A few years ago, during the holiday season, I started a series called 30 Days Of Holidays on the blog. Each year, starting late November up to Christmas Eve I share holiday decorating, entertaining, gifting and craft ideas. This year I’m bringing the series back with a new name, Countdown To Christmas! And I’m kicking the season off with The Art Of The Hostess Gifts.
Holiday party season is in full swing and selecting a unique hostess gift can be challenging. If you’re heading to a party this season, here are some dos and don’ts on buying and giving the perfect hostess gift.
Rule number one for being the party or house guest possible: Never show up empty-handed! A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be expensive or over-the-top; nor does it have to be something typical like flowers or a bottle of wine. A hostess gift should be a personal reflection of the person you are giving it to.
Creativity Over Cost
Depending on the occasion and your relationship to the hosts, a good gift budget is between $15 and $25 dollars. To come up with a creative gift, think about the hosts hobbies and the things they like to do in their down time. Buy a gift that makes a personal connection to the things they love.
Some of my favorite hostess gifts this year are these votive candle holders, this monogrammed mug and this silver plated picture frame.
Hostess Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love and Use:
- Monogrammed Matchbooks–this has become my go-to hostess gift because it’s unique and is great for every occasion.
- Scented Candles–pick a traditional holiday scent or a mild everyday scent and then pair the candle with a DIY decorative jar filled with matches.
- Confetti Decanter--wine drinkers will love this and non-wine drinkers can use it to serve punch or juices from.
- Marble Salt Cellar + Pink Himalayan Salt–for the hosts that love to cook
- Cookie Mix In A Jar–a fun gift for a family to make together and then enjoy.
- Monogram Letter Wall Hanging–a unique gift for the front door, gallery wall grouping or over the mantel.
- Personalized Playing Cards–this gift is outside the box and has fun written all over it.
- Gourmet coffee and a bag of biscotti–for coffee drinkers, this is a treat the hosts can enjoy long after the party. Substitute tea and a set of Christmas tea-spoon for tea drinker.
DIY decorative mason jar matches
Let the Gift Match the Occasion
Not every party or hostess gift occasion is created equal. Your hostess gift should reflect the occasion or party theme. Choose a specialty bottle of liquor over a housewares item for a cocktail party. Consider a beautiful tray instead of a plant for a formal dinner party. Keep the tone and nature of the party in mind, and gift accordingly.
Christmas cone turned holiday door arrangement
No Gift Should Go Unwrapped
While I know wrapping gifts isn’t for everyone, it is important to wrap your gift so you can present it in style. A store bought gift bag with tissue paper is totally acceptable but if you have more time, wrap your gift to make it extra special. My gift bag tutorial shows you how to make your own bags from wrapping paper. Or you use this gift wrap inspiration to inspire a special gift wrap for the hosts.
Faux flower gift wrap embellishment
Party hosts don’t always have time to unwrap your gift during the party so make sure and finish off the wrapping with a gift like these ease DIY fabric tags.
Gifts To Avoid
- An important rule to remember when gifting is never bring anything that makes more work for your hosts. If you’re buying flowers, include the cost of a vase so the flowers are ready to be set out when you arrive at the party.
- Avoid overly personal gifts, such as perfume, bath products, or articles of clothing. And resist taking a pre-made food gift unless the host ask for it specifically.
- Shy away from Christmas ornaments unless it’s a classic crystal or glass ornaments, or if you’re familiar with the hosts decorating style.
- Books usually don’t make a great hostess gift unless it’s a little too personal and everyone has their own taste in what they read.
- Although practical, gift cards can come off a bit impersonal when giving them as a hostess gift. Buy a gift and include a gift receipt so that the hosts can exchange it if it’s something they won’t use.
diy monogram stir sticks // diy mug wraps
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Hostess gifts are meant to express your appreciation to the hosts for including you in the festivities. There are a variety of easy and affordable ways to show your gratitude for all the time and effort they put into the occasion. Select a meaningful gift, wrap it with style and show up ready to enjoy the event
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I used a glass jar for this hostess gift but you could use jsut about any decorative container that you want. The jar is purchased has a pretty embossed snowflake pattern on the outside but you could add a sticker to a plain jar to get the same effect. And I purchased boxed sets of ribbon and gift tags which included enough of each that I am able tome two jars.
