You might have an invitation to a holiday party at a friend’s home and you’re wondering whether a bottle of wine will do the trick when it comes to taking a host or hostess gift. Or maybe it’s a bouquet of flowers instead of the wine. Or maybe both. But is that good enough?
If you’ve ever been curious what else you could take to show your appreciation for some special friends, work colleagues or family member for hosting a dinner party or even a housewarming, this post will tell you exactly what to give for each type of occasion you could think of.
When to Give a Host/Hostess Gift
Sometimes it’s important to know when you should give a proper gift.
It’s important to note that you don’t need to have a host or hostess gift when you drop by your bestie’s house for a gab session. Okay, wine always helps gab sessions but you know what I mean. Your friend is not expecting that everytime you drop by.
So when should you take a gift? We have organized what to give based on some of the occasions we think it’s nice to offer a token of your appreciation.
No matter what the occasion is, there are two things that are not important. That would be size and price. This is all about showing gratitude.
What to Give as a Host/Hostess Gift
Dinner Party
And before you ask, yes, a backyard BBQ counts as a dinner party. Here are some ideas for what you could take with you to a dinner party.
- A great bottle of wine
- Bouquet of flowers (Bonus points for including a vase in your gift)
- Box of chocolates, candy or cookies
- Something for the kitchen or the bar like a set of tea towels or a set of bar tools
- Something that helps with serving like a salad bowl or set of beautiful chopsticks
- Candles, Soaps
- Flavored vinegar or a good bottle of olive oil
What if you made something to share with everyone at the dinner party? Only do this if your host or hostess asked you to do this when they extended you the invitation. You can also suggest that you would like to bring something to share with everyone when you get the invitation to get their ok first.
However, even if you made something to share, it’s always nice to show some gratitude to the person hosting with a separate gift.
From an etiquette perspective, don’t expect your host to share the bottle of wine you brought with you to everyone at the dinner party. This is because your host or hostess likely put a lot of thought into the planning and menu for the event and what you brought with you might not contribute to the vision they have for the event.
Your host or hostess is going to be pretty busy during the dinner party. This is why if you’re taking flowers with you, it’s always nice to have them in a vase. This will prevent your host from having to search for a vase while welcoming guests and well, hosting.
Holiday Party
A Holiday party is similar to a dinner party in a lot of ways.
- A holiday decor accessory like this nutcracker or an ornament for their Christmas tree
- Anything from the list above for dinner parties but with a little holiday theme
- A bottle of champagne or a bottle of any hard liquor like a single malt scotch
- A festive wreath
Be sure to find a gift appropriate to the type of relationship you have with the host or hostess. For example, you might take something different to a party hosted by your boss compared to a soiree hosted by your college bestie.
Overnight Stay
Think about all the work you create for your host or hostess when you stay over at their home for a night or two. Keeping that in mind, here are some ways to show your gratitude.
- Gift card to a local restaurant or a spa
- A custom gift basket containing spa products
- A custom gift basket of gourmet food
- A gift card for a specialty store like Williams-Sonoma
- A picnic basket or a local picnic experience
The key to getting your gift right is to consider what will be most appreciated by your host or hostess.
Housewarming/Open House
Purchasing a new home is definitely something to celebrate. It’s a major milestone that is worthy of acknowledgement. Same goes for an open house after a major renovation.
Here are some ideas to consider:
- Gift card to a local hardware store like Home Depot
- Boxed set of tools
- Bottle of champagne and a set of champagne glasses to help them celebrate
- Personalized doormat
- Custom metal address sculpture for the front of the home
- A gift certificate to an interior design consultation or a service like Daakor
Just keep in mind, the best host or hostess gifts are those that are thoughtful, not necessarily the most expensive.
