The Best Hostess Gifts
The best hostess gifts. Why bringing a gift is so important…and how to choose the perfect gift for a hostess
The best hostess gifts…
We all know that we have to bring a lovely gift to the hostess when we are invited…we know that we have to offer something, but we just never know what to buy!!
Well, good news!! Here you’ll find plenty of great ideas!! 🙂
But why bringing a gift is so important?
Even if the hostess is someone you know well, bringing a little something is very thoughtful attention! It shows her that you are happy to be there and appreciate her invitation.
That gift could be something you bought or something you created or baked…possibilities are endless!! 🙂
So let’s go through the what and whys, but most important first… What to choose!!
Sincerely, it’s one of my favorite kinds of gifts to offer. So fun to shop… and like always, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be perfect! A simple thing that you wisely choose is always, always appreciate! Even a simple thing is better than bringing nothing at all!
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The best hostess gift…
Depending on the event, there are several options; they are several options…just remember that any little attention is always well welcome!
As an example, a few years ago, we were invited to my husband’s cousin to celebrate hunt Huguette’s birthday.
Of course, we had a lovely present for Huguette, but I knew that her two daughters spent a lot of money and time to make that party happen. So I brought a very nice bottle of wine for each of them ( they are both wine lovers, so it was easy! 🙂 )… but the truth is that I was the only one that thought about a gift for them. It was important for me to let them know that I appreciated their invitation, but more than that, it was important that they know that I appreciate all the efforts they put into that party…and let me tell you, it was a great party!!
They were both very surprised and happy. Trust me; it’s such a good feeling to surprise someone and make him happy!
…Ok, stop talking about me 😊 Let’s dive into our topic!
The best hostess gift: What should we bring, and when?
Of course, if you are invited to an event ( dinner or party ), you will have to consider a few things before buying your gift:
- Is it someone you know well or people you rarely see? Or maybe you meet them for the first time?… let’s say your husband’s boss or a friend of a friend…It means that you don’t know their taste, never saw their house, and probably don’t know much about them. In this case, fine chocolate, flowers, or a nice bottle of wine would be perfect. These are more neutral presents, and they always please everyone… We all like to receive flowers and chocolate!…and if they don’t enjoy wine, well, they surely know someone to pass it over!!
- If you have kids and your hostess has kids too, you can also bring something for them. All parents love when you pay attention to their child, and those little ones will be happy too! Keep in mind that the bigger your family is…, the bigger the gift should be! Feeding a five kids family costs a little more…🙂
This activity book would be a great gift! ha! ha! A gift that would keep kids busy And calm for a few hours!!
- If it’s a good friend of yours and you know her very well, you can opt for something more personal. Something that will fit her decor or a thing that you’re sure she will enjoy. But don’t forget that it’s not a birthday present! It’s just a sweet thought to make her happy and let her know that you appreciate the invitation.
Personally, I like to bring a gourmet present. Something they will use in the kitchen or some fancy thing that they can eat or drink… so, let me share some ideas…
The best hostess gifts: Some great ideas
Here are my favorite hostess gifts. The ones I like to offer… and the ones I like to receive!! 😉
- 1-Wine: And I mean a good bottle of wine! If you know her taste, choose something accordingly; if not, a great red wine would be perfect ( red wine is the most popular ). In the summertime, a nice rosee would be great too. It can also be a wine you just discovered and want her to try… Don’t be afraid to ask for advice at the liquor store
- 2-Good quality olive oil: That is such a great gift! There are so many different olive oils on the market! It’s always pleasant to discover a new one… and if she invited you for dinner, it means that she probably likes cooking 🙂 she will appreciate that gift. But again, choose a nice-looking bottle and an excellent quality olive oil, a bottle that she would probably never buy because of the price…
- 3-Balsamic vinegar: Or any other kind of fine vinegar…No need to repeat that higher quality is the best choice. That is something that we rarely buy for ourselves, but so nice to have. You will find a large selection in any fine grocery store, and vinegar bottles are usually very pretty too!
- 4-A nice bottle of very fancy vinaigrette: Again, there are so many to choose from! You can also select a nice package of 2 or 3 different bottles so she can try different ones
The best hostess gifts: More great ideas
- 5-Local products: such as honey, fine charcuterie, fine jam, or jelly. Visit a fine grocery store, and I promise that you will discover plenty of great ideas!!
- 6-Flowers: We all love flowers 😊. Go for a lovely bouquet of season’s flowers. But please, don’t buy an ordinary bouquet from the corner store!! Show her that you appreciate her invitation enough to make a special trip to the flower shop for her!
- 7-Fine chocolate or truffles: Do I really have to add anything here!!?? Ha! Ha! fine chocolate is THE best!! I’m such a chocolate lover!…
- 8-A lovely arrangement of house plants: It could be in a lovely basket or vase, very pretty, and kind of neutral too. The perfect present for someone that you don’t know that much.
- 9-A lovely tea box: Herbal tea is trendy, and it’s easy to find all kinds of pretty tea boxes. It could also be a nice kit, including tea and teacups… let your inspiration guide you…
… And some more…
- 10-Coffee jar: Or even a great selection of fine coffee. Again, your box or package can also include a lovely coffee mug 🙂
- 11-Assorted nuts and candied fruits: There are many different mixes or sizes to choose from. A lovely box from a famous fine grocery would be highly appreciated
- 12-A nice bottle of hand soap for the kitchen: There is such a wide variety to choose from! Personally, I like a Rosemary soap for the kitchen; perfect for removing garlic or onion smells from your fingers! And it smells like Provence… I just love it!!
- 13-Ice cider or fine liquor: Again, the possibilities are endless!! Ask for advice at the liquor store; what is the most popular fine liquor or the newest one to discover? It’s always nice to try something different
- 14-A selection of fine products: Perfect for when you don’t know what to choose or hesitate between many ideas… just group them all in the same basket or box; so easy… Or you can opt for an arrangement at your favorite fine grocery store; they all offer lovely baskets full of great products to discover
- 15-Fine cookies: They usually come in a pretty metal box… I have to admit, I’m totally crazy about metal boxes! Any sizes!… and when they’re full of goodies, well, it’s even better!!
- 16-Pretty serving plate: tray, bowl, or a lovely cheese plate. Select something original but neutral. We rarely think of buying those things for ourselves, but it’s so pleasant to receive them! We never have too many trays or serving plates!!
- 17-Wine carafe: That is a great present to offer! and a fabulous gift to receive! 🙂 a wine carafe always adds a little something special to your table!
… And more…
- 18- Candles: We all love candles! It’s pretty easy to find, and some of them are almost pieces of art! But unless you know your hostess very well or that you’re sure about the colors of her home decor try to select candles with neutral sent and colors
- 19- A nice assortment of handmade soaps: They usually come in a nice box and are so pleasant to receive! Don’t hesitate to buy different shapes or fragrances
- 20- Recipe book: We don’t think of that very often as a hostess present, but it sure is a great gift! I offered recipe books a few times, and believe me, it was a hit every time!!
There are so many possibilities… have a look there to find more creative ideas for your next hostess gift; I bet you will never run out of ideas again!!
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Let’s now talk about homemade gifts
People are usually pleased to see that you took the time to bake them something special 🙂
But of course, think fancy things! Like a selection of homemade jams, marmalade, or jelly…
Chutneys, canned fruits, or marinades in a nice jar…
Homemade cookies, truffles, squares, candies…
Wrap them well in a nice box or basket, and tada!! A lovely, perfectly simple hostess gift is born!! 😉
… And if you are a very talented person ( lucky you!! ) feel free to bring one of your masterpieces…but don’t forget that it has to be something neutral unless she’s a good friend and that you know her taste
…The nicest gift of all…
All these gift ideas are great, for sure, but to me, the best gift of all is when someone offers me his help 🙂 most of the time, I would say no because I want my guests to enjoy their evening, but knowing that they are willing to help me makes me feel good! And there are many ways to help your hostess. You can entertain the kids, help serve dinner, bring dirty dishes or glasses to the kitchen, help do the dishes…but make sure that you are not in her way!
Have a look there to find inspiration… I’m giving a few tips on how to keep control of your party … you might find some great ideas on how you could help your hostess the right way!!
The best hostess gifts: in short
As you can see, there are many options to choose from! Probably more than you thought, right? 😊
And whatever the gift, as long as it’s well-chosen, you will make someone happy for sure! The best trick is to buy something fancy that we usually don’t buy for ourselves…
Don’t bring something that you last-minute grabbed at the corner store… I think it’s better to bring nothing instead of getting something cheap. You would look like someone that doesn’t care… absolutely not your goal here!! And when I say cheap, I’m not talking about the price; I’m talking about the quality! You don’t have to spend a fortune on that gift… but remember that no matter the gift you buy, it will still cost you way less than going out to the restaurant!
An excellent wine or fine liquor bottle is very easy to buy, even at the last minute!!
Your hostess will appreciate that lovely attention, that special thought 🙂 remember how pleasant it is to surprise someone and make her happy!
My favorite tip: I try to always have one or two hostess gifts on hand…we never know when we might need one!!
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I really hope that these few ideas will help you…and that from now, you’ll always know what to offer! Never forget that any little attention is always well welcome!
Like always, I would love to hear from you 🖤 Use the comment box and tell me what your favorite hostess gift is? Or even better! Use that comment box to tell me What is the nicest hostess gift YOU ever received? Or the nicest one YOU offered? I’m such a curious girl, I just can’t wait to find out!!
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Talk to you soon!
Related Post:
-How To Be The Perfect Guest
–What The Best Hostesses (Do That You Should Do Too!)
