Hostess Gift?

[Piglet]

I need some help. We are taking our daughter to a medical specialist a few hours a way and a family friend has offered (more like insisted) for us to stay with them for a few days while we are there. We know them through friends, but don't know them really well. I would like to get them a gift for being so kind for opening their home to us. We are from a mainly Christian community and they are Jewish, which I don't know a lot about. I had thought about making them a summer themed wreath, but wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. Any suggestions???

 

[Mizzoufan]

I need some help. We are taking our daughter to a medical specialist a few hours a way and a family friend has offered (more like insisted) for us to stay with them for a few days while we are there. We know them through friends, but don't know them really well. I would like to get them a gift for being so kind for opening their home to us. We are from a mainly Christian community and they are Jewish, which I don't know a lot about. I had thought about making them a summer themed wreath, but wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. Any suggestions???

I like the wreath idea. What about taking them out for a meal and paying for it.

 

[mjkacmom]

I wouldn't do the wreath, everyone has different tastes. How about a restaurant gift card?

 

[Piglet]

The wreath is similar to this. If that makes any difference.

 

[loves to dive]

If I don't know the person real well, I'll get an unusual container of some sort and get flowers (either dried or real) and put them in it. By unusual I mean something that can be used later, like an aluminum bucket so a big ole bowl or something like that.

 

[tcufrog]

That wreath is so taste specific. I wouldn't recommend it for a hostess gift unless you already know their taste. What about a gift basket? I like to put together gift baskets at World Market or somewhere similar. I put a wide variety of things in them because even if the recipient doesn't like everything they usually like something in them.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't do wreaths, or decorate seasonally. There is either a screen or glass door in front of my front door

 

[Liberty Belle]

I wouldn't do the wreath. I know they're costly and can take a while to make and I'd hate you to waste your money and time if it's not to their taste. Of course, if you know their taste, it's a nice gift (providing their door set up permits it).

Do they live in a different state? Maybe you could do a gift basket of goods from your area? Or a nice planter with a gift card to a nursery (of course we're veering back towards taste, etc)? You could always do a card and a nice gift card to a restaurant, but that kind of seems less gift more payment to me, plus you don't know if they'll like the restaurant!

I think the state/area gift basket would be fun to make.

 

[amberpi]

Yeah - I don't have a wreath in my entire home, and have a front door could use one if I liked that kind of thing. I don't know many people that do that aren't my mom's age. That's such a matter of taste, ya know?

I usually make a basket of local edibles, unless they keep hardcore kosher and only eat from a kosher kitchen, with a amex gift card in it. Because I'm from Nashville, it usually includes locally produced whiskey/shine/beer whatever (if they drink), local honey (if they're not vegan), and then sweets (again, depending on diet stuff) like GooGoo clusters, Moonpies, and the amazing candies produced down the street from me.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I would say take them out for a meal or give them a giftcard to a nice restaurant and a card thanking them. The wreath, while pretty, wouldn't be my taste and no offense but I would not put it up.

 

[shoney]

The wreath is similar to this. If that makes any difference.

I think it is a very sweet heartfelt gift. A dinner gift card while nice would be much more expensive and you still run the risk of do they like that place. I'm sure they will accept it graciously. If they hang it up great if not they know u put thought and work into it. I think one in yellow would look pretty on my front door lol. Maybe I need to get a wreath for summer. Only put one up at christmas time

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I need some help. We are taking our daughter to a medical specialist a few hours a way and a family friend has offered (more like insisted) for us to stay with them for a few days while we are there. We know them through friends, but don't know them really well. I would like to get them a gift for being so kind for opening their home to us. We are from a mainly Christian community and they are Jewish, which I don't know a lot about. I had thought about making them a summer themed wreath, but wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. Any suggestions???

No wreath. I am very picky on wreaths, lol.

Cash is preferred. Preferably a VISA gift card in a Thank You card for their generosity.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I would just offer to take them to dinner.

I do like the wreath, but I love homemade gifts. Not everyone does though.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would just offer to take them to dinner.

I do like the wreath, but I love homemade gifts. Not everyone does though.

Taking them out to dinner is a nice gesture however cash is always king in my book these days.

Plus when you are in town for medical stuff, it might be hard to fit in going out. You never know with the tests that the person may have to do. It can get exhausting with tests and traveling. I did it last yr.

 

[Wendy31]

The wreath is nice, but, like others have said, most people have distinct tastes when it comes to what they hang (or don't hang) on their front doors.

In our area, wreaths & other types of hangings are VERY common on front doors, & I always have something hanging on our front door. However, the pictured wreath is not my preferred style.

If you want to bring something more personal than money as a hostess gift (which I understand because I'd be the same way), I would either include a gift card to a local restaurant in a nice thank you card or bring a themed basket of some sort - breakfast, summer/picnic, or local goodies from your city/area.

 

[Christine]

To be honest, if I was opening my home to someone who was using it because of medical issues, I'd feel bad if they got me a gift. When I want to help or give to someone, it would almost bug me to get a gift in return. But....I get the whole courtesy thing. Honestly, I'd get a small succulent plant or something like that. Very small--it should be a "token" of gratitude.

 

[clutter]

To be honest, if I was opening my home to someone who was using it because of medical issues, I'd feel bad if they got me a gift. When I want to help or give to someone, it would almost bug me to get a gift in return. But....I get the whole courtesy thing. Honestly, I'd get a small succulent plant or something like that. Very small--it should be a "token" of gratitude.

Really, I have to agree. I do things like that in hopes of the recipient paying it forward. So many others have helped me along my way, I just want to give back to the world in general. It's just happenstance that you were the beneficiary. If you did something extraordinary, that just makes my debt continue to be unpaid. (And no, not the wreath. That's definitely taste-specific.)

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Living in FL we have a lot of out of town guests. We really don't expect or even want a gift. If someone insisted on giving one, I personally like the gift basket idea, if it's personalized from your area. If you go that route, make sure to consider the ages of their family members & get at least one thing each one will like. Live flower arrangements are usually the safest gift, unless the host has horrible allergies & no patio to put them on, if necessary. To that you could add taking them out to dinner or order take-out one evening, if you felt you needed to do more. The good thing about live flower arrangements is if they don't like the arrangement, it won't last long anyway. IMO, money via gift card or otherwise is the last thing I would want. You're opening up your home to someone out of kindness & being thanked with the easiest & most impersonal gift imaginable. That's almost an insult.

 

[Piglet]

Thanks for all of your suggestions!! You gave me a lot of great ideas.

 

[ronandannette]

Taking them out to dinner is a nice gesture however cash is always king in my book these days.

Plus when you are in town for medical stuff, it might be hard to fit in going out. You never know with the tests that the person may have to do. It can get exhausting with tests and traveling. I did it last yr.

Thanks for all of your suggestions!! You gave me a lot of great ideas.

OP, whatever you do, DO NOT offer them cash...how completely awkward and offensive as a response to heartfelt hospitality.

Best of luck with your daughter's appointment. Oh, and I'm a NO on the wreath too.