How much do party favors cost? The real prices, and what makes them change

When someone writes to me about party favors, the first question is almost always: "How much do they cost?". It makes sense. A single party favor seems like a small expense, but it multiplies by the number of guests, and an extra euro per piece on sixty pieces is sixty euros.

In this article, I will tell you how much is usually spent, what makes the price go up or down, and how much my soy wax candle party favors cost. No beating around the bush: the numbers are below.

How much a party favor costs on average

There is no official price list: everyone sets their own prices. However, shops and industry guides provide ranges, and they are quite similar to each other:

• Weddings: the ranges most often found go from about €4-5 up to €20 per piece.
• Communions and confirmations: for a well-crafted party favor, prices start at about €3-4 and go up to €8-10 for the more elaborate ones.
• Baptisms: you can find very inexpensive pre-packaged solutions or more refined party favors, with prices similar to those for communions.

These are indicative ranges taken from wedding shops and websites: they are useful for guidance, not a rule. The useful point is another one: within the same range, the price is decided by a few specific things.

What makes the price go up (or down)

When comparing two quotes, look at these items. Often the difference in price lies entirely there.

• The item. A small candle costs less than a large one, a handmade item costs more than a mass-produced one. It is the item that weighs the most.
• The packaging. Bag, small box, ribbon, tag: they are small things, but each one is paid for, and multiplied by all the guests, you can feel it.
• The sugared almonds (confetti). Some quotes include them, others don't. Always ask if they are included, how many there are, and what type, otherwise you are comparing different things.
• The customization. Names and date on the tag, colors matched to the theme, a fragrance chosen by you: all this means extra work on each piece.
• Shipping. If you cannot pick them up, add the transport cost to the total before comparing.

A practical tip: ask for the price for the finished party favor, that is, with packaging, tag, and any sugared almonds. It is the only number you can truly compare.

How much my candle party favors cost

I make my party favors like my candles: by hand, one at a time, in soy wax with a wooden wick, in my workshop in Viggiù, in the province of Varese. The price ranges from €3 to €9 per piece, depending on size, packaging, and customization. The minimum order is 10 pieces.

To give you a concrete idea:

• Eternal Daisy is my daisy-shaped candle designed for party favors, about 25g. In the shop, it costs €2.50 per piece, and you can choose it white, pink, or orange, scented or unscented. It can also serve as a place card on the table.
• Around €3-4 there is a candle with a smaller weight, with simple packaging and no sugared almonds.
• The more you go up towards €9, the more customized the party favor is and the more structured the packaging becomes.

Sugared almonds are added upon request: I get them from a confectionery in Varese. You don't pay for them separately: when included, they are part of the party favor price.

Pickup and shipping: you can pick them up by appointment in Viggiù, or I can ship them throughout Italy. Shipping is free for orders over €100. For orders under €100, it costs about €7, depending on the distance.

Calculate the total, not the per-piece price

The per-piece price is deceptive. What counts is how many party favors you actually need, because that is where the budget swells or shrinks.

An example with my prices: 50 party favors at €3 makes €150, at €9 it makes €450. The difference between the simplest format and the richest one is €300. But if instead of 50 you order 70 "to be safe," and 20 are left over, you have spent more without anyone noticing.

For this reason, even before choosing the party favor, it is worth counting carefully. I have written a guide specifically for this: when to order party favors and how many to make.

How to save without it being obvious

• Don't make more than necessary. Usually, one is given per family or per couple, not one per guest. This alone changes the final number significantly.
• Choose where to put the care. A tag with names and dates is noticed more than an expensive box. Better to have simple packaging and a thoughtful detail than many things together.
• Use the party favor as a place card. A small candle on each guest's plate does two jobs in one: it marks the seat and remains as a memento. It is one of the uses for which I designed Eternal Daisy.
• Pick them up in person, if you can. If you live in the province of Varese, picking them up by appointment in Viggiù eliminates the shipping cost.
• Try the fragrances before deciding. Choosing a fragrance from a description is difficult. With the Olfactory Journey box, you get six soy wax samples to smell at home, and if you then confirm the party favors with me, the cost of the box is deducted from the final quote.

What to write to me to get a quote

The more you tell me at the beginning, the more accurate the price I give you will be, without surprises later. I need:

• the type of event and the date;
• how many party favors you plan to make (an indicative number is also fine);
• colors or theme, if you have already chosen them;
• if you want the candle scented and, if so, which fragrance you like;
• if you want sugared almonds;
• if you will pick them up in Viggiù or prefer shipping.

Remember that party favors must be ordered at least 30 days before the event: I prepare them myself, one by one, and I need time to make them well.

You can write to me via the form on the Handmade Party Favors page or on WhatsApp at +39 333 930 6397. I will reply personally, with a proposal for fragrances, colors, packaging, and price. If you want to know more about the material, here I tell you why I use soy wax, and here you can find my workshop in the province of Varese.