This gloriously beautiful “white flower arrangement” was thoughtfully sent to me by my precious friend, Jacqui, the day before a dinner party she attended at our first apartment in Palm Beach. They were so stunning that I used them as a centerpiece!
With the holidays approaching, “party time” is in the air! It is important to show your appreciation to your host or hostess, especially knowing the effort put forth for the party you are attending. Your joyful self, along with complementary verbal sentiments, will be music to the ears of the hostess. Bringing a hostess gift to the party is a lovely idea too, but I want to share two other gestures you can give your hostess… prior to the party.
Food:
A very dear friend recently responded to my invitation for a celebratory cocktail party at Fox Hall and remarked how thrilled she and her husband were to accept, and complimented me on how pretty the invitation was (always appreciated by the host). And then, she extended an exceptionally gracious offer, one I had never heard of before. It inspired me to share it with you, too! She knows that I like to prepare and cook almost everything (as my gesture of love for my guests), and said, “I know you have tried-and-true recipes that you like to prepare for your parties, so if you share one with me, and give me the serving vessel you wish to use, I will make your recipe and deliver it back to you the day of the party. One less thing you have to do!” WOW, such a considerate gesture, right?!
I am not suggesting that you do this too. Often, guests may offer to bring something, but I may not necessarily accept their kind offer when I am hosting a party. But the above, unique overture, coming from such a close friend (who just happens also to be a gourmet cook), meant the world to me. So, an alternative hostess gift would be to send, or drop off, a box of chocolates, petit-fours, or homemade goodies the day before the party, so the hostess can decide to serve your gift, and how best to present it. (Don’t be offended if you do not see what you gave her, as it is her prerogative to choose what to serve!)
Flowers:
Drop off or send the hostess an arrangement of flowers (remember that white flowers can easily be placed in any room and with any color scheme) the day before the party! This will be an unexpected surprise, and receiving them the day before will enable the hostess to decide where to display them and/or transfer them into her own pretty vessel versus the generic florist vase.
(Keep in mind that in Asian culture, “white” flowers are a symbol of death, so you may wish to send an alternative color depending on the recipient.)
If you are talented at arranging flowers, offer your expertise to the hostess to fill one of her vases with flowers and ask for the color of her choice. (Pink, please!)
My darling son-in-law sent this festive red foral Christmas Eve centerpiece before he arrived; the colors complemented the Santa hats and table adornments brilliantly!
If you are the guest of honor or want to give a more substantial hostess gift, offer to make (or order) the centerpiece… but only after you ask what colors, which kind of flowers, what arrangement style, and which container she wants, because this is the table's focal point!
Happy Holly-Days!
Xx
Holly