Best Table Gift/Favour you ever had?

[Ch0cDr0p]

I'm arranging a formal event, not a wedding) that includes gifts for ladies. What is the best gift you ever got at something like this? I feel the event itself lends itself to it being something more than chocolates/sweets.

I considered a job lot of necklaces but then not everyone likes jewellery and everyone's style is so different. I know I won't be able to please everyone but it'd be great to know what others have received and loved.

Fudge. Something consumable.

but I’m not a fan of favours. I’ve seen too many left behind and I’ve never really wanted to receive them either. We didn’t have them at our wedding for that reason. I’d rather spend the money on something else.

Something locally produced. Candle, handmade soap, sweets, hand cream or lip balm.

Something you can eat or drink. Maybe miniature bottles of alcohol or sweets.

I have enough hard cream, lip balms etc. And I wouldnt be taking a bag big enough to keep anything in.

But you can guarantee people will eat sweets and probably drink the alcohol.p

They're are all pretty unmemorable (people are just polite).
The best - the host must have spent a pretty penny. Personalised items including sweet / chocolate, champagne/ non alcoholic version for non drinkers / donation to a charity memento / photo magnet (of us), measuring tape and USB (all personalised).

What's the budget? A very nice tinted lip balm might be nice.

Something supporting local producers or charity organisations - then if they are wasted/left behind at least there has been some local benefit to the purchase. As PP said, most ladies would have small bags so anything big could get left behind.
The only memorable one I can think of was donation to a local dog rescue in the guest's name. We got photos of "our dog" including a QR code to follow them on social media.

And finally why just for ladies? I'd find that a bit patronising.

We went to a wedding where everyone got a packet of seeds. I liked that and they all vanished. Another one (in Wales) was homemade Welshcakes. I don’t think many of those made it beyond the evening reception.

Pillow spray
Nice trolley coin keyring
Soap (not handmade but prettily wrapped)
Nice or amusing pen or automatic pencil for handbag

And finally why just for ladies? I'd find that a bit patronising.

I believe this was a tradition that originated from formal European balls in the 18th and 19th century. It used to be a card that all the females carried to write down names of men who wanted to dance with them. The event organisers started creating elaborate covers for these dance cards that evolved into gifts over the years. In Germany and Austria, the idea of a "Damenspende" (Ladies donation or Ladies Gift) is still very much practised at formal events. Wedding favours are unisex but gifts at balls or galas are usually only for women.

I hate dogs so I would not be impressed with that at all!

I'm with PP, I'm struggling to remember any favours and I've been to loads of weddings. I'd like sweets though. I really don't need any more tat in my life so tbh would just leave soap, keyrings or whatever behind on the table.

i got a nice flat, fit in a purse or a gents suit pocket sized Christmas decoration at an event once

I would also suggest you give men gifts as well.

Oh I get the history of it, I guess I just assumed things had moved on from then unless it was some kind of debutante ball!

It's a ladies night, where the men are giving thanks to their wives/partners for their support so the idea it's about spoiling the women, so no gifts for men.

I got a black leather card holder. Was great used it for years.

Worst was a scarf with some awful teenage esque crown on it. Gave that to my friend to give to her 13 year old.

Is it the Masons or something similar?

Honestly the whole thing sounds deeply patronising and old fashioned.

Table favours are always a hassle for the organiser and no one else really cares about them. Just don't bother.

*sent from the year 2024

At a similar event I received one of those shopping bags that folded into tiny pocket for handbag which I used for years (til it eventually ripped) - to me great gift, the person next to me complained about it. You can't please everyone. Another event they had got goody bags from Clarins but that was a charity event and I think had been donated.

I went as a guest to a Mason's Ladies night. I had trouble keeping a straight face when they all stood up to sing about the ladies. It was excruciating and hilarious.

The best and most unique one I have had was at a wedding - when you went in for dinner, each guest had a framed front page of a newspaper with a personalised news article about you, which was something personal to you or about something that had happened on a night out with the couple or something. Hilarious and lovely!

Yes you are on the right track here, it IS old fashioned! I have agreed to pull the event together so I'm going to do it as requested and with effort and enthusiasm.

I thought about folding handbags hooks, they can be used for jackets too so useful for most people, in a simple design. Then maybe a mini hamper of chocolates, alcohol mini, luxury tea bag and I'd love to get some Elemis bath oil Minis that hotels have! All stuff that could be re-gifted easily but not tat and not too much of a personal taste.

That's such a lovely idea when you know everyone! This needs yo be quite generic unfortunately but that's going in my memory for other occasions 😀

The best one was a lottery ticket for a draw that night, and the numbers were read out as part of the father of the bride's speech. Unfortunately no big winners!

Respectfully, are you a woman? Because, if so, it's a bit rich that an event supposedly aimed at thanking women on behalf of their male spouses/partners has a woman trying to drum up ideas for said 'spoiling' from other women.

In my experience this kind of event just tries to sugarcoat sexism. A friend says that when he was very young, he was invited to an event where the men were invited to a day of golf, and the women, who were invited to join them in the evening for dinner, were all presented with a copy of Nigella's How to be a Domestic Goddess at the table. Unironically.

At the masonic do I went to, there was a raffle. And two tables of prizes. I walked towards a rather nice mini tool kit, and was firmly steered to the other table full of hair dryers and the like. I chose the kitchen scales as a mini act of sarcasm.

Yes, that rings entirely true!