13 Creative Retirement Party Favor Ideas

As you end one chapter of your life and begin another, a festive retirement party with all your favorite people in attendance is a fabulous way to mark this exciting life milestone! Giving out party favors at your retirement celebration allows you to send your guests off in style while providing them with mementos that’ll help them remember how much fun they had at your retirement bash. If you’re unsure what items to offer as party favors, here are 13 creative retirement party favor ideas that’ll help you plan.

1. Customized glassware

What about glasses engraved with a celebratory slogan to commemorate the retirement event? These personalized shot glasses are a great example of what we’re talking about, but you could also go with beer mugs, glasses, or regular mugs.

2. Happy retirement cookies

When it comes to retirement party favor ideas, you can’t go wrong with sweet treats—especially if they’re delicious homemade cookies that also happen to be retirement-themed! Check out these retirement cookies for inspiration.

3. Custom candles

Another excellent option for retirement party favor ideas are candles labeled with an inspiring and celebratory message! Every time your guests light their candles from your party, they’ll reflect back on the event and how much they enjoyed it. For instance, these custom soy candle favors from Ranita Candles are a great execution of this idea.

Along with party favor ideas, plan the perfect gathering using our memorable retirement party ideas!

4. Small, practical items with your custom theme

There are certain everyday items that people tend to carry around and use on a regular basis. Why not make retirement party-themed versions of any of these items, like mini bottles of hand sanitizer (see our favorites by Second Oak Designs!) or small canisters of breath mints?

5. Miniature globes, if you’re into travel

We love the idea of a travel-themed retirement party for retirees who are looking forward to using their retirement years for travel. Even better, you can easily incorporate this globetrotting theme into your retirement party favor ideas, too. For instance, you could give out miniature globes, like these affordable stress balls printed with tiny maps of the world.

6. Personalized memory notes

Or perhaps you could write brief yet meaningful notes for each of the guests at your party, reflecting on a fond memory you have with each guest or simply telling them how important they are to you. Compared to other options on this list, this retirement party favor idea requires significantly more effort from you as you write personalized notes to each guest, but we’d say it’s worth the extra time and energy to leave your guests with notes that they’ll treasure for years to come.

7. Don’t forget about themed tags for your favor bags

If your retirement party has a particular theme, you can incorporate this theme into the tags you attach to your bags of party favors. For instance, if you decide to go with a festive and fun cowboy theme for your party, you could use these free printable favor tags to wish your guests “Happy Trails” as they leave.

8. Polaroid photos

Set up a retirement photo booth using a backdrop (we’ve shared an example here) and optionally, a variety of props related to your party theme. Then, have your guests take Polaroids that they can bring home right away for a nostalgic, customized party favor option.

9. Personalized fridge magnets

Or how about personalized fridge magnets emblazoned with a celebratory slogan and the date of your event? Olivares Kreations has a great example of what we’re talking about.

10. DIY crafts

In search of activities for your party? Setting up some tables with supplies for DIY crafts is a great way both to keep your guests occupied and allow them to create items they can bring home for themselves. There are tons of DIY options out there, but here are 16 suggestions from HGTV that are especially quick and easy to make so your guests won’t feel too challenged.

Our chic black and white party ideas can add a sophisticated color scheme to your retirement party.

11. Personalized temporary tattoos

Here’s a fun and pretty goofy option that definitely fits the bill for a memorable party favor: personalized temporary tattoos! You can order these from ShopTattitude on Etsy. 

12. Custom water bottles

Customized water bottles with a festive slogan and the date of your party are another excellent way to commemorate your milestone, especially because everyone can use a water bottle (and your guests probably will on a regular basis!). There are lots of stores out there that will customize water bottles in an array of color options for you, including Vistaprint and Discount Mugs, among others!

13. Throw your retirement party at a fabulous Peerspace venue

This isn’t technically a retirement party favor idea, but it’s definitely a helpful suggestion, so we’re including it. After all, if you’re considering retirement party favor ideas, it’s safe to assume that you’re currently planning a retirement party. In light of this, remember that every great party needs an equally great venue—and you can find ideal party venues near you using Peerspace, the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rental spaces. The site connects users with tens of thousands of unique listings across hundreds of cities in the US, UK, Canada, Europe, and Australia. 

Using Peerspace’s detailed yet easy-to-use search tool, you can find a local space that has all the amenities you need as well as the style, space, and budget you’re looking for. Check out Peerspace today to see what’s out there and take the retirement party you’re planning to the next level!

Find unique retirement party venues on Peerspace