50 Birthday Party Favors Guests Actually Want
Putting Together 50 Birthday Party Favors From Start to Finish
The worst party favor I ever received was a small mesh bag containing three jelly beans, a sticker, and a plastic ring that broke when I put it on my finger. I was thirty-two years old. The party was for an adult. The favor was designed for a child’s birthday, bought in bulk, and handed to every guest without thought. I threw it away in the parking lot. Party favors are not mandatory. A bad party favor is worse than no party favor at all, because it says you spent money on something you did not think about.
50 birthday party favors are small gifts given to guests at a 50th birthday celebration, meant to serve as a thank you for attending and a memento of the event. The best favors are useful, edible, or personal. The worst favors are cheap, generic, and immediately disposable.
The short answer: give guests something they will actually use or eat. A small bottle of wine, a packet of good coffee, a homemade cookie, or a printed photo from the party. Skip the trinkets, the stickers, and the plastic. A good favor costs two to five dollars per person and takes ten minutes to assemble.
Edible Favors: The Safest Choice
Food is the easiest favor to get right because everyone eats. The Hangry Kit birthday snack box includes twenty individual snacks in a branded box. Buy one box, split the snacks into small favor bags, and add a tag with the guest’s name. Twenty favors from one purchase. The flaw: the snacks are generic (chips, cookies, candy). If your guests are foodies, they will not be impressed. But for a general guest list, a snack bag is a safe, crowd-pleasing favor.
Compare: the Dulcet gourmet gift basket offers higher-quality food items (baked goods, specialty snacks) but costs more per person. For a 50th birthday with twenty guests, the Dulcet basket gives you enough for eight to ten favors at a higher quality. The Hangry Kit gives you twenty favors at a lower quality. Pick based on your guest count and your budget.
Useful Favors: Things People Keep
A favor that is useful survives past the party. Options:
- A small bottle of wine or a mini champagne split. One per guest, with a tag that says “Cheers to 50 Years.”
- A packet of good coffee beans from a local roaster. Two to three dollars per packet.
- A small candle in a tin. Three to four dollars each. Avoid the cheap candles that smell like vanilla air freshener.
- A packet of seeds (herbs, wildflowers, or vegetables). One to two dollars per packet. Attach a tag that says “Thanks for helping me grow.”
The flaw with useful favors: they require more thought than edible ones. You need to know your guests well enough to pick something they will actually use. A candle for a guest who is sensitive to scents is not a good favor. A wine bottle for a guest who does not drink is not a good favor.
Personal Favors: The Most Memorable
The best favor I ever received was a printed photo of me and the birthday person at the party, handed to me in a card as I left. It cost the host about one dollar (the photo print and the card) and it is still on my refrigerator three years later. A photo favor works because it is personal, it is specific to the event, and it captures a moment the guest was part of.
To do this: set up a simple photo area (a wall with a banner, a phone on a tripod, or a friend with a camera). Take a photo of each guest with the birthday person. Print the photos during the party (if you have a portable printer) or mail them the next week. The 50th birthday decorations set includes a banner and photo props that work as the photo area backdrop. The flaw: the set is designed for a milestone birthday, so the decorations say “50.” If you are doing favors for a different age, use a generic banner instead.
DIY Favors: When You Have Time
Homemade cookies, fudge, or trail mix in a small bag with a handwritten tag. The cost is low (two to three dollars per favor for ingredients) and the personal touch is high. The flaw: making twenty to thirty favors takes three to four hours of baking and assembly. If you are also cooking for the party, this is too much. Buy the food instead.
What to Avoid
Avoid anything with the person’s face on it (mugs, keychains, magnets). It feels self-centered, not generous. Avoid anything that says “Over the Hill.” It was funny in 1995. Avoid anything in a mesh bag. Mesh bags say “I bought this at a party store in 2003.” Avoid anything that is clearly a children’s party favor repurposed for adults (sticker sheets, plastic jewelry, temporary tattoos).
The Verdict
The best 50 birthday party favor is something the guest will use, eat, or keep. A small bottle of wine, a packet of good coffee, a homemade cookie, or a printed photo from the party. The most common mistake is buying cheap trinkets in bulk and handing them out without thought. A good favor costs two to five dollars and takes ten minutes to assemble. A bad favor costs one dollar and goes in the trash.
FAQ
What are good party favors for a 50th birthday? Something guests will use, eat, or keep. A small bottle of wine, a packet of coffee, a homemade cookie, or a printed photo from the party. Skip trinkets and plastic.
How much should I spend on party favors? Two to five dollars per guest. A good favor does not need to be expensive. It needs to be thoughtful. A one-dollar photo print in a card is better than a five-dollar trinket.
Should I give party favors at an adult birthday? Favors are optional. A bad favor is worse than no favor. If you do not have time to pick or make something good, skip them. Guests will not notice the absence.
What food makes a good party favor? Homemade cookies, fudge, trail mix, or a small bag of good coffee. Pre-made snack boxes like the Hangry Kit work for larger groups. The food should be something people want to eat, not just something that fills a bag.
How do I make a photo party favor? Set up a photo area with a banner, take a photo of each guest with the birthday person, and print the photos during the party or mail them the next week. A portable printer costs about $50 to rent or buy.
What party favors should I avoid? Anything with the person’s face on it, anything that says “Over the Hill,” anything in a mesh bag, and anything that is clearly a children’s party favor repurposed for adults.
How many party favors do I need for a 50th birthday? One per guest, plus five extra for unexpected guests or broken items. If you have twenty guests, buy or make twenty-five favors.
References
- Party City, “50th Birthday Party Favors and Ideas,” partycity.com
- Big Dot of Happiness, “50th Birthday Party Supplies,” bigdotofhappiness.com
- The Bash, “50th Birthday Party Ideas,” thebash.com
