musicianmom Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 We've been invited to Easter dinner tomorrow by some casual friends. Their background is Italian, and they joke about it being the stereotypical Italian feast of more food than anyone could possibly eat. So do I offer to contribute anything? Bring a host gift? (I don't get out much.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5of5 Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 You could just bring a bottle of wine. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 In my area, it is customary to ask "is there anything I can bring?" Then people will either assign something or just "just bring yourself(ves) and an appetite!" When I'm told not to bring anything, I take a bottle of wine, or if they are not drinkers, some nice chocolate. Sometimes I take flowers in a cheap vase (not a bouquet that the host has to mess with immediately) or a small flowering plant in a decorative pot (that they can plant out, or let die). Even when people say not to bring anything, I've never seen anyone actually arrive empty-handed! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 I would ask what I could bring. If they said to bring nothing, I would bring an Eastery type gift such as flowers or chocolate. If they do say to bring something, don't foget it! I had a dinner a few weeks ago and one family offered to bring the beverages and they forgot! and I didn't have anything but water and milk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 We've been invited to Easter dinner tomorrow by some casual friends. Their background is Italian, and they joke about it being the stereotypical Italian feast of more food than anyone could possibly eat. So do I offer to contribute anything? Bring a host gift? (I don't get out much.) You may offer, but don't feel that you *must* bring something. You've been invited as a guest, which means, well, you're a *guest.* Your obligation is to show up and be friendly. Even better than bringing something is to write a thank-you note afterwards. And really, it would also be thoughtful to reciprocate by inviting the hostess to your home for dinner. Alas, this is something that few people, in my experience, do. I'm just throwing it out there. :-) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKWAcademy Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 I would ask what I could bring. When they say nothing, bring something anyway, even if it is simple like a bottle of wine, a plant, flowers, dessert, something Easter related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 You may offer, but don't feel that you *must* bring something. You've been invited as a guest, which means, well, you're a *guest.* Your obligation is to show up and be friendly. Even better than bringing something is to write a thank-you note afterwards. And really, it would also be thoughtful to reciprocate by inviting the hostess to your home for dinner. Alas, this is something that few people, in my experience, do. I'm just throwing it out there. :-) My recollection may be off, but when I was a kid and my parents invited people over, they just came over. My parents were the hosts and they provided everything. Then, they were invited over to other homes and they didn't take anything either. There wasn't an obligation to reciprocate, but it was the typical practice. I know that hostess gifts have been around a long time, but I think the practice of offering to bring something to contribute makes people feel that they don't need to reciprocate. I'm sure this is not universal and maybe it is just my own experience, badly remembered. But it does seem that the idea of reciprocating has kind of died away. But I also know some people who feel they can't invite people over for various reasons, so they try to make up for it by contributing when they are the guests. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 My recollection may be off, but when I was a kid and my parents invited people over, they just came over. My parents were the hosts and they provided everything. Then, they were invited over to other homes and they didn't take anything either. There wasn't an obligation to reciprocate, but it was the typical practice. I know that hostess gifts have been around a long time, but I think the practice of offering to bring something to contribute makes people feel that they don't need to reciprocate. I'm sure this is not universal and maybe it is just my own experience, badly remembered. But it does seem that the idea of reciprocating has kind of died away. But I also know some people who feel they can't invite people over for various reasons, so they try to make up for it by contributing when they are the guests. You could be right, but I can say that as a hostess that it isn't the same. :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 If I'm invited, I usually take wine or flowers. If I know them fairly well, I might bring something from our farm (eggs, produce or canned items). Sometimes, I will bring a small gift for the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 I'd bring a bottle of wine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasperstone Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Yep, wine is always good, unless they are anti alcohol, then chocolates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Limoncello :D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 It's too late to offer. So bring a little something for them to use later, not for the meal itself. That could be a bottle of wine, no pressure to open it. Or a cheese ball that they can pop in the freezer. Or some really special jam. Maybe a seasonal dish towel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 We usually take a gift of some sort. Especially on a holiday. Bringing some tulips or something like that would be perfect and wouldn't add to the food overload. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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