Hostess Gifts
abc carpet & home's hostess gifts bring together serveware, table linens, candlesticks, vases and small-batch pantry treats for every kind of gathering, from Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas parties to bridal showers. The best hostess gifts are pieces a host will use long after the party: a serving board for the next cheese plate, linen napkins for the holiday table, a candle for the quiet morning after. Makers include Astier de Villatte, Ginori 1735 and John Derian, with plenty of good gifts for a hostess under $50 and pieces for every budget.
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Gifts For The Hostess
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Find the Right Hostess Gift for the Occasion
Not sure where to start? These hostess gifts are grouped by occasion, making it easier to choose the right piece for the party before browsing the full collection.
Thanksgiving Hostess Gifts
A Thanksgiving hostess gift should help with the meal or the cleanup, like linen napkins, a wooden board for the cheese course or honey for the morning after.
Christmas Hostess Gifts
Christmas hostess gifts can lean into the season, from glass candlesticks for the dinner table to a decanter for the holiday bar or a porcelain piece from Ginori 1735.
Bridal Shower Hostess Gifts
The host of a bridal or couples shower often plans for weeks. A candle gift set, a bud vase or a serving bowl is a fitting thank-you.
Hostess Thank-You Gifts
A hostess thank-you gift can arrive after the party, especially following an overnight stay or a gathering that took real planning.
Hostess Gift Guide
Choosing a hostess gift is easier when you start with what the host already loves to do. Use the categories below to match the gift to the person and the party.
Serveware and Serving Boards
Serving boards are one of the most-used hostess gifts, coming out for cheese, charcuterie, bread and dessert. Be Home's olive wood and acacia boards each have their own grain and shape, so no two are alike. Platters, pitchers and serving bowls make a bigger gesture, and pieces from Astier de Villatte or Ginori 1735 double as decoration between dinners.
Table Linens
Linen napkins and placemats are easy to give and easy to love. Italian makers Borgo delle Tovaglie and Society Limonta bring color and texture to a holiday table, while Chilewich woven placemats are made for everyday use and wipe clean. A set of napkins is a hostess gift that will be used at the very next dinner. Shop table linens.
Candles and Candlesticks
Glass and crystal candlesticks, candle gift sets and decorative matches are classic gifts for a host. They suit any style of home and feel festive at Thanksgiving and through the holidays. For a showpiece, Jay Strongwater's jeweled candleholders are made to be displayed year-round. Shop candlesticks.
Vases
A bud vase or sculptural vessel gives the host somewhere to put the flowers other guests bring. Ceramic and glass vases in a range of sizes and colors work on a dining table, a mantel or a bedside table long after the party ends. Shop vases.
Bar Accessories
For party hosts who mix a good drink, choose a decanter, a set of coasters, a cocktail shaker or an insulated ice bucket. Bar accessories make strong Christmas hostess gifts, because holiday entertaining so often starts with a drink at the door. Shop bar accessories.
Pantry Gifts
Honey, pesto, dark chocolate, organic tea and crackers are small, thoughtful gifts that pair well with a bottle of wine. Pantry gifts keep, so the host can enjoy them after the guests have gone home. Shop the pantry.
Hostess Gifts at Every Price
Good hostess gifts come at every budget. Under $50, choose linen napkins, glass candlesticks, pantry treats, decorative matches or a small dish. Between $50 and $250, look at serving boards, vases, decanters and ceramic plates, the range where most guests shop for a dinner party. Over $250, statement platters, crystal barware and showpiece candleholders are a way to thank a host for a holiday weekend or a shower they planned for weeks. For more gifts at every budget, browse gifts under $250.
Hostess Gift FAQs
What is a good hostess gift?
Something the host can enjoy after the party without having to deal with it during. Serveware, linen napkins, candles, a small vase or pantry treats like honey and chocolate are reliable choices, and they suit almost any style of home or gathering.
How much should you spend on a hostess gift?
There's no fixed rule. For a dinner party, many guests spend about what they would on a good bottle of wine. For a bigger effort, like a holiday weekend or a bridal shower the host planned, a more substantial gift is a fitting thank-you.
What should I bring as a Thanksgiving hostess gift?
Choose something that doesn't need attention during the meal: linen napkins, a serving board, a candle or a pantry gift for the next morning. If you bring flowers, bring them already in a vase so the host doesn't have to stop and find one.
What is a good gift for the hostess of a bridal shower?
Something that thanks her for the planning, like a candle gift set, a bud vase, a set of napkins or a serving bowl she'll use for the next party she hosts.
Should you give a hostess gift or a thank-you gift after the party?
Either works. Bring a small gift when you arrive, or send a hostess thank-you gift afterward, especially after an overnight stay or a party that took a lot of planning.