Wedding-week events todayhave achieved a place of importance that ranks almost as high as the wedding itself. This is a far cry from the simpler wedding week festivities of a few centuries ago. As a result, events such as the bridal shower are much more sophisticated than they once were. And with that increased sophistication comes an increase in confusion. So to sort through the maze, we present this guide giving some of the dos and don’ts of wedding showers–and especially concerning wedding shower party favors. Let’s start with the need to host a shower: If you’re the maid of honor, do honor your bride with a shower. A lot of people today wonder if they really have to do this. The answer: YES! It’s proper wedding etiquette. There are some instances when it’s acceptable for some other lady, such as a family member or close friend, to host the shower. Usually though, this falls on the maid of honor.

Don’t try to impress people with super-extravagant, super-outlandish gifts as bridal shower party favors. The truth is this is an unnecessary expense. With wedding shower party favors, usually, the simpler,the better. The purpose of these gifts is to help the guests remember the wedding and the shower for years to come. Therefore, you’re just providing them a keepsake. The best favors will do two things successfully: They will be practical to ensure that the guests will want to keep them, and they will somehow remind the guests of the new couple, and especially the bride. There are lots of simple bridal shower party favors that can accomplish this. Popular items include candles, keyrings, boxes of chocolate, flowers in a keepsake vase, and so on. Small and memorable beats outlandish and flashy any day when it comes to wedding shower party favors.

There is also the fiction that bridal shower party favors are just those cheap gifts you give out during tacky games at the shower. While you probably will want to include some gifts as prizes for these events, more people prefer to give a token of appreciation to every guest.

One prevailing fiction is that you have to spend a small fortune to buy your wedding shower party favors. However, if these people are truly friends, they’re going to understand that you can’t spend a fortune. In fact, you don’t need to. There are many good ideas for wedding shower party favors that will set you back no more than 50 cents to a few dollars per guest. For this price you can normally buy favors that will be both memorable and practical–and you can do it without spending your life savings in the process. One of the best sources for affordable wedding shower party favors: online stores.

And our last myth to bust: Play it safe with your wedding shower party favors. Just find out what your friends had at their showers and copy the idea. This is far from true. The best shower favors are those that fit in with your particular shower theme and your particular group of guests. This might mean that they are part of the theme itself, or that they somehow say something unique about the bride you’re honoring. If you really want inspiration search Google or Yahoo for wedding shower party favors. There will be hundreds of ideas — and at least a few of them will probably spark an idea in your head for something to offer at your party.