So you've been invited to a dinner party....

So you have been invited to a dinner party, and you  aren't sure what would be an appropriate gift for the hostess. Well friends, I will share with you some helpful advice to help you in deciding what to present your hostess with upon arrival at the dinner party.

When selecting a gift for the host/hostess of a dinner party, don’t expect it to be served while you are there. Remember that this is a gift, not an accompaniment to the meal. If the hostess wants you to bring a dish to share, she will ask you during the invitation.

I would discourage bringing a bottle of wine, this may seem like a good idea, however, it is considered quite rude to show up to a dinner party with a bottle of wine, as it may be considered an insult to the hostess in her taste in wine, and may keep you from getting invited to future dinner parties.

Note: If the invitation clearly states "BYOB" then by all means, do bring a bottle of your favorite wine, to drink yourself.

If you are invited to a dinner party at a restaurant you do not really need to bring the hostess gift. However, if the host is paying the bill for the entire party, a gift will be much appreciated. You don’t have to match the price of the gift to the bill, but consider bringing something you might bring to a home dinner party.

If you know the host or hostess very well, consider a gift that stirs up a memory of a time you spent with them. For example, if you both enjoy the same types of entertainment, the hostess will probably appreciate a DVD, CD, or tickets to an event. However, if you don’t know his or her personal taste, consider a bouquet of fresh flowers (not roses, or carnations) or a gift basket with items most people enjoy.

Be discreet when selecting the gift. You certainly want to avoid anything that could potentially offend the host or hostess. You wouldn’t want to give a tray of summer sausage and cheese to a vegan, no matter how much you might enjoy that type of food. This gift is intended for the party giver, not you.

Remember that you don’t need to exceed your budget to give something meaningful. Not only will doing this embarrass the hostess, it might make you appear desperate for acceptance. Stay within your budget,  and know that the recipient will appreciate anything you give.

The following is a list of appropriate gifts for a hostess of a dinner party:

• Bouquet of flowers in a vase (not roses or carnations) Tulips and lilies are always a safe bet
• Boxed candies
• Potted plant
• Tin of cookies
• Decorator candles
• Guest soaps
• Flavored vinegars
• CD or DVD
• Tickets for a movie or event

And remember friends, always make sure you know what the dress code is, there is nothing more embarrassing that being under or over dressed for a dinner party!