I can see both sides of the favor/no favor discussion.. I think it is nice to offer a thoughtful small gift to guests of a shower. Not all gatherings-- but a shower, yes. What is considered "nice" or "thoughtful" will vary greatly by region, age group, personality of the bride/mother-to-be, and personality of the event... so my recommendation is to do them if you have a good idea that seems to have wide appeal. Skip it if you don't. I just wouldn't fret over it. A number of years ago, I hosted a baby shower with a sweet pea theme. It was an outdoor buffet with no place settings so I setup a basket full of sweetpea seed packets as favors for guests. It helped decorate a table.. and it fit the event... and guests loved it. I don't like chocolate (and I especially don't like m&m's) but I know a number of grown women (and men) who would tear into a gift of m&m's. A number of our small little chocolate shops and bakeries will do little boxes that I'd absolutely use as favors for an event with a sit-down meal. I would not give any kind of decor item-- or anything that costs more than $5-$7/person.

My daughter was married on May 6th, and she had three showers earlier in the spring. At each shower, the hostess gave a small welcome greeting -- i.e. thank you for coming to celebrate DD, etc. Two of these greetings led into an invitation to start the food (buffet style). The purpose of each was to thank the shower guests, and to transition from the initial casual / arrival / chit-chat part to the food / activity part of the shower. And yes, one of my daughter's bridemaids saved the ribbons and created a ribbon bouquet that she carried at the rehearsal! We are in the South, and a lot of these traditions live on.

By best friend of 30+ years was a godsend to me when I agreed to have a bridal shower at my home for my DS and DDIL. Technically I wasn't the hostess, just providing the setting but I had just come home from the hospital and rehab after having both knees replaced. My BF came early, stayed late and even ran out to the store when the bridesmaids discovered they didn't have enough paper products. I decided to treat her to a spa afternoon at a local salon and she loved it. My other ideas were theater tickets, a GC to a wonderful restaurant or a simple white gold or silver necklace.

No, she did not have couture, she had more accessible knockoffs. She had one like this that was sleeveless and two that were beaded bodice over wool satin bottoms and a separate top, that I can think of. Luckily she also had a neighbor, (A Japanese woman who also took care of me and taught me how to use chopsticks as a toddler) who could do things like take these apart and bring in sleeves at the shoulder or length at the waist and stuff like that.