Visiting with a gift: what do you bring to a dinner or party?
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Flowers and wine are not always the most practical gifts to bring. Four categories that do work, three price ranges, and how to present them politely.
You're expected at eight, and at quarter to eight, you're still at the supermarket staring at the flower shelf. A bunch that's already half-open, or maybe just a bottle of wine. It works, but it's also exactly what the four other guests are bringing. By the end of the evening, three bouquets of flowers are in the sink because there's only one vase.
A hostess gift doesn't have to be expensive, and certainly not originally original. It just needs to do three things: suit the occasion, not create extra work for the host, and be easy to hand over without hassle. Below are four categories that work well in practice, with prices included.
Why flowers and wine aren't always practical
The problem with flowers is timing. They arrive when the hostess has a pan in her hand, and they immediately need water. Wine has another problem: you rarely know what someone drinks, if anyone is drinking at all tonight, and if the bottle will pair well with the food.
The almost always applicable rule of thumb: choose something that can wait. Something that can stay on the counter until the guests leave, without needing any immediate action. This saves the recipient an task at the busiest moment of the evening.
If you're dining with multiple people and you agree on something together, add up the amounts and buy one item instead of five small ones. That stands out more and saves the host from having to thank you four times.
If you do bring a bottle, the wine bottle packaging with hearts for €3.95 is a quick way to make something of it. And a cardboard bag for €3.00 can hold anything that doesn't fit in a box. For a birthday, you can add a name candle for €1.00; it costs almost nothing and always gets noticed.
Five things you'd better leave at home
Strongly scented items without consulting. Scent is taste. If in doubt, choose neutral or edible.
Something that requires immediate attention. Live plants, ice that needs to go into the freezer, or something that needs to be refrigerated.
Large decoration. A vase or bowl imposes an obligation to display it.
A joke you find funnier than the recipient. If you don't know the company, skip that category.
Something without packaging. A price tag still attached takes away half the effect.
This way, you always have something ready
It saves a lot of hassle if you have two or three standard gifts at home, plus a few boxes and a bag. A set of tea lights, a chocolate bar or pack, and a mug together cover almost every invitation, and together they cost less than a bouquet of flowers at the train station.
For atmospheric gifts, see the Candles collection, for something edible, check Sweets, for something humorous, go to Funny Gifts, and for the wrapping, visit Gift Packaging & Gift Boxes. Don't know what size box you need or want to send a gift instead of bringing it yourself? Feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl, and we'll help you with the size and shipping.
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