would happily recommend to a friend!
In addition to the exchange, I also included a few door prizes throughout the night. These were small but intentional and added an extra layer of fun. Door prizes are a great way to keep the energy up and make guests feel appreciated.
Here’s how it works:
- Guests write their names down when they arrive.
- Draw each name one by one.
- The first person selects and opens a gift.
- Players choose to open a new gift or steal one that’s already been opened.
- Each gift can only be stolen two times.
- Once all gifts are opened, the first player gets one final chance to swap.
To spice things up, as gifts are opened, we had the guest that brought the item share why their item is a favorite. This is what makes the night feel personal and sparks the best conversations!
Favorite gifts
Skincare sets are always a safe choice, as well as a few makeup products put together for a bigger gift. The ChappyWrap blanket and a Lake Robe were instant favorites and the first items to be stolen during our exchange. Things like a ceramic tissue cover proved that simple luxury pieces make such a fun gift.
Shop favorite things gift ideas
Whether you’re hosting in another space or in your own living room, a Favorite Things Party is always a hit. With food, drinks, and thoughtful gifts, it’s effortless to host and genuinely so fun to attend! If you decide to take my advice on how to throw a favorite things party everyone will love, please share it with me!
For more gift ideas, check out this post of my gift guides for everyone from your In-Laws to your Boss! If you’re not already following along, come hang out with me on Instagram — I’d love to connect with you there!
Thanks for reading!
Xo-Lo
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