Your Guide to Favorite Things Parties: From Planning to Attending

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Plus expert tips to host your version of this White Elephant alternative

Co-authored by Anna Braff and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: January 14, 2026 Fact Checked

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What is a “Favorite Things” party?

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Gift Ideas

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Throwing Your Party

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Expert Hosting Guide

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Video

Have you been seeing the viral “Favorite Things” party all over your TikTok? Us, too! Fortunately, we’re here to give you the lowdown on this trendy holiday gift exchange event—including what it is, what you should bring to one, and how you can host your own “Favorite Things” bash. Plus, we’ve included some party hosting and planning tips from a team of qualified experts. We can’t wait to hear about all of your favorite things!

“Favorite Things” Parties: What They Are & What to Bring

A “Favorite Things” party is a holiday gift exchange where guests choose one favorite item of theirs and bring copies of that item to give to other guests. You should bring something you genuinely love, but some classic gift ideas include books, beauty products, home decor, fashion accessories, treats, and more!

Section 1 of 4:

What is a “Favorite Things” party?

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A “Favorite Things” party is a gift exchange where guests bring their favorite items. Instead of a traditional gift exchange, where each guest brings a gift for a specific person (i.e., Secret Santa) or a random person (i.e., White Elephant), each guest brings three identical versions of an item of their choice. Importantly, the item must be one of their favorite things—for example, they could bring three copies of their favorite book, three tubes of their favorite lip gloss, etc.^{[1]
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- At the party, all of the gifts are typically laid out (unwrapped) on a table, although different hosts might organize this in their own way. However, it’s customary for each guest to present what they brought and explain why it’s one of their favorite things.
- Then, everyone in the group draws a number—1, 2, or 3—out of a hat or bowl to pick the “group” they belong to. The gift-exchanging then moves forward in three rounds, where every guest gets to pick one present per round:
  - In the first round, Group 1 goes first in selecting a present. Then 2, then 3.
  - In the second round, the order of the groups is 2-3-1.
  - In the third round, the order of the groups is 3-1-2.
- For a smaller group of guests, you can choose to forgo the numbers and rounds. For instance, if you only have five friends at your party, you could just ask everyone to bring five of the same gift (depending on your budget), so that everyone gets a copy of everything.
- A “Favorite Things” party is usually thrown during the holiday season, and it’s become a viral and trendy party theme due to its simple premise and fun outcome of receiving things that your friends use and love!
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Tami Claytor is an etiquette coach and image consultant with over 20 years of experience teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations.

Anna Braff is an event decor specialist and the founder of Provenance Rentals, where she specializes in providing clients with a range of props tailored to their event’s needs.

Ivy Summer is a certified wedding, event, and party planner with over 10 years of experience consulting, planning, and coordinating weddings around the globe.

Section 2 of 4:

Gift Ideas for a “Favorite Things” Party

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The whole point of a “Favorite Things” party is to bring your favorite thing. However, if you’re having total amnesia about what on Earth you even like (not to mention trying to make sure it’s something that your friends might also enjoy), we’re here to help. Below, you’ll find some crowd-pleasing gift ideas in a few different categories. Just remember to adjust your pick to your party’s budget, your actual preferences, and the personalities/interests of your friends!^{[2]
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- Beauty & Wellness:
- Fashion & Style:
- Home Decor:
- Leisure & Entertainment:
  - Watercolor workbook
  - Portable Bluetooth speaker
  - Your favorite cookbook
  - Your favorite book
  - Your favorite card or board game
- Food & Beverage:
  - Artisanal chocolate
  - High-quality olive oil
  - Maldon sea salt flakes
  - Bottle of liquor or wine
  - Your favorite Trader Joe’s snack pairing

Section 3 of 4:

How to Throw a “Favorite Things” Party

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Choose a budget for the gifts that your guests will bring. Since you’re asking guests to bring multiple of a favorite item, you want to make sure that you’re setting a budget that works for your friends and/or guests. It also depends on how many guests you have and how many items you’re asking each person to bring. For example, if you’re setting a $20-30 range per gift and asking each guest to bring three of each item, that might be steep for some people. That being said, setting a higher budget can allow people to bring things they truly use and love, rather than cheaper gifts that might not be as appreciated by the recipients.^{[3]
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- For example, a $5-per-gift budget might result in things like chapsticks, hair clips, bookmarks, etc., which is totally fine as long as you’re expecting that outcome.
- Ultimately, the budget is totally up to you! Just be conscious and respectful of what your guests will be able to reasonably afford.
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Send out invitations with clear guidelines for the party. A “Favorite Things” party doesn’t have to be super formal, but you’ll want to send out invitations a few weeks or more in advance, so people have time to prepare. You can send them via text, social media, E-vite, or even by mail, but just make sure to include the most important details about your party. For instance, you’ll want to include the time and date of your party, as well as any important rules and expectations for the gift exchange.^{[4]
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- Here’s an example of how you might explain the party and how it works on your invites:
  - “Think of one of your favorite things that costs $15-$20. Go to the store and buy two of that thing (make sure to get identical copies). Each favorite thing needs to be about $15-$20, and please spend no less than $30 total and no more than $40 total. Then, come prepared to share that item with other guests and exchange it with two others at random. You’ll go home with two fun, favorite gifts!”
- Also, let your guests know whether or not they should wrap their presents. Typically, you wouldn’t wrap presents for a “Favorite Things” party, but it’s totally up to you as the host! If you do ask them to wrap their presents, advise them to use gift bags so the items are easy to take out and present before being gifted.
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Set up the gifting area with seating, a table, and (optionally) a bowl of numbers. Before the party starts, set up a table for the gifts to be placed on with a circle of chairs (or other types of seating). If you’re going with the traditional version of the exchange, where there are different rounds and numbers, make sure to prepare a bowl or hat with the same number of paper slips as you have guests. Write 1, 2, or 3 on each slip, and ensure that there’s an equal amount of each number in the bowl.
- As guests arrive, have them place their gifts on the table and select a paper slip out of the bowl. Then, once your guests are seated and ready, you can go ahead with the gifting (following the instructions in the above section).
- If you’re not using the rounds system, you can skip the paper slips and just have guests take turns presenting and handing out their gifts to everyone in the group.
It is a party, after all! Again, “Favorite Things” parties aren’t meant to be formal, and they’re not usually centered around food and drink. However, you should definitely have at least a few light snacks or treats for your guests to munch on. Add some refreshments of your choice, as well. Of course, if you’d like to go all out with Christmas cookies, a charcuterie board, or a full-on dinner, you totally can—it’s up to you!

Section 4 of 4:

Bonus Advice From Expert Party Planners

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While we’re certain that you’re already equipped with what you need to throw a memorable “Favorite Things” party, don’t go anywhere without reading these bonus tips for a perfect, well-rounded party from a panel of event and etiquette experts:
- Invite people early, and check for dietary restrictions. “Don’t wait until the last minute” to send out your invites, advises etiquette coach Tami Claytor. Once you have RSVPs, you’ll be able to “make sure you have enough food,” and you’ll also be able to ask people (on the invite or after) if they have “any dietary restrictions.”^{[5]
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  Tami Claytor
  Etiquette Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
- Make sure your home is cute and tidy. “Decorating your place a little bit—[even just] having cute little throw pillows on your couches or a nice rug” can really elevate your party’s look, says event decor specialist Anna Braff.^{[6]
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  Anna Braff
  Event Decor Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
- If desired, decorate on-theme. While a “Favorite Things” party isn’t necessarily a full-on themed party, it can be nice to equip your home with some holiday cheer for your guests. Certified wedding and event planner Ivy Summer offers one creative idea: use old Christmas cards to “frame the doorways in your home.”^{[7]
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  Ivy Summer
  Certified Wedding & Event Planner
  
  Expert Interview}
- Find a good playlist. “Music is going to make your event more exciting,” explains Braff.^{[8]
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  Anna Braff
  Event Decor Specialist
  
  Expert Interview} So, don’t forget to put on some tunes in the background—whether it’s some calming Christmas music or a playlist of pop bangers.