How Far in Advance Should You Order Personalised Party Favours?
Quick answer: Order your personalised party favours at least 2 weeks before your event date — earlier during Christmas, Valentine's Day, spring wedding season or school holidays. If you're inside that window, our express shipping at checkout can still save the day.
Why Personalised Favours Take Longer Than Regular Products
Unlike buying something off a shelf, personalised party favours are made specifically for you. That means before anything gets printed, packed, or shipped, there's a design process happening behind the scenes. Here's what goes into every order:
- Your personalisation details need to be received and checked
- The design needs to be created or customised to match your event
- Production takes place once the design is approved
- Shipping then needs to get your order from us to you
Each of those steps takes time, and if something needs to be tweaked along the way, that adds a little more. The earlier you order, the more breathing room everyone has — including you!
So When Should You Order?
Our simple rule of thumb applies to every event — weddings, baby showers, birthdays, christenings, corporate events, you name it:
Order at least 2 weeks before your event date.
That's not 2 weeks before you need them sitting on the table — that's 2 weeks before the event itself. Once you place your order, your personalisation details need to be checked, your design created or customised, and your products produced and quality checked before they're handed to our shipping partner. Australia Post and couriers then need time to get your parcel from our Sydney studio to your door, and transit times vary depending on where you are in the country. Regional and rural customers especially should factor in a few extra days for transit.
Timing by occasion
| Occasion | Recommended lead time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birthdays | 2-3 weeks | Add a few days for milestone or large custom designs |
| Baby showers & gender reveals | 2–3 weeks | Hosts often order before the date is locked in with all guests |
| Weddings & bonbonniere | 2–3 weeks | Larger quantities and design approval rounds take longer |
| Christenings & confirmations | 3–4 weeks | Family review of wording often adds a round of changes |
| Corporate events | 2–3 weeks | Logo approval and bulk production need extra runway |
| Christmas & peak | 3–4 weeks | Our busiest period — order earlier than you think you need to |
If your event falls during a peak period — think Christmas, Valentine's Day, spring wedding season, or school holiday periods — we'd recommend ordering even earlier, as these are our busiest times of year. You can always choose delayed shipping at checkout and we will ship closer to your event date!
Common Ordering Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for the guest list to be 100% final before starting your order — the design and production timeline doesn't need to wait, only the final quantity
- Approving the design proof without triple-checking names, dates and spelling — once personalised items go to print, changes can be difficult
- Assuming standard shipping will arrive in a day or two during December or wedding season, when it's our busiest time
- Forgetting to add a few spares — guest lists have a way of growing closer to the date
- Not asking for help when time is tight — see "What Happens If You've Left It Late?" below before you panic
What Happens If You've Left It Late?
Don't panic — we get it, life gets busy! Here's what to do if your event is coming up faster than expected:
Get in touch with us first. Contact us at emma@favourperfect.com.au and let us know your event date. We'll be honest with you about what's achievable in your timeframe and work with you to find the best solution.
Choose express shipping. For physical orders, express shipping is available at checkout and can significantly reduce your delivery wait time.
Tips for Stress-Free Favour Ordering
After 15 years of helping Australians create beautiful personalised favours, here are my top tips for making the process as smooth as possible:
Have your details ready before you order. Know the name/s, date, and any specific wording you want on your favours before you start. The faster we receive your details, the faster we can get started.
Check your spelling carefully. Once personalised items go to print, changes can be difficult. Double-check all names, dates, and wording before you confirm your order.
Order a few extra. It's always better to have a few spares than to run short on the day. Guest lists have a way of growing!
Use our delayed shipping option. If your event is still months away but you want to get your order locked in, we offer a delayed shipping option at checkout. Place your order now and we'll dispatch it closer to your event date — so you can tick it off your to-do list early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order personalised favours less than 3 weeks before my event? Yes, in many cases. Contact us at emma@favourperfect.com.au with your event date and we'll tell you honestly what's achievable — often our Edit & Print Yourself range or express shipping can still get you sorted.
Do I need my final guest count before I order? No. Start the design and personalisation process as soon as you have your core details (names, date, wording). You can always order a few extra closer to the date if your numbers grow.
How much earlier should I order for Christmas or wedding season? Add at least 1–2 extra weeks on top of our standard 3-week guide, 3-4 weeks total is a safe target during our busiest periods.
What if I need favours for this week? Contact me (Emma) and we can discuss your options - emma@favourperfect.com.au
Can changes be made after I approve my design proof? Once an order goes to print, changes can be difficult or impossible. Always double-check names, dates and wording carefully before approving your proof.
The Golden Rule
When in doubt, order sooner rather than later. The relief of having your favours sorted weeks before your event is absolutely worth it, and it means you can focus on all the other details that make your celebration special.
Have questions about timing or want to chat through your order? We'd love to hear from you at emma@favourperfect.com.au or browse our full range below.
Shop Personalised Party Favours →
Favour Perfect is a proudly Australian owned small business specialising in personalised party favours. Based in Sydney, we ship Australia wide with flat-rate shipping of $14.95.