You’re going to a party or meeting and you don’t feel like it arrive empty-handed. So you decide to pick up some flowers for the host along the way. But if you skip one crucial step, that beautiful gift of yours could become a little awkward.
In a recent one episode of “The Liz Moody Podcast,” Moody made a PSA about an all-too-common one host gift mistake: take flowers with you but do not first put them in a vase or other vessel.
“There’s really nothing more annoying than someone bringing you flowers and then you’re running around trying to figure out where to put them,” she said in the episode. “We’ve had flowers in our Vitamix before. I appreciate the flowers. I like the flowers. But just that one extra, that brings with it so many levels.”
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Don’t make this common blunder at your next meeting.
Etiquette expert Jodi RR Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Adviceagrees that putting the flowers in a vase beforehand is a thoughtful move. Arriving with flowers still in the packaging “creates an urgency for the host” and adds “unnecessary stress,” she told HuffPost.
“They have to stop what they are doing – welcoming guests, making introductions, putting the finishing touches on the refreshments, etc. – to find an available vase, cut the stems, arrange the flowers, adding water, cleaning the greenery and a place to put them.”
Otherwise, the flowers are left somewhere on the counter to wither while the host tends to their guests and other tasks, she said.
Event planner Brooke Primmfounder of The unusual hostess, also recommends putting flowers in a vase before giving them to the host so they don’t have to worry about them during the party.
Not only that, the vase can be a gift in itself: “a decorative piece in their collection, which will last long after the flowers have faded,” Primm said.
If you are on a budget, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on the ship. Moody is fond of using a mason jar from her house and tying a piece of string around the mouth. Simple but looks “really cute,” she said in the episode.
If a vase isn’t an option, Primm recommends at least wrapping the flowers in craft paper instead of leaving them in plastic wrap.
“This adds a thoughtful touch and takes the gift to the next level,” she said.
“That one little extra, it takes so many levels to the next level.”
– Liz Moody, podcast host
If giving flowers isn’t really your thing, fear not. Our experts have plenty of other suggestions. Primm said she’s a fan of a more personal gift for the host, as opposed to something more generic like flowers or wine.
“A thoughtful gift could be something like a jarred herb that the host often uses in cooking, or a bottle of high-quality olive oil – something that shows you know their taste is always a good idea,” she said.
If you go the flower or wine route, choose something you know the host will really enjoy, Primm said, such as “a bottle from a region they love” or “a flower you know is their favorite ‘.
Smith came up with a few other ideas: gourmet chocolates, an assortment of baked goods, a hand-dipped candle, towels or a luxurious soap or lotion, to name a few.
“The better you know the host, the better you can choose the right option,” she said.
And of course, you can always contact the host in advance if they need anything for the party. Maybe they ask you to bring dessert or a bottle opener.
That said, a friendly host will appreciate whatever thank you gift you decide to bring.
“Even a handwritten note expressing your gratitude can be incredibly meaningful,” says Primm. ‘Remember, there’s no need to spend a fortune or go overboard. Sometimes a simple act of appreciation can make a big difference.”