We may find ourselves invited to more intimate social gatherings and events. This could be a small dinner party, or an exclusive, invite only shop opening. No matter the occasion, if you were invited, you might find yourself wanting to present the host/ess with a token of your gratitude. But what kind of gift should you give your hosts?
You may be unused to being invited to small, intimate gatherings, so you might be unsure of what kind of gift you should be getting them. Take note, you should only give a host gift if you’re attending small, intimate events that are small enough that everybody can interact with everybody else. If you’re attending large-scale events like corporate parties or fundraisers, there is no need to give a host gift.
If you’re attending a small dinner event, then it would make sense to bring a food or drink item as a host gift. It’s important to remember that the gift you are bringing is a gift for the host, and not something that you expect to partake of during dinner. If it is a potluck party where everyone is expected to bring food to share, then it would have been indicated in the invitation.
If you’ve brought something that the host chooses to share with the rest of the party during the meal, remember your etiquette. Never announce to the group that you brought the gift, let the host do so. And don’t insist on being the first to be served your food or drink item, let the other guests have a chance to try it before you do. Above everything else, never brag to the entire group about how much the gift costs. That is very bad manners and could potentially result in you not being invited to the next celebration.
Common food and drink items you can gift your host include: a nice bottle of wine, a plate of homemade cookies, or a box of gourmet sweets. You can get creative and gift them something you made yourself, like homemade vanilla, or granola mix in mason jars.
However, gifts are not limited to food or drink, you can give them something that they can appreciate that doesn’t have to be eaten. You can gift them a bouquet of flowers, if you know they like flowers. Or perhaps a set of fancy soaps. A nice candle or even a small potted plant will be received well. There really is no limit to what you can gift your events host, it’s the thought that counts, and the gratitude behind the gesture.