Is a hostess gift expected?

It is customary rather than required. A small gift or a thank-you afterwards is always appreciated, especially for a dinner party, a holiday meal or a stay as a houseguest.

Are flowers a good hostess gift?

Yes, if they ask nothing of the host on the night. Send a centrepiece the day before, send flowers the morning after, or bring an arrangement already in a vase rather than a loose bouquet.

What can I bring to a dinner party besides wine?

Something for later: maple syrup, good chocolate, coffee and jam for the next morning, a candle, tea towels or a cheese board. Avoid food you expect to be served unless the host asked for it.

How much should I spend on a hostess gift?

Usually between about $15 and $40. Spend more for a big holiday dinner or an overnight stay, or go in on something together as a couple or family.

Can you deliver anywhere in Canada?

Yes. Orders go to every province and territory, arranged and hand-delivered by a local florist near the recipient, for a flat $19.99 delivery fee. Same-day delivery works when you order by 1:00 PM in the recipient's time zone, Monday to Saturday.

Hostess Gift Ideas: 12 Thoughtful Picks for Holiday Parties

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Picture the host at 6:45 on the night of the party: oven timer going, doorbell ringing, coats piling up. Now picture a guest handing over a loose bouquet wrapped in cellophane. It's a lovely gesture, and the host now has to find a vase, trim the stems and fill it with water while the gravy catches.

A good hostess gift works the other way: it's a thank-you that asks nothing of the host tonight. Here are twelve ideas for Christmas dinners, holiday parties and housewarmings, plus what to spend and when to give.

The one rule: nothing that needs attention tonight

Whatever you bring should be ready to set down and forget until tomorrow: arranged, wrapped, or meant to be enjoyed later. Don't bring food you expect to be served, which can throw off a planned menu. And if you bring wine, say it's for later so the host doesn't feel obliged to open it.

Flowers, done right

1. Send a centrepiece the day before. The most useful flowers you can give a host are the ones that solve their table. A centerpiece delivered the day before arrives in time to open and sits straight onto the dinner table. Our Christmas centerpiece ideas show what works.
2. Send flowers the morning after. A bouquet that arrives the day after the party is a thank-you the host can actually enjoy, with the dishes done and the house quiet. Our thank-you flowers are made for exactly this.
3. If you bring flowers, bring them in a vase. A vased arrangement goes straight onto a side table with no work at all. For something smaller you can carry in yourself, a few stems in a glass bud vase does the same job at a fraction of the size.
4. A plant. Plants outlast the party by months, which makes them a natural housewarming gift too. A small dish garden fits a kitchen counter, and at Christmas a poinsettia is the classic (here's our poinsettia care guide to pass along).

Food and drink for later

5. Canadian maple syrup. It keeps, it travels, and it's the right gift for a host who'll be making brunch for houseguests. A glass bottle of Escuminac maple syrup from New Brunswick looks the part.
6. A bottle for their cellar. Wine, cider or something from a local distillery. Tell them it's for another night.
7. Something sweet for after everyone leaves. Good chocolate, a tin of shortbread or a box from a local bakery. The host has been feeding everyone all night; this one is for them.
8. Breakfast for tomorrow. A bag of coffee beans, a jar of jam and a loaf of good bread. After hosting, not having to think about breakfast is a real gift.

Things for the house

9. A cheese board. Every holiday host ends up making a cheese plate. A bamboo cheese board with knives gets used at this party or the next, and it's one of the most popular housewarming gifts for the same reason.
10. A candle. Lightly scented or unscented, in a jar that looks nice when it's done. Heavily scented candles are personal; when in doubt, go subtle.
11. Tea towels or cocktail napkins. Inexpensive, always used, and easy to choose something festive or local.
12. A fruit basket for a family gathering. When the host is feeding a houseful of relatives over several days, a fruit basket delivered ahead helps more than anything you can carry in.

How much should you spend on a hostess gift?

Most hostess gifts fall between about $15 and $40. A dinner for six or a casual party sits at the lower end; a holiday dinner where someone has cooked for twenty, or a weekend as a houseguest, is worth more. Flowers sent ahead or after usually run more than something you carry in, so they suit the bigger occasions, or a gift from a couple or the whole family together.

Housewarming gift ideas

Most of the list above works for a housewarming, with a slight shift: the new homeowner has a house to fill and a long list of things they haven't bought yet. Plants are the classic for a reason, since they make a new place feel lived-in. A cheese board, a nice set of tea towels or a bottle of maple syrup for the first weekend breakfast are all useful. And if you can't make it to the party, flowers or a plant delivered to the new address are a warm welcome; just double-check that the address is the new one.

Don't skip the thank-you

The gift is half of it. A text that night to say you got home and had a wonderful time, and a card or flowers in the next day or two, is what people remember. If you're sending flowers, keep the card short and specific: name the dish, the toast or the moment you loved.

Every flower order is arranged and hand-delivered by a local florist anywhere in Canada for a flat $19.99. Order by 1:00 PM in the recipient's time zone, Monday to Saturday, for same-day delivery, and by December 22 for delivery before Christmas.