Host Gifts That Get You Invited Back
Holiday party season may be over, but we're still on the dinner party circuit and loving every friend-filled minute of it.
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Lucky you, always being invited to the party. Maybe it’s your sparkling personality or maybe it’s the fact that you don’t bring your host a dusty old bottle of whatever you find atop your fridge. Let's not find out. R.S.V.P. “oui” and keep the good gifts coming.
Never Arrive Empty-Handed
Someone else is bringing the natty wine, trust us — gift these unexpected goods instead.
Candy confections from Sweden are a simple but sweet way to thank your host at the end of the night.
In the event another guest shows up with bad vibes (one always does), a handmade bundle from Catherine Rising is just the thing to clear the air.
For a playful and unexpected surprise, look no further than Pat Kim’s lathe-turned wooden tops.
Fancy, affordable, responsibly sourced seafood from a women-led and -run company — yes, yes, yes, hell yes. Order the Smoky Trio from Fishwife in bulk and gift with abandon.
One of the best gifts to give a hosting parent is a gift to occupy their child.
Extra Thoughtful Tokens of Appreciation
When it comes to the best gifts, it’s the thought that counts, which is why we put plenty of it into these finds for you.
Your host won’t mind if you polish off the last dessert you plated atop Maison Balzac’s bamboo platter, so long as you leave it when you go.
A fire gift that perfectly balances form and function, the Match Striker from Dada.
Cheers to giving this lost-wax cast solid bronze bottle opener. Extra points for picking up a local brew on your way over.
When invited to a dinner party always mind your manners and always help with cleanup. Bring a gift that does both.
Nothing pairs better with your host’s famous tequila punch than a set of handblown tumblers.
What’s sweeter than a jar of honey from family-owned Zach & Zoë Sweet Bee Farm? When you pair it with an heirloom quality honey dipper, of course.
A good guest — just like this galactic brass lighter case — can always light up the room.
If your host spends any amount of time in the kitchen, they’ll appreciate a practical and stylish adornment.
After the party is the after-party in which your host unwinds in solitude. Give them a hand with a bath blend formulated to promote peace and relaxation.
Go Big When You Don't Go Home
For overnight stays and long weekends away, show your gratitude appropriately.
Maybe you want to help your host fill the after-lunch lull with an activity or maybe you want to gift them a limited edition print — this twice-as-nice puzzle and print release from Bower does both.
Of course they'll have a carafe for the table, but there's no way they'll have one as delightfully spectacular as this handmade wonder from Copenhagen.
Every so often things go awry and there’s no choice but to show up empty-handed. Send your gratitude posthaste in the form of luxe gardenias from High Camp.
For the host you love the most, a handmade chess set from Brooklyn-based ceramicist Eleni Kontos is a game changer.
A hemp fire extinguisher: well-designed household essential or a necessary object for after-hours antics? Time will tell.
A delicate handmade bowl to play host to trinkets, keys, or candies will delight yours for years to come.
Insist that this handwoven beauty be unwrapped before evening, so when the temperature dips, you can experience firsthand what a splendid gift you gave.
Do hosts have time to pull out a vase and arrange a bouquet you snapped up from the corner store? Of course not. Come prepared.
Check out the host gift guide here and save your favorites to your own collection.
Danielle Bufalini is a New Yorker living in L.A. and the founding editor of The Good Sort. She's worked as an editorial and creative director, writer, and consultant for various publications and brands including NBCUniversal’s DailyCandy, Bloomingdale's, Conde Nast Traveler, Drew, Self, Bon Appétit, Travel + Leisure, Elle Décor, Food & Wine, and Martha Stewart Living. She produced the Roku original documentary series, #Travel.