How Photo Booths Are Becoming the New Party Favor

There’s something satisfying about giving guests a little something to take home: a token of the day, a reminder of the celebration, a thank-you they can hold.

For decades, that role belonged to favors: candy in cellophane bags, candles with custom labels, tiny succulents on the place setting.

But more and more, hosts are skipping the trinkets and turning to something more meaningful. A moment. A memory. A print they actually want to keep.

Enter the modern photo booth — now doing what favors used to do, but better.

It’s Personal (Without Being Complicated)

Great favors are personal. But personalization takes time. You have to source, pack, label, and distribute. And even then, there’s no guarantee people will take them or keep them.

With a photo booth, every guest gets a favor made just for them. Their face. Their moment. Their memory of the event.

And it’s not a passive gift. It’s one they helped create. That co-creation makes the keepsake more special than any one-size-fits-all item.

People Actually Take It With Them

How many weddings have you been to where the favors are still sitting on half the tables when the lights come on?

Not with a photo booth.

When people see their photo printed out seconds after it’s taken, they want to keep it. They slide it into their purse or pocket.

They ask for extra copies (we would know because we get a lot of requests for extra copies!).

It’s the kind of favor that doesn’t get forgotten on the table. It gets stuck on the fridge, tucked into a notebook, or framed on a desk.

It Shows Up in the Story

Favors used to be an afterthought. But when the “favor” is a photo, it’s woven into the experience of the night. It’s tied to laughter, to inside jokes, to champagne buzz and silly poses and shared glances.

And when guests flip through the photos days later, or scroll through a digital gallery, they’re not just reminded of the decor or the food. They remember how the event felt.

That emotional imprint is worth more than any monogrammed candle.

You Can Still Make It Branded (If You Want)

Some people want subtlety. Others want their name in lights. A photo booth can flex either way.

Prints can include a small logo or elegant typography. The backdrop can reflect your theme. Props can be playful or refined. Even the digital delivery (like a text or email with a custom message) becomes part of your brand or personality.

It’s a favor that works whether you’re hosting a black-tie gala, a birthday bash, or a backyard wedding.

It’s a Gift and an Experience

That’s the magic. A booth isn’t just a handout.

It’s an activity. It draws people in. It creates laughter. It breaks the ice between strangers and adds energy to the night.

And at the end of that experience, guests walk away with something tangible.

That combination of memory + memento is what sets photo booths apart from traditional favors.

We’ve Seen the Shift Already Happening

We’ve noticed it at all kinds of events:

– Weddings skipping traditional favors altogether and investing in a fully branded photo booth

– Nonprofits replacing giveaway tables with live booths that offer themed takeaways

– Companies giving employees custom prints from their annual offsite instead of swag bags

And guests? They’re seem thrilled. They don’t need more stuff. But they do want to feel included.

They want to remember how much fun they had. They want to leave with something that makes them smile again when they see it next week, next month, even next year.

That’s what photo booths are doing now.

Not just taking photos but replacing favors with something that lasts longer, feels better, and adds more to the event in real time.