Etiquette on bringing a gift to a catered party

[Aimros]

My work Christmas party is this Saturday being held at the home of the chair of the department in which I work. The party is fully catered. I feel strange not bringing something to a party at someone's home, but I'm not sure what the correct etiquette protocol is for this type of situation. I was thinking a bottle of wine, or a Christmas candle, or something of that nature. The problem is, I really don't work for the chair of the department, and in the 6 months I've been at this job I've probably talked to her no more than 10 minutes. So I'm really at a loss of what to do as I don't know if bringing something would seem presumptuous or not. I also don't really want to ask anyone else at work. Any suggestions?

 

[Christine]

Is this a party hosted by the chairperson or is the bill footed by the company and the chairperson agreed to use his/her home?

I hosted my company's picnic one year in my yard. The company paid me to do EVERYTHING and then some. It was not *my* party though so it would have been weird to bring a gift. My boss also hosted a company shindig in his yard and no one brought him anything because it was a company function as opposed to a personal function.

 

[msjprincess]

A big bowl of potato salad


j/k
I agree with the above poster

 

[Hannathy]

I would not bring something to a work party UNLESS it was set up that way like a potluck.

To a catered department party nope it isn't like he personally was inviting you, if you didn't work there you wouldn't be there.

 

[Aimros]

A big bowl of potato salad


j/k
I agree with the above poster

It's funny you should mention that, because DFi and I are big Office fans and there is an episode where Michael goes to a catered work party and brings store-bought potato salad (that he left in his car all day), so I told DFi I was going to bring a big batch of potato salad.

In response to other questions, I'm about 85% sure the bill is footed by the department. So you're all right - I might feel more weird if I BRING a gift rather than don't.

 

[pearlieq]

I normally hate to arrive at a party empty-handed, but this is one of those situations where you wouldn't bring anything.

It's not a personally hosted party, it's a company party held in someone's home. If they had held it in a hotel ballroom, you wouldn't have brought a gift. The same thing applies here even if the venue is different.

I totally get where you're coming from, though. It feels so odd!

 

[msjprincess]

It's funny you should mention that, because DFi and I are big Office fans and there is an episode where Michael goes to a catered work party and brings store-bought potato salad (that he left in his car all day), so I told DFi I was going to bring a big batch of potato salad.

I know that's why I said it. I saw you avatar and figured you'd get it .

 

[Aimros]

I know that's why I said it. I saw you avatar and figured you'd get it .

Oh you're good

DFi & I talk in "Office jokes" language all the time... we do a really good job confusing friends. Our favorite line to use is "I heard a joke today", "oh yeah, that's funny", from the episode where Dwight and Angela go on a date after Dwight kills Sprinkles

 

[Lionqueen2]

Even though the party is a catered event, the person 'hosting' is providing her home for the party to be held. There is always work involved getting the house ready to receive a large group of people. To thank the 'host/hostess', I would bring a small gift to show your appreciation for providing the venue for the party. That might be a holiday candle or a pretty Christmas ornament, etc. as a personal gift for their kindness and making their home available to your co-workers.

 

[Aimros]

Even though the party is a catered event, the person 'hosting' is providing her home for the party to be held. There is always work involved getting the house ready to receive a large group of people. To thank the 'host/hostess', I would bring a small gift to show your appreciation for providing the venue for the party. That might be a holiday candle or a pretty Christmas ornament, etc. as a personal gift for their kindness and making their home available to your co-workers.

See this is how I originally felt. I guess if I find something in the next few days (in all of my spare time) that seems appropriate I will bring it, otherwise I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[nmmom95]

Oh you're good

DFi & I talk in "Office jokes" language all the time... we do a really good job confusing friends. Our favorite line to use is "I heard a joke today", "oh yeah, that's funny", from the episode where Dwight and Angela go on a date after Dwight kills Sprinkles

My sons and I say "False, black bears" instead of "no." It's from the episode where Jim dressed like Dwight.

 

[shortbun]

Small, pretty, non religious ornament wrapped in pretty tissue paper with a rafia ribbon and a note saying thanks and sign your name. OR-send a thank you note for being 'such a great host!' No food, wine or flowers that need immediate attention please.

 

[Aimros]

My sons and I say "False, black bears" instead of "no." It's from the episode where Jim dressed like Dwight.

 

[WDSearcher]

I would bring flowers. Not a poinsettia or a potted plant or anything like that, but just a nice small holiday arrangement. Something that can help decorate the table or the room, but isn't something that the host / hostess will keep as a gift (since the flowers will, presumably, die).

I'm with you -- I'd feel odd showing up at someone's house without anything, even if the company was footing the bill. The host/hostess is, after all, inviting all these people to their home -- it's not being done in a ballroom somewhere or whatever. The disruption of normal life that an event like this causes is justification for a small token of thanks, IMO.

 

[design_mom]

I agree with the posters who say a gift probably isn't "necessary," but I would feel odd arriving empty-handed, too.

I would probably take something small and consumable, but not something intended to be brought out at the party -- like a small box of chocolates or some winter-themed stationery or something. Just a token gift so it doesn't look like you're "sucking up" to the department chair, but that you've recognized that they've gone out of their way to host you in their home.

 

[Aimros]

I would bring flowers. Not a poinsettia or a potted plant or anything like that, but just a nice small holiday arrangement. Something that can help decorate the table or the room, but isn't something that the host / hostess will keep as a gift (since the flowers will, presumably, die).

That's a great idea, and I can stop somewhere that day to get it without having to worry too much about it. I thought about poinsettia's or something of that nature, but I don't buy them for my own house because I have cats and poinsettia's are extremely toxic to pets... I don't know if she has cats, but I'd feel bad if she did and really doesn't want poinsettias! But a nice, small Holiday flower arrangement is a good idea.

I also realized I don't really want to get an ornament or anything "Christmas". Although it is a holiday party, there are quite a few people who I work with that are Jewish and I'd feel bad getting the host a tree ornament if she doesn't even put up a tree. So thank you for the holiday flower arrangement idea!

The flowers will look great on the table they set my potato salad out on Kidding, of course.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Even though the party is a catered event, the person 'hosting' is providing her home for the party to be held. There is always work involved getting the house ready to receive a large group of people. To thank the 'host/hostess', I would bring a small gift to show your appreciation for providing the venue for the party. That might be a holiday candle or a pretty Christmas ornament, etc. as a personal gift for their kindness and making their home available to your co-workers.

Yes, this is what I would do, too. I would normally bring wine or flowers, but since this is catered, I would bring a hostess gift since the home is being used and I am not sure if they would need wine or flowers.

Some ideas:

iTunes gift card in a nice card
If they have a pet, gourmet dog biscuits or cat toy
a fresh wreath
a candle
Godiva chocolates