First Communion Favors and Party Ideas: Keepsakes, Tags and a Simple Plan

A good First Communion favor is small, has the child's name and the date, and is something guests are glad to take home: a treat box, a bookmark, a mini candle or a cookie with a printed tag. The party around it can be simple too. A brunch or lunch after Mass, a white table with one accent color, and a dessert table with matching labels. Here are favor ideas, quantities, tag wording and a timeline.

When to start planning

Most First Communions in the US happen in spring, often in April or May, and the parish sets the date. Start six to eight weeks ahead. If you're ordering personalized printables, add the production time: we confirm the delivery date by email before you approve the proof.

First Communion favor ideas

Box, sweets, ribbon, bookmark under the ribbon, tag on top.

• Treat boxes with white chocolates, sugared almonds or mints, with a round tag.

• Bookmarks with the child's name and date. Light, flat and easy to keep in a Bible or prayer book.

• Mini candles with a printed label.

• Cookies in a cellophane bag with a printed topper: chalice, cross, dove or wheat.

• A small rosary or prayer card in a box, for families who want a religious keepsake.

• Seed packets with the tag "Planted in faith, growing in love."

A box plus a bookmark under the ribbon is a nice middle ground: a sweet treat and something that lasts. If you're assembling boxes at home, How to Make a Favor Box at Home: Print, Cut and Fold covers printing, scoring and gluing step by step.

What to write on the tag

Short and clear. Name, occasion and date are what people look for later.

• "Lucas · My First Communion · May 2, 2026"

• "Thank you for celebrating with me · Isabella's First Holy Communion"

• "In remembrance of my First Communion · Mia · 05.02.2026"

Add the parish name if you'd like.

How many to make

• One per household or per couple for adults is common. Some families give one per guest.

• Children usually get their own favor.

• Add 10% extra for unexpected guests and photos.

• Godparents or sponsors, if there are any, often get a separate thank-you gift.

For 40 guests in about 15 households with 10 children, that's about 25 favors plus a few spares.

Party colors and symbols

White is the base for almost every First Communion party. Pick one accent and repeat it:

• White and gold. Classic, works for boys and girls.

• White and sage green with olive leaves or wheat.

• White and soft blue, or white and blush pink.

Common motifs: chalice and host, wheat and grapes, a dove, a cross, an olive branch. Choose one or two and use them on the invitation, the welcome sign, the cake topper and the favors.

A simple party plan

• Brunch or lunch after Mass, at home, in a restaurant or in the parish hall.

• Welcome sign at the entrance, Letter or A4 size, in a frame.

• Cake with a topper with the child's name or a symbol. Pick a topper size that suits your cake.

• Cupcake toppers, one per guest plus a few.

• Food labels for the buffet, six to eight.

• A favor table near the door, so everyone takes one on the way out.

• A guest book, or a printed card where guests write a wish for the child.

Dessert table quantities

A dessert or candy table works well for a crowd of children. Plan about 2 to 4 oz (about 55 to 115 g) of candy per guest if there is also cake, or 4 to 6 oz (about 115 to 170 g) if candy is the main dessert. Three to five kinds of candy are plenty for a family party. Heights, jar counts and label quantities are in How to Set Up a Candy Table: Layout, Heights, Candy per Guest and Labels.

A keepsake for the child

Family and godparents often give the child something to keep from the day. Printable ideas:

• Personalized Bible tabs, for a Bible the child will use for years.

• A framed print with the child's name, date and church.

• A memory card where family members write a short note, collected in an envelope.

Timeline

1. Eight weeks before: confirm the date and time with the parish. Choose the venue and the color.

2. Six weeks before: send invitations, printed or by text. Order personalized printables.

3. Three weeks before: order the cake, buy favor fillings and cardstock.

4. One week before: print, cut and assemble favors and bookmarks. Tie the tags.

5. Two days before: print the welcome sign and food labels. Test the table layout.

6. The day before: pack favors in a box in the order you'll set them out.

Paper and printing

Print, cut, punch, add a tassel. Round the corners if you like a softer look.

• Boxes, tags and bookmarks: matte white cardstock, 65 to 80 lb cover (about 176 to 216 g/m²).

• Gold on a home printer comes out as a flat gold-brown, not metallic. If you want shine, add a gold ribbon or a gold tassel.

• Printer settings: actual size or 100%, highest quality, and the right paper type in the driver.

• Print one test box and one bookmark before the full batch.

FAQ

Do you give favors at a First Communion?

Many families do, usually at the party after Mass. It's a thank-you, not an obligation. A small box or a bookmark with the child's name is enough.

When do you hand out First Communion favors?

Usually at the end of the party. A favor table by the exit works well, or the child can hand them out with a parent.

What colors are used for First Communion?

White is traditional, often with gold. Sage green, soft blue and blush pink are popular accents.

Shop this post

• First Communion favor box template in white and gold with chalice and wheat

• Personalized First Communion bookmark, printable

• First Communion cake topper and cupcake toppers

• First Communion candy jar labels and tags

• Personalized Bible tabs as a First Communion keepsake

See every First Communion set in First Communion.