Personalized Hostess Gifts that Will Earn You Favorite Guest Status
What better way to ring in the winter holiday season than by filling your social calendar with a slew of festive parties? There’s nothing quite like glamming up with a sparkly outfit, a ring stack, and your favorite pendant necklace, and heading out to socialize with some of your favorite people (and potential new friends). As you shop for the final touches to your party looks, though, don’t forget about the hosts and hostesses who welcome you into their homes year after year. It’s always good form to thank them for their hospitality with a thoughtful gift of some sort, and even better if that gift is something personal that really shows how much you care. We’ve got inspiration for every type of host or hostess:
Host Profile: Total Foodie
Consummate hostesses know that parties are all about grazing—and rather than prepare one big dish, they serve guests a steady selection of mouthwateringly delicious small bites they can nosh as they mingle. For the hostess who knows her nibbles, there’s no such thing as too much serverware. Give her one more gorgeous, multipurpose piece like this Marble & Copper Monogram Board, perfect for displaying anything from charcuterie to gougeres (and a perfect match to an initial necklace).
Host Profile: Bar Aficionado
It's a gift to know a host who goes above and beyond with the beverage options, who carefully selects each bottle of wine for the fete, devises a signature cocktail, and even sets out a homemade shrub and house-made seltzer for the designated drivers. Get them a gift that matches that dedication, like an engravable bamboo wine set that comes with a stylish corkscrew and stopper. Want to go all out (and get invited back for years to come)? Throw in a personalized bottle opener and monogrammed whiskey stones set as well.
Host Profile: Tastemaker
They know the drink of the season before anyone else seems to. Their home is decorated in the color of the year (every year!). And their personal style is always on point. Add to your hostess’s wardrobe with a meaningful gift like custom jewelry: Create a Hidden Message Necklace that spells out her name or initials; or if she tends toward (exquisite) minimalism, gift her a special pendant necklace lined with her birthstone.
Host Profile: Instagram Expert
For the host or hostess who remembers to take a lot of pictures throughout the night...and then forgets to print any of them out. Treat them to hard-copy proof that their parties are legendary, and their friends are many: Select some fab shots from their Instagram feed and print them through a company like Social Print Studio or Artifact Uprising, then slip them into Polaroid Coasters for a unique gift they’ll enjoy year-round.
Host Profile: The Innkeeper
The true heroes of the season are overnight holiday hosts—whether they welcome you for one night or an entire week. A special token of your affection will go a long way in showing just how much you appreciate them. Ana Talukder’s Family Recipe Cutting Board will do just that: Customize it with a treasured holiday family recipe (if the gift is for an in-law, ask your spouse for a favorite dish from childhood). This sentimental gift will stand the test of time.
Looking for more holiday gift guide inspiration? We’ve got meaningful gift ideas for the men in your life, along with plenty of personalized gift ideas for women you admire. And to make your holiday shopping just a little bit easier, we offer financing through Affirm.