Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think you still take a gift to a party?

105 replies

Tryingtostayrelevant · 06/09/2025 19:54

My dc has a number of 18 year old and 21 year old parties taking place in the coming weeks and I enquired as to what gifts they were getting.

They said it’s not a thing to take gifts for the birthday person or the host.

And I said have I taught you no manners and they said if it was older people (40+) inviting them for dinner or similar they would take flowers/wine but not for parties.

AIBU to think a small gift should be taken?

YABU no one does gifts any more
YANBU gifts are still the done thing

OP posts:
Drivingmissrangey · 06/09/2025 20:08

Surely depends where the party is and what the format is. A party in a bar where you have to pay for your own drinks is very different to a party hosted and paid for in someone’s home or another venue.

whistlesandbells · 06/09/2025 20:05

I notice it is not the “done thing” among teenage boys 16+ these days. No presents were received and teenager here not interested in it. Wonder if it is the norm now.

Edited to say that they don’t have parties but ‘gatherings’.

InfoSecInTheCity · 06/09/2025 20:03

Yes, you take a ‘hostess gift’ as an adult attending a party, it’s usually something like alcohol, flowers or nice chocolates and you take it with no expectation that they’ll serve it to the guests.

BarbarasRhabarberba · 06/09/2025 20:01

I’m 38 and have never taken a gift to a party (or a wedding)

DedododoDedadada · 06/09/2025 19:56

My daughter has been to a few 18ths recently and took a present to each.