You Definitely Should Not Give a Bottle of Wine as a Hostess Gift
Remember that bottle of Merlot your cousin brought to your last potluck? Well, probably not-because if we are being honest, there’s nothing particularly memorable about a receiving a bottle of wine, even though it can be a nice gesture for the vino aficionado in your life.
Whether you’ve been invited to a holiday gathering, a dinner party with friends, or a backyard BBQ, entertaining requires a lot of time, effort, and money. So when it comes to showing your favorite host or hostess your appreciation, showing up with a thoughtful gift can make all the difference.
But finding an appropriate hostess gift can feel daunting: How pricey should it be? Do they already have that in their kitchen? So to prepare you for the season of eating (and for those last-minute invites), we rounded up one-of-a-kind gifts any hostess would appreciate.
Most of them are less than $50-and many of them are even half that price. From personalized bottle stoppers to kitchen must-haves, they’re sure to please the person that can’t get enough of bringing loved ones together.
A plant that keeps on giving
If your favorite hostess loves to whip up flavorful meals, she is sure to get use out of an indoor herb garden. These easy-to-use glass planters will satisfy her green thumb, produce fresh herbs like parsley and basil to use in her cooking, and look beautiful in her kitchen. If you’re lucky, you may even get an invitation back to enjoy a meal made with the fruits of her labors.
A personalized bottle stopper
Unlike a bottle of white zin, a bottle stopper can be used again and again. Plus, they’re surprisingly cheap and you can add a personal touch with this monogrammed marble sphere. They make the perfect gift for vino lovers-especially if you don’t want to spend a lot on a gift.
A tea sampler for chilly days
Give the gift of calm and comfort with an assorted variety of teas. Even if your host is more of a coffee person, having a variety of teas in the house is ideal if they’re big into entertaining. This set from Vahdam Teas includes 40 tea bags and eight tasty flavors: breakfast black, summer black, early grey citrus, Himalayan green tea, masala chai, oolong, chamomile mint citrus, and turmeric spiced. (And if they are into tea? This is the tea lovers guide for you.)
A quality serving board
Every hostess needs a top-notch serving board to beautifully display assorted meats and cheeses, a variety of fruits, and homemade baked goods. This marble and brass board from Nordstrom is 14 inches in diameter, so it’s the perfect size for the appetizer lineup-and easy to wipe down once the party is over.
A calendar for her best year yet
If she loves to plan out her events in advance, give her the gift of organization with the Prevention Calendar and Health Planner. Not only will she be able to keep her events, appointments, and daily to-do lists logged in one place, but she’ll kickstart her health goals with our best weight loss tips, recipes, health advice, and more.
A serving bowl to use again and again
Prepping food for large groups of people can be stressful and difficult to put together if you don’t have the right tools at your disposal. This large serving bowl is just as practical as it is elegant. Filled with fresh salad greens, it will make a great centerpiece and hold enough food for the entire table, so she won’t have a million dishes to wash once everyone heads home.
A no-brainer cocktail shaker
If she loves a well mixed drink but is new to creating them herself, this sleek gold cocktail shaker is exactly what her bar cart needs. Simply twisting the outer layer of the sleeve will display a recipe for various popular cocktails, like margaritas, mojitos, and pina coladas. She’s guaranteed to get use out of it during every major holiday, no matter the season.
A way to capture memories
The best part of hosting a get-together for your friends and family? All of the memories you create. With the Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera, you can capture and print photos right on the spot. It even has a selfie mode for the perfect shot. If someone you are close to loves to host parties, they will appreciate being able to look back on the night-and maybe they will even start a tradition of taking a silly group photo at every gathering.
Flowers to fill up the room
If you’re short on time but want to give a gift that feels personal, pick up a beautiful vase and fill it with her favorite type of flower. While it feels overdone, the gesture shows you want to brighten up her mood and show appreciation by figuring out her bloom of choice. Plus, she gets to keep the vase to use as decor piece all year, so she’ll even think of you once spring hits!
Snack bowls with flair
Whether she puts out nuts, popcorn, pretzels, or fruit, she will love utilizing these hand painted glass bowls. Available in a light apricot or dreamy blue, this set of six will instantly upgrade the plastic bowls she’s had in the back of her cabinets forever.
Super absorbent coasters
Entertaining can lead to accidental wear and tear in her home, but these decorative coasters will protect her furniture. The top of the coaster is made with absorbent ceramic to keep spillage at bay, while the bottom utilizes cork to keep drinks from sliding around and prevent scratches. They’re a great size and fit nearly any glass. Plus, they will add a bit of flair to any tabletop.
A large beverage dispenser for parties
If your hostess prefers to serve large-batch drinks, this 2-gallon glass beverage dispenser will be her new go-to for parties. Perfect for fruit-infused water and fruity cocktails, this dispenser will give any gathering a relaxed serve yourself vibe. The copper details will add a bit of style to her countertop and, because it’s glass, it will be easy to rinse and clean once the well runs dry.
A game that will make everyone laugh
Their official tagline says it all: Cards Against Humanity is a party game for horrible people. Ok-not really horrible, but this game does require a certain sense of humor. Each round, a player will ask a question using a black card while the rest of the players use their white cards to answer in the funniest way they can-anything goes, so this icebreaker is sure to get everyone laughing.
A unique trivet
Crashing at a friend’s house for the weekend? Paired with a thoughtful card or box of chocolates, gifting a beautiful trivet is the perfect way to say thanks. Your hostess can always use another one, and she’ll always think of you when she’s serving a hot meal. It’s a win-win.
Classic copper mugs
No bar car is complete without those classic copper Moscow mule mugs. This handcrafted set of four 16-ounce mugs from Amazon is the real deal and made with food-grade copper, ensuring your drink stays colder for longer. The set comes with a shot glass for easy measuring and mixing and is enclosed in an easy-to-wrap box if you prefer to amp up the presentation.
An elegant olive oil bottle
If there is one ingredient she is sure to be using constantly, it’s olive oil-for dipping, salad dressings, and main dishes alike. This glass bottle is exactly what she needs for her kitchen. It will look so much nicer on her counter than traditional grocery store packaging, and the spout stoppers will making pouring a breeze. On top of that, the dark glass will keep the oil tasting fresher for longer-a total win for the guests, too.
A quality apron
Every hostess can get use out of a well-made, festive apron, but very few of us want to spend money on one. In other words, they make the perfect gift for folks who love to cook or bake. This one on Amazon is 100 percent cotton, so you can easily throw it in the washing machine after things get hectic in the kitchen. It also comes in red, black, and blue plaid in addition to red.
The perfect serving tray for dip
Make her life easier by gifting the ultimate duo: a wooden serving tray with a stoneware dip bowl. The outer edge easily holds chips, veggies, or pita bread, while the center shows off the star attraction-your host’s homemade hummus or smoky guacamole. We promise she will whip this bowl out for any holiday party, family gathering, or summer bash.
Bath salt for some much needed R&R
If you really want to pamper your hostess, show up with a gift she can use all to herself once she’s able to wind down. Something like a jar of calming lavender bath salts will be unexpected but totally appreciated-especially during the stressful holiday season. Pair it with her favorite chocolates and you’re sure to get an invite for the next one. (Check out these other pampering gifts if you really want to spoil her.)
A fancy bottle opener
Okay, okay, we know we told you not to bring wine, but if you think a bottle of vino will be appreciated and you’ve made a tradition of it, step up your gift-giving game by pairing it with a gorgeous bottle opener.
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