The Ultimate Girls Trip Must: The “Favorite Things” Gift Exchange
Planning your next girls trip getaway and looking for a fun activity that’s budget-friendly and personalized? Look no further than the Favorite Things Gift Exchange!
A few weeks ago I took a road trip down to the Dallas area to meet up with some of my favorite ladies in the world! It was partly for work and partly for fun. I live in Missouri and it’s about a 5-hour drive for me, but I LOVE a good road trip, especially when I get to spend time with good friends that I don’t get to see in person very often.
One of the things on our list for the week was a “Favorite Things” Gift exchange and it was one of my favorite parts of the week!
A “Favorite Things” gift exchange is perfect for a girls’ trip. It’s fun, and interactive, and helps everyone share part of their personality.
It works simply. Each person brings their favorite thing, usually three if there is a big crowd or as many as are attending, all the same. These items fit within a preset budget.
When we get together, we place our gifts on a designated table. Then we draw names to see who’s gift gets picked first. This keeps things exciting and fair.
It’s a great way to bond and discover new favorite things from our friends. Plus, it’s super easy to organize.
The gifts I came home with were amazing and I am enjoying all of them. I share them at the end of this post.
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Planning Your Gift Exchange
Planning a “Favorite Things” gift exchange involves selecting a fun theme and setting a reasonable budget. Here’s how you can do it:
Budget Considerations
Setting a budget ensures that everyone can participate comfortably. Usually, a range between $10 to $30 works well.
It’s important to communicate this budget clearly on the invitations. If everyone knows the price limit, they can plan better and not feel pressured to overspend.
I also find it helpful to remind guests about the budget a few days before the party. This helps avoid any confusion.
Keeping the budget in mind makes the entire event more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Choosing a Theme
You can choose a theme that might make the gift exchange less intimidating. Themes can be based on seasons, colors, or specific interests. For example, a Christmas gift exchange party can have your favorite ornaments or your favorite Christmas candle.
Another idea: Each guest brings their favorite book or beauty product. Themes help guests decide what to bring, and that can make it less stressful.
Matching the theme with the group’s interests will make the party more personal and enjoyable. Think about what everyone loves when deciding the theme.
Selecting the Perfect Gifts
Picking the right gifts for a “Favorite Things” gift exchange is both fun and rewarding. It’s important to remember that the gift you bring is YOUR favorite thing and you want to share it with your friends so they will fall in love with it too!
Personalization Tips
When choosing gifts, think about the things you use every day that you sometimes don’t even think about it is so much a part of you. What hobbies do you enjoy? Do you have a favorite color or scent?
Use custom labels or monograms to add a special touch.
Don’t forget the packaging!
Beautiful wrapping paper or a cute gift bag can make even a small gift feel more special.
Thoughtful Gift Ideas
Go for practical yet special items. Think about things you use every day but with a twist. For example, a high-quality notebook or a chic water bottle.
Self-care items like scented candles, bath salts, or skin care products are always appreciated. Small kitchen gadgets, if the group loves cooking, make for fun and useful gifts.
Another idea is to group themed items together. For a cozy night in, you might include a soft blanket, a mug, and some gourmet hot chocolate mix. These thoughtful combinations can make the gift feel more complete and personal.
Establishing the Rules
First, decide on the spending limit. I usually suggest $10-$30 per gift. Each guest should bring at least three identical items or for a small group, you bring one for every person. This way, everyone ends up with at least three different gifts from the party.
We each brought five gifts so that everyone got what we brought.
Make sure guests know to bring their items wrapped. This adds to the fun because only you know what it is, but you know everyone will love it. You can use clear bags or baskets for display if you must.
Creating a set of rules ensures everyone knows what to expect and makes the exchange run smoothly. Clearly explaining these details in your invitation helps avoid any confusion.
The Unwrapping Process
During the party, arrange all the gifts in a central location. I like to gather everyone in a circle around the gifts on the table.
We chose a specific person and all opened their gift at the same time. That worked so well. We were all opening the same gift at the same time and it was so fun to talk about each gift!
This process can be quick or slow, depending on the group’s vibe.
Swapping and Stealing
Luckily this isn’t necessary in a favorites gift exchange and no one gets upset. Everyone leaves happy and with 5 new favorite things of their own.
It has been fun to report back to my friends and talk about how we are loving the new things we got!
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a Favorite Things gift exchange can be a lot of fun, but it’s natural to have questions about gift ideas, spending rules, themes, and general guidelines.
What are some creative gift ideas for a Favorite Things gift exchange?
For creative gift ideas, I love to think about items that are practical yet a bit of a treat. Consider items like fancy hand lotions, cute mugs, or even a favorite book. Makeup items like mascara or nail polish are also great choices. Think about what little luxuries make your day brighter and share those!
How much should you typically spend on a gift for a Favorite Things gift exchange?
The typical spending limit varies, but usually, it’s around $10-$30 per gift. This keeps it affordable while still allowing for meaningful and fun gifts. Make sure everyone is on the same page about the budget to avoid any awkward moments during the exchange.
Are there any themes or variations for a Favorite Things gift exchange I could consider?
Yes, there are plenty of fun themes and variations to consider! You can have a spa night theme with relaxation and pampering gifts. Another idea is a kitchen theme where everyone brings their favorite cooking tools or gadgets. Seasonal themes, like summer favorites or holiday treats, can also be a hit.
What are the essential rules to follow during a Favorite Things gift exchange?
The key rules to follow are to set a clear budget, decide in advance how many items each person should bring, and make sure everyone knows the theme if there is one. Typically, each participant brings a few of the same items to share. It’s also important to have a fun and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable and excited to participate.
More about how you can pull off the Ultimate Girls Trip Weekend
My friends have all written about our week together and how we made the Ultimate Girls Trip into the most amazing week! Here are some awesome pictures and links to what they are sharing about how you can do it too!
Michele was the Ultimate Hostess for our adventure! Her home was so beautiful and I haven’t shut up about since the moment I pulled into her driveway.
She is sharing all about How To Plan and Host a Creative Retreat with Girlfriends!
If you follow her advice you will have learned from the absolute best hostess!
Wendy and Lynn took a Thelma and Louise style road trip together and I can’t wait for you to read all about their antics!
How to Plan the Best Girl’s Road Trip
I am going to try to paint this photograph in oil! It’s so beautiful!
Cindy documented it all for her YouTube Chanel and I am so glad she did because I get to look back on it whenever I want to, but you should check it out because she shares Behind the scenes of a blogger’s work retreat getaway!
Wendy shares about the AirBnB that we stayed in.
Diane is sharing Great Ideas For What and How-To Pack For Creative Retreat
Our Favorite Things Gifts
- Wendy was so sweet to gift us all Farm Fresh Syrup and Jam all the way from her hometown in California, and packaged in the cutest soft pink makeup bag.
- Lynn’s gift was a beautiful Kate Spade bracelet. Now every time I wear it I will think of Lynn and know that all of us have this beautiful bracelet to remember our week!
- Michele did double gifts and we all were welcomed with these adorable linen bags that she stenciled with the cutest rabbit and flowers. Inside it had a notebook, a beautiful handpainted watercolor bookmark that her mom painted for each of us, and an amazing smelling candle from Ergo in the scent of Rosemary. She said it’s very popular in her area and I can see why. It smells so amazing!
- Cindy’s gift was handmade and from the heart. I love a good hand-poured soap and Cindy made us not one but two. I am already almost through one of them and want to get her recipe. She also hand-poured a lip balm that is so soothing and a hand-painted flower. She also included exfoliating gloves. I have had a spa night several times since coming home.
- Diane happens to live very close to one of my favorite stores and actually, we all love it! Nell Hills. She was able to snag all of us the coolest basket Christmas tree and glass ornaments at their big sale and that meant she was able to stay under our $15 limit. I can’t wait to put it out this Christmas!
Shop for Your Own Gift Exchange
Click through to see some of my favorite things!
I’m so glad you suggested this!!! It was so fun, and I have the sweetest reminders of our week and the special bond we all share throughout my home.
Can’t wait for next year!!!!
Me too Diane! I miss you all!
The gift exchange was such a great idea Amy! Every time I use what we exchanged it reminds me of the great time we all had together. I miss you all already. Do we have to wait for next year?
I hope we see each other sooner! I am wearing my bracelet and loving the memories!
The gift exchange was such a special part of our retreat. I love how everyone shared their favorite things with each other. Thanks for all the great tips Amy.
I’m so glad you had the idea to do this “favorite things” gift exchange. It was so fun and everyone brought such great gifts.
This retreat was the best, and I can’t wait until next year. And thank you so much for the kind words!! So glad you enjoyed your time here!
The gift exchange was such a great idea, Amy! I enjoyed seeing what everyone brought as their favorite thing! I’m so glad you are enjoying the handmade bath products. They are my faves! I have a blog post planned for the homemade soap coming soon so you can make some too!