While it's not critical that you give anniversary party favors to the guests who come to an anniversary party, still, a simple token of thanks goes a long way in showing your friends and family that you genuinely appreciated them sharing the celebration with you.

Anniversary parties can sometimes be planned as large celebrations, especially for couples who have reached benchmark anniversaries like the 10th or 25th. And possibly a larger celebration than the original wedding reception can often be arranged for couples who are celebrating 50 years together. As such, anniversary wedding favors should decidedly be on the party planning list.

Today there are such a large number of anniversary favors that you should be able to find favors to meet any budget, whether you're looking for anniversary celebration ideas for your own anniversary or you're planning the event for a parent, grandparent or other family member or friend.

With the millions of selections available, you clearly shouldn't have to trade off practicality to buy or even make anniversary party favors. There are plenty of ideas and selections that are within your budget and still be appreciated by your guests.

• Nostalgic Favors

You can select or make anniversary wedding favors that tie in with the theme or season of the wedding. For example, if the couple eloped on a beach, the theme of the party could be beach related with beach-themed party favors. Or base the theme and the favors around the music that was popular in that era.

• Traditional Party Favors

These favors would be based on the couple's years of marriage, so for instance you may give wooden type favors for a 5-year anniversary and tin favors for a 10-year anniversary party.

• Personalized Anniversary Party Favors

Being able to print a special message on favors is a good choice for anniversary party favors. Items such as laminated bookmarks make excellent anniversary wedding favors or perhaps a personalized candy bar wrapper with enough space to add a personal thank you, quote or even a short poem.

• Edible Anniversary Party Favors

While edible favors may be on just about everyone's top-10 list of favorites, edible may not appeal to everyone today. Consider the increased gluten-free programs that people are on today, or there may be guests who are diabetic or have an allergy to peanuts or another type of food allergy.

If the only favors you give out are edible favors, some of your guests may not actually receive a favor at all. So if you do decide on candies or chocolate covered nuts, make sure you have another type of favor included that is also practical so all of your guests will receive a favor.

• Be Practical

No one really likes getting a favor they'll end up tossing aside and throwing away later. It's a waste of your money too. So keep practicality and usefulness in mind when you're shopping for anniversary party favors.

Remember why you're giving anniversary party favors - to show the guests you really appreciate them sharing the celebration. Practical and useful favors will express gratitude without costing a fortune yet without being shoddy.

The main point - you definitely want your guests feeling like you really did put some thought behind your choices of anniversary party favors, not that you just bought anything for the sake of giving them something.