The perfect bridal shower favor has nothing to do with what everyone at the bridal shower thinks.

Hosting or planning a bridal shower? Then bridal shower favor options are probably on your mind, and let's face it - you're probably also worried about how others at the shower will like what you've done with it. So before we talk about favors, let's put your mind at ease.

If you're throwing a bridal shower for someone, chances are, you know her pretty well. THIS IS ALL THAT MATTERS. Why? Because this day is about her, not others, and not about whether everyone loved or didn't love every little thing about the shower. All that matters is that the bride-to-be feels appreciated, supported, encouraged, and loved by her friends and family.

This is a great thing, because now you can relax and just have fun planning a day for one person instead of for everyone...which leads us back to your search for shower favors. There are a few advantages to looking for a bridal shower favor instead of a wedding favor:

• You'll have fewer guests than at a reception, so whether you use do-it-yourself bridal shower favors or buy them, you can allow more time or money per favor.

• You're not limited to your bride to be's theme in choosing decorations or favors. (In fact, it's not a bad idea to make sure that you don't use an idea that your friend is planning to use in her wedding or reception.)

• Pick classy shower favors. Humorous or off color items usually don't play as well in public as you might think they will.

• If you buy bridal shower favors, stay away from cheap things that you might find at a discount store. You'd be much better off making a do it yourself favor.

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If you're on a tight budget, you still have options:

Collect a few dollars from the bridesmaids to defray expenses, share expenses with another family member or...

Personalize your bridal shower favor. Even if you're afraid you can't afford much here, personalization is easy to do yourself with favor tags or labels printed on your computer (TIP: If you need clear labels, have them printed on a laser printer to avoid smudging. If you need graphics or color, use an inkjet on a white or other colored label).

Now that your focus is on the right person - the bride to be - and your mind is at ease, let's consider some bridal shower favor options that she will love.