With the holiday season comes holiday parties. Some parties you may even be hosting yourself and some, you are lucky enough to just be a guest enjoying the festivities. Those are the parties where you can show your appreciation to your host or hostess by showing up with a hostess gift. Here are some great hostess gift ideas to help you find the perfect way to say you appreciate your hostess.
Honestly, who doesn’t like receiving a gift that shows someone noticed how hard you worked to put on that party?
Below I will give you some hostess gift ideas for different types of hostesses. Some can be more personal and if you think of it ahead of time can even be personalized with a monogram or cute phrase. And sometimes you need a last-minute, stop-on-the-way kind of gift! It’s never too late to stop and grab something! Just don’t be the one to show up empty-handed!
Holiday parties aren’t the only time that you should be thinking about your hostess. These are great ideas for any family event, BBQ, or just a get-together with friends. It is never a bad idea to show how much you appreciate your host for having you.
The type of hostess gift you bring depends on a lot of factors. Is it a formal or informal party? Is it a family member hosting or someone you barely know? Will there be kids at the party? Check out some of my favorite hostess gift ideas that they will love receiving!
Kids
I have two young kids so almost any party that I host, includes them. Which makes my favorite hostess gift something that entertains them! AKA – keeps them out of my hair while I try to do a million things to keep the party flowing while making it look effortless. HA!
Any sort of game, puzzle, or activity for the age range of the kids will work. I know my kids aren’t super picky when they are getting a gift for no reason! Even an art project for the season if it’s not too messy or needs too much supervision is a great idea.
For real, if it keeps the kiddos busy and out of the kitchen, DO IT.
Adults
Along those same lines, you could bring an adult activity or game. There are lots of fun party games that also work as ice breakers if the group doesn’t know each other that well. Depending on the type of party the game or activity can be used during the party or the hostess can choose to hang on to it for another time.
Drinks
This is a go-to option for most people because it is something almost anyone can use and will appreciate. Knowing a little bit about your hostess’ taste will help you out with this one.
Would they enjoy a bottle of red or white wine, prefer coffee or tea? A cute arrangement of different types of tea arranged in a basket makes a very tasteful gift. You could also go with something small like a set of wine glass charms.
Food
Although the hostess will surely have food under control when it comes to the main course and possibly the appetizers and dessert, bringing an additional treat or snack will surely be a hit. You could also go with a selection of chocolates, some gourmet seasonings/spices, or some dip mixes. Something edible is always a great hostess gift idea to show your appreciation.
Decor
A tasteful decor item makes a great hostess gift idea and is one that I always enjoy receiving. A simple, beautifully scented candle or diffuser makes a great, easy-to-find hostess gift. I always like items that a guest has used and recommends, saves me the time of shopping for something and the guesswork behind it.
A well-crafted cutting board or serving platter, especially if from a local business also makes a great hostess gift and is also something unique so hopefully, the hostess doesn’t already have one.
Personal
If you know the hostess you can also er on the more personal side for a hostess gift. If they love scented soaps, bath bombs, or lotions. Or like my mom, prefer unscented items which can be hard to find. Or maybe they have a green thumb and would enjoy a plant or flower for their garden
A well-thought-out hostess gift will definitely be appreciated. But honestly, last-minute gifts work too, I’d enjoy and hostess gift given to me! You can always re-gift it if it is truly something you won’t use.
Just knowing that the time and effort that I put into preparing and hosting the event is appreciated and that someone takes the time to acknowledge that goes a long way with me. What type of hostess gifts do you enjoy giving or receiving? Did any of them make my list?