Between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years, we are smack dab in the middle of party season! I love holiday parties and look for any excuse to celebrate good times with close friends over delicious food.
When friends take the time to host an event, I always like to show up with a gift. It’s a thank you for the invitation and an acknowledgement of the time, money, and effort they put into hosting. If you’re ever stuck on what to gift a hostess, here are my three go-tos. I worked in collaboration with Whole Foods for this post, as they are my go-to place for grabbing gifts and goodies on the way to parties!
The Perfect Hostess Gift
Bubbly
You can never ever go wrong with alcohol. Seriously. It’s a quick and easy gift to pick up and a gift the hosts are sure to enjoy. They can chose to open your gift at the event and share with others if their party supply is running low or save it for themselves to enjoy another time.
If you’re looking for a gift for a very special hostess make sure to check out the Pierre Gimonnet a Fils Brut. This top-shelf champagne is available exclusively at Whole Foods. When you buy it you also get this adorable Cheers! tote that makes the perfect gift bag.
Sweets
If your hostess isn’t a big drinker, the next best thing is sugar! There is nothing like arriving to a party with a beautiful cake or basket of sweet treats to bring a smile to everyone’s face. This is another gift that can be immediately served at the party or privately savored after the event is over. Some of my friends bake the most incredible desserts. While I love to bake, I never seem to find the time before an event. My go-to for baked goods is the Whole Foods bakery. Seriously, do you see how mouth-watering these desserts look? They taste even better! That berry tart is one of my favorite treats. People eat with their eyes before they eat with their mouths, so I always advocate for a pretty presentation. 😀
Blooms
For a more personal and thoughtful gift, I love to bring flowers for the hostess. I always find receiving flowers is a very special gift. Flowers bring happiness and joy and are able to be enjoyed long after the party is over. If you know your hosts well, they’re also a great way to add a decoration to the party. Josh and I picked up these premade lantern flower boxes from Whole Foods and sprinkled them around our house for our Hanukkah party. They added a breath of fresh air to our apartment on a cold winter day.
Questions of the Day: What is your go-to hostess gift? Do you prefer to host parties or attend them? What is your favorite gift to buy at Whole Foods?
Thanks to Whole Foods for sponsoring this post!
My favorite hostess gift is definitely some wine and a cute wine bag! My mom used to give out her homemade fudge before she passed – so I am on the hunt for her homemade fudge recipe (because of course she never shared it with anyone) to continue the tradition!
Awww I love giving fudge….shop bought lol! Maybe just start your own tradition Ashley!
I also love a good wine always taking care to know the hostess preference 🙂 Awesome gift ideas!
I like the bird with the cap more than the flowers! LOL. But I’ve never been into flowers (blooms) all that much. 😉
You’re definitely right about the sugar; I would love to receive something sweet as a hostess gift, but flowers are lovely too!
SOMEONE GIVE ME THAT LITTLE BIRD in a sweater!!!!! I NEED IT IN MY LIFE lol!
Nice post dear
I host a lot of Holiday events, and I’d LOVE to receive these gifts. Great ideas!
Wow, I wish I found this blog in October! Lot’s of great ideas for the future!
That bird is adorable….but I had a similar tart from Whole foods yesterday at a Party and it was AH-MAZ-ing!! That is a perfect hostess gift!
You can never go wrong with something sweet. Those cakes look delicious!
Champagne is my favorite hostess gift!
So classic.
xoxo, Jenny
Great ideas! I love to give a homemade item like a sugar scrub, body butter, trail mix sweetened with maple syrup, or homemade spicy crackers.
You can never (ever) go wrong with some bubbly! And that’s a great bottle you have photoed up there! Cheers
all great options. I bring baked goods.
Oh my God, those sweets!!!
Bubbly would def. be welcomed at my house!
I am always wondering what to bring with me to a party to give to the hostess when someone does not drink. I love the idea of bringing a basket of sweets or flowers. I know I would like them!
I would be thrilled to give (or receive!) any of those. Perfect list!
Great ideas. Sugar is the way I go! I love to make cookies for my hosts. You can’t go wrong with homemade cookies!
It seems this time of year I’m ALWAYS looking for hostess gifts! Thanks for these ideas!
This is such a great refresher on hostess gifts! I find myself sticking with blooms because I think that is what I appreciate getting the most. Sugar is definitely next best!
I like to give soap or homemade goodies. Something they can use and throw away, nothing that needs to be kept permanently. I try really hard not to clutter up people’s homes.
I need to get some of these for Christmas parties I am attending.
I am so used to seeing all things candied right now so that fruit tart looks divinely refreshing 😉
I do tend to bring wine, but next time I’ll try a bottle of this. I’ll also pick up a bottle for me. 😉
These are excellent suggestions, you’re so thoughtful. I always forget to bring the hostess a gift, shame on me lol. I’m going to have to keep this in mind for future.
Love them so so much.
These gifts look very nice and I am sure most hostesses would love to receive them. I would love to get sweets or a lovely plant!
Very nice pictures.
What a wonderful and fun gift!
Great tips. Unless it’s a really close friend, I don’t usually give alcohol, but I love to give and receive flowers, especially in the winter.
I’m not a big fan of champagne – but I love that “cheers” bag and could put a bottle of wine in it, too! I love the idea of fruits and treats! (I have such a sweet tooth) and I love love giving flowers – Trader Joe’s (we finally have one here in Jacksonville Beach, Florida) has a small bouquet of flowers very very cheap and they are beautiful! Thanks for these tips!
I never even think about flowers! I don’t know why, because I absolutely love receiving them. I usually stick with wine, but what if they don’t like the wine I like?? Because of you, I’m rolling with flowers next time!
I love baking so bringing a dessert would be awesome!
Great ideas!!!