{"id":18640,"date":"2011-08-04T18:18:50","date_gmt":"2011-08-04T23:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artofmanliness.com\/?p=18640"},"modified":"2026-03-13T11:14:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T16:14:33","slug":"a-gentleman-never-arrives-empty-handed-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/relationships\/etiquette\/a-gentleman-never-arrives-empty-handed-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A Gentleman Never Arrives Empty-Handed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Man<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Raymond.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a sultry summer night, and you\u2019re on your way to an elegant dinner party given by your boss and his charming wife. You arrive at the appropriate time, impeccably dressed in casual evening wear and greet your hostess with a smile\u2014and nothing more.<\/p>\n

Imagine your mortification and horror when you pass a table in the hall loaded with bottles of wine, flower arrangements, gourmet coffee, and other small gifts. You search your brain\u2026is it the host\u2019s anniversary? A birthday? Did someone retire?<\/p>\n

Although the party might be a celebration of one of those occasions, it\u2019s far more likely that guests with better manners than you brought thoughtful tokens of appreciation for their hosts.<\/p>\n

Like thank you notes<\/a>, the giving of gifts to your hosts is becoming a lost art. When we do remember to bring a nice little something, it\u2019s invariably a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine from the corner liquor store. Really, can\u2019t we do better than that?<\/p>\n

Gone may be the days of bringing your hostess lavish crystal or a pair of mourning doves when you arrive at the manor for a weekend stay, but we haven\u2019t become complete savages. Your hosts have expended a great deal of time, effort, and expense to provide you with an evening (or weekend) of food, drink, and entertainment. The least you can do is thank them with an appropriate gift.<\/p>\n

Summer is here and with it a bevy of seasonal social obligations: barbeques, picnics, dinner parties, and weekends away. Never arrive at someone\u2019s home without something more to contribute than your personality, as stunning as it might be. Take this opportunity to man up and accept this simple rule: no matter what the occasion, a gentleman never arrives empty-handed<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Rules of Appropriate Gifting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A hostess gift doesn\u2019t have to be expensive, but it should be thoughtful. Consider the types of activities your hosts enjoy, and gift accordingly. As a general rule, your budget should be around $15 to $30, depending upon the formality of the occasion.<\/p>\n

An important rule to remember is that you should never bring anything that makes more work for your hosts. The best example is that of flowers: If you bring a cello-wrapped bouquet, your hostess must stop what she is doing, find a vase, trim the ends from the flowers and greenery, arrange the bouquet, and find a place for it. If you\u2019re giving flowers<\/a>, be sure to bring a bouquet that is already arranged in a vase.<\/p>\n

Likewise, never bring food to add to the menu unless your hostess has specifically requested you do so. If you\u2019d like to bring food or drink as your gift, make sure your hosts understand that the gift is for their enjoyment, and you don\u2019t expect them to share it with their guests.<\/p>\n

Give Thoughtfully<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although wine and flowers are traditional hostess gifts and will always be appreciated, why not challenge yourself and come up with something a little more creative? Try one of these suggestions:<\/p>\n