11 Unique White Elephant Party Ideas

Need white elephant party ideas to take your party to the next level? We got you! At a white elephant party, everyone brings a small gift to exchange, and the first player chooses one to unwrap. The second player then has the option to unwrap another gift from the pile or steal the first player’s prize. It’s a fun way to spice up the usual holiday gift exchange.

Speaking of the usual holiday gatherings, if you’re looking to add even more excitement to your next gathering, check out Peerspace. Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and makes it easy to discover and book stylish, well-equipped spaces from local hosts. We’ll share a few awesome examples ahead.

Below, you’ll find unique white elephant party ideas to take your holiday get-together to the next level. 

1. Book the perfect venue for your white elephant party

Changing the scenery is a great way to set the stage for a party. Luckily for you, you can find plenty of unique hidden gem spaces near you on Peerspace. 

You can find and rent out beautiful venues by the hour, like cozy private homes, galleries, penthouses, meeting spaces, bars, and more. If you don’t have room to host your gift exchange at home or just want somewhere special to hang out, give it a try. Need a few examples to get you started? We won’t let you down!

Here are some white elephant party-perfect venues you can book with ease through Peerspace:

• This over-the-top Christmas-themed bar in the heart of Wrigley, Chicago, IL (pictured above).
• This lakehouse forest mansion in Nevada City, CA with a warm and airy ambiance.
• This modern midtown cafe in Manhattan, NYC with in-house catering and beverage services.
• This authentic log cabin in the mountains in Cle Elum, WA with mountain views and a festive feel.

These are just a couple examples of the types of venues you can book through our platform. Check out Peerspace now to see what’s available in your city. You might be surprised by the awesome and festive spaces you can find!

2. Decorate with cozy cheer to get the festive vibes going

Once you’ve picked out a venue, you can give it an extra dose of holiday cheer.

Do so by decorating with:

• Mini Christmas trees
• Paper snowflakes garlands 
• Strands of icy twinkle lights 
• Fluffy fake snow

Some Peerspace event venues decorate their spaces for the holidays, which means this step could be taken care of for you! 

3. Set a limit on the number of steals 

Now, it’s time to set some ground rules for your white elephant gift exchange. If there’s a particularly good present up for grabs, your guests might spend the whole exchange stealing it from each other instead of exploring the other options under the tree. 

To help keep the party moving, try setting a limit on the number of times other guests can steal a gift. Ideally, 2-3 times is a good start. That way, you can still get plenty of scandalous thefts without neglecting the other gifts at the party. 

New to party planning? Don’t you worry, you just need these holiday party planning tips to help you throw the best bash ever!

4. Make them gag gifts to rack up the laughs

Instead of bringing standard gifts like coasters or candles, make the offerings at your white elephant exchange gag gifts instead. 

Laugh-worthy gag gift ideas include: 

• A lovely brick-like holiday fruitcake 
• A box of chocolates – with a bite taken out of each piece. 
• An autographed photo of yourself, preferably with lasers or cats in the background. 
• An “IOU” at the bottom of a gift bag. 

You get the idea. The more creative your gift offerings, the more laughs you’re sure to get!

5. Make your gifts elephant-themed

Instead of gag gifts, challenge your guests to bring gifts that fit an “elephant” theme, like:

• A ceramic elephant figurine 
• An elephant succulent planter
• Elephant socks
• An elephant coffee mug

Is this white elephant party idea a little on the nose? Oh, very. But that’s what makes it adorable!

6. Combine it with a Secret Santa gift exchange

Remember when Michael Scott transformed Dunder Mifflin’s Secret Santa exchange into Yankee Swap instead? This white elephant idea takes inspo from Michael’s shenanigans. 

A few weeks before the party, draw names and have guests bring a gift with a specific guest in mind. When the exchange starts, see if guests can correctly choose which gift is meant for them. Can everyone match up with the gift meant for them via unwrapping and swapping? Or will they end up with something they love even more? Only one way to find out!

7. Swap holiday snacks instead of non-edible gifts

Want to put a sweet spin on White Elephant? Have guests bring a holiday treat as their gift, like a DIY holiday cookie kit or a hot chocolate mix. Everyone is guaranteed to get something delicious at the end of the day, which will definitely make spirits bright. 

And if you need a well-equipped, stylish venue with a kitchen, then you can book one on Peerspace to create and share your tasty goodies. 

8. Get your pets involved in the fun

Wish that your pets could get in on the white elephant fun? Try bringing them to the party and letting them lead the gift exchange. 

The first player should bring their pet to the gift pile, then unwrap whichever present their pet touches first. The second player can see if their pet wants the first gift or would rather sniff out another option from the pile. 

You can also spice this version up by bringing gifts for your pets, like squeaky toys or treats. It’s an adorable white elephant party idea for pet lovers.

Planning a holiday party for your work colleagues? Then you need to check out these fun corporate Christmas party entertainment ideas to keep them rockin’ around the Christmas tree all night!

9. Roll the dice to determine your gift exchange rules

Instead of letting guests make their own decisions, try using dice to determine everyone’s moves in the game.

For example, the dice could signal:

• Rolling a “1”: Take a new gift. 
• Rolling a “2”: Steal from the player closest to your left. 
• Rolling a “3”: Steal from the player to your right. 
• Rolling a “4”: Steal from the player across from you.
• Rolling a “5”: Freezes your gift for a turn.
• Rolling a “6”: Wild card!

You get the idea. This white elephant variant puts everything to chance, which can lead to some interesting results in the final exchange!

10. Go with a classic and play rock paper scissors

Instead of using dice, try bringing rock paper scissors into the mix. If someone wants to steal another guest’s gift, they have to play rock-paper-scissors first. If the challenger wins, they get to steal their opponent’s gift. But if they lose, they have to forfeit their gift to another player. Again, it’s a fun way to leave your white elephant exchange up to chance. 

11. Get hip and swap music albums

For gifts, have everyone wrap up their favorite musical album on vinyl or CD (Yes, those still exist.) When the exchange is over, you can listen to the tracks while you chat and sip eggnog. 

You’re not just exchanging gifts, you’re also exchanging musical taste and broadening your horizons. Just try not to get offended if your favorite ambient whale song isn’t everyone’s jam.  

White elephant party ideas: conclusion

We hope these white elephant party ideas have inspired you to create a more exciting gift exchange for you and your partygoers. Along with fun gifts and means of exchanging them, we think that the setting for your party will make all the difference, so be sure to peruse Peerspace to discover incredible party venue rentals near you. It’s the cure for your typical party, turning your gathering from “meh” to “yeah!”

Find unique party venues on Peerspace