Should I Bring a Hostess Gift?

A gift is a lovely way to thank your host for their hospitality.

Always appreciated, it doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive; simply consider the
nature of the occasion and local custom when making your choice. In some
parts of the country, a hostess gift is considered obligatory, while in
other places a gift is brought only on special occasions. If it’s the
first time you’re visiting someone’s home, then it’s a very nice gesture
to bring a small gift. If you have a few extra minutes to wrap it, even
if you only use tissue or a decorative bag, it adds to the gesture.

Host or Hostess Gift Ideas

Wine, flowers, specialty food items, and small items for the house all
make good hostess gifts. Flowers are terrific too, but if you want to go
beyond Etiquette 101, bring them in a simple vase (a Mason jar is
fine). You could also offer to put them in water yourself when you
arrive so your host doesn’t have to arrange them. If you bring wine,
don’t expect your host to serve it that evening- the wines may have
already been chosen for the meal. And don’t bring food for the meal
unless you’ve been asked to. Otherwise you risk putting your host on the
spot and upsetting the menu. Here are a few tips on what to bring when:

What to Bring When Invited to Dinner

Dinner party guests usually bring a hostess gift unless they are close friends who dine together frequently. Gift possibilities include wine, Champagne, flowers (preferably in a vase), a potted plant, chocolates, specialty food items such as jams and jellies or other condiments, fancy nuts, olives, olive oil or vinegar, or items for the house, such as cocktail napkins, guest soaps and lotions , a picture frame, or a scented candle. A CD or book is also appropriate if you know your host’s taste.