Tiny notebooks with personalized messages
For a wedding, its nice to give out CDs with the couple's favorite romantic songs and
their picture. For a milestone birthday party, whether celebrating the 40th or the 80th, it's
fun to give out little joke books about reaching that age."
Karen Tessler, who grew up in Oak Park and now lives in Scottsdale, is a chocolatier with
hundreds of molds that come in handy when she plans custom-made, edible favors.
"I've made chocolate bowties, golf clubs and hearts to go along with party themes," says
Tessler. "I think of chocolate as a comfort food and don't know anybody who doesn't love it.
I believe it's cool to serve chocolate, sometimes in different colors, with a theme."
Dorie Shwedel of Franklin recalls a favorite favor she received at an party anniversary.
The favor was a large chocolate bar with a special wrapper showing a picture of the couple
being honored.
Andrea Solomon, a local party planner geared toward budgeting, has found favors that
range in price from $1 to $50 apiece. She looks for diverse favors in specialty stores, cata-
logues and on the Web.
Favors can serve specific party functions. They can be centerpieces, place-card holders
and food cues when guests have entrée choices.
While it's not uncommon to find table centerpieces consisting of a collection of indi-
vidual potted plants, one for each person at the table, it is uncommon to find a centerpiece
made of different paperback books from which tablemates can choose.
Sue Horwitz of West Bloomfield is an avid reader who received a novel by favorite author
Katherine Neville at a bar mitzvah party. "The books at each table were geared toward the
age group at that table," Horwitz says. "Because they were paperbacks, they made each
table very colorful."
Sue Terebelo of Southfield often thinks of favors as good organizational tools and keeps both
the ones she has chosen as a party hostess and the ones she has received as a party guest.
When Terebelo gave a shower for a sister-in-law-to-be, she found colorful tiny notebooks
with different messages, from inspirational to humorous, on the covers and used them to
hold the place cards and menu selections.
"After the party, I hope guests will keep them as sweet memories of the event," Terebelo says.
Elana Lofman of Southfield, now married and the mother of three, decided to make tie-
dakah part of her own bat mitzvah and involve guests with the charitable gestures. Because
the name "Elana" is rooted in the Hebrew word for "tree," her family planted a tree in Israel
in honor of everyone invited.
On a lighter note, Kim Graziosi has provided small, inscribed bells for every guest at wed-
dings. Graziosi, JVS communications director, used to be a party planner and had the bells
inscribed with a limerick instructing people to use them, instead of the silverware, when
they wanted the bride and groom to kiss.
Leah Fox of West Bloomfield, a crafting hobbyist, has hand-painted vases for shower
guests, making each one slightly different but in the party color scheme. She hopes recipi-
ents use the original pieces for a long time and think of the party when they do.
Janice Cherkasky, an area party planner, has arranged for model car pencil sharpeners
and wheel-shaped measuring tapes as favors for guests at auto show galas. She also has
hunted down fans as favors for those attending outdoor weddings.
Cherkasky, ever mindful of the economic climate as she helps with celebrations, has a
continuing suggestion for budget-primed favors.
"Instead of buying something specifically as a favor, hosts and hostesses can make use
of the floral centerpieces," she says. "One person can be assigned to wrap flowers into little
bouquets, with or without personalized ribbons, given as guests are preparing to leave."
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