Hostess Gifts 101
Whatever you do, please don’t show up to a party empty-handed! You don’t need to spend gobs of money, but you do need to let the hostess know you appreciate the invitation and her effort to host you. In deciding what to gift the hostess ask yourself what she likes to do most in her home. Does she love to cook or garden? Does she enjoy hosting frequently or like more decorative items? Depending on the activity of choice, gift a gift that will contribute to her enjoyment.
For instance, if she is chef extraordinaire consider an eccentric kitchen item (the cheeky dish gloves pictured from Gohar World) or something she could use while cooking, like a wooden truffle slicer and truffles from Eataly. If she’s the consummate hostess perhaps gift her some guest towels (the ones pictured are from Courtland and Co., a local store in downtown Savannah), pretty tapered candles, or a lovely set of coasters. Beautifully made chocolates or another box of sweets is also a safe bet, so long as they’re packaged nicely.
The question of whether to gift flowers — some hostesses love receiving a bouquet of flowers (I myself am always thrilled to get flowers), but others don’t because it requires finding the right vase and some arranging while in the middle of greeting guests. If you know the hostess is a flower gal, a sweet arrangement always does the trick and you can even have a florist do the work!
What to avoid — of course this is entirely my opinion, but I’d stay away from scented candles, plants, and immediately perishable food items (unless it’s a nice box of sweets). Gifts that task or require ongoing care aren’t always well-received, and people can be very particular about scents. The point is, be thoughtful about your gift and give something that you believe the hostess will enjoy and appreciate.
Don’t forget! CBH does curated gift boxes, so if you’re stumped and looking for ideas submit an inquiry for a gift box. I’d be thrilled to send you an assortment of hostess gifts that you dole out as the occasions arise!