Playing Favor-ites

So this bridesmaid is on the hunt for the perfect bridal shower favors, and let me tell you ladies, it's a tacky, plastic, almonds-in-pink-boxes jungle out there. When my sister and I threw my mom's bridal shower a few years back, we got all the guests flip-flop picture frames to go with the beach theme (Mom got remarried on a beach in Hawaii wearing a floral-print dress...she doesn't mess around).

But T's wedding is old school -- church, ballroom, Cinderella gown and champagne -- and so there's no clear theme for the shower, which means this bridesmaid is going with a classy, basic pallet. Now the challenge is finding favors for 30 women that are the perfect mix of cute and stylish without being, well, incredibly expensive. I mean let's be real, what are the chances this bridal shower gift is going to go on to have a life as a cherished heirloom? It's greatest potential is that it will A) End up on a kid's playroom floor, or B) Become some sort of bathroom decoration.

That being said, I still want guests to have a little something to take home. My first instinct was clear little bags of candy. This can be done relatively on the cheap. Just buy cute bags, fill them with goodies (you can go with "sugar" themes -- like sour fruit flavored gummies or maybe just different chocolates), and tie each bag with a cute ribbon. For a little something extra, you can order or make up stickers with a saying like "Sweet of you join us" (admit, a bit cheesy, but it's a bridal shower, what do you want, Shakespeare?)

I also searched through several websites with little picture frames, candles, and other goodies worthy of bridal shower parting gifts, and these are the two of the better ones:

http://www.weddingfavorites.com/
http://www.beau-coup.com/bridal_shower_favors.htm

If you're having a smaller gathering and/or a bigger budget, small tote bags filled with favorites of the bride-to-be is also a great option. Or, if the wedding is themed or seasonal, go with something that reflects the overall decor. Christmas wedding? Maybe give each guest a specialized ornament. Destination wedding? Go with a small city guide book, canvas passport holders or something a little off-the-beaten-bridal path, like a travel beauty pack with lip balm, sunscreen, Evian facial mist (for that in-flight skin dehydration) and a edible goody native to the region/island/country where the wedding is taking place.

If you live in a city with a Chinatown (gotta love New York), that can be a great place to gather up inexpensive goodies to give to guests as well. And if you don't? Well, there's always Target.

Happy Planning...