What do you take if you were going to your partners’ parents place for lunch at the weekend?

[Jaybird100]

What do you take if you were going to your partners’ parents place for lunch at the weekend?

Say they had already prepared the appetiser, main (roast meat with all sorts of roast veg), plus drinks plus desert.

Is it expected for me to bring something along with me? If so, what? As I’m not their child, I feel bad as if I am just freeloading their food!

I’d take wine and flowers, probably a box of chocolates too.

I’d bring nothing! They’re my ILs, so family, and I don’t think you are meant to bring something for close family.

Wine and flowers here as well.

You're invited to lunch - you don't bring it!

I'd take a decent bottle of wine and either chocolates, flowers or a posh candle.

You're not expected to contribute towards the meal, unless they ask you to. You could always ask if they'd like you to bring something. Otherwise, just wine and flowers.

I was brought up to never show up anywhere I’ve been invited empty handed.
I appreciate not all have had the same upbringing and I regularly host people who bring nothing, it’s fine, just different to me.
It’s just a token gesture of appreciation to say thank you.

We don't bring anything unless it's a birthday or something. As a PP said, they're family. It'd be a constant supply of chocs etc if we took something every time we went for lunch.

I would (And do) take chocolates, flowers and wine if we go for lunch or dinner at the ILs and I do the same when we go to my DPs.

I'd take wine and flowers and perhaps some chocolates.

Flowers and/or wine here too.

Flowers

We would never go there as we are fairly LC with one and NC with the other, but I would do the same as I would if invited to anyone’s for a meal - bring a bottle of wine or flowers.

New-ish partner I’d take wine or flowers. Same with friends.
My in-laws (15 years, local) we don’t take anything neither do they here, it’s family eating together not “hosting” as such.

I think it depends on how far you're into to the relationship if it's not established take something if you've got their blessing and have been together quite a while just take you x

Depends. DH and I have been together for 16 years so if we go to the in laws we take the grandkids who they are always delighted to see.

When we were dating I'd take flowers or wine. But that was only for the first 6m or so.

Never show up empty handed. Our family rule is that if someone's offering hospitality you show up bearing something to show your appreciation. I do that with my adult DCs and they do when they come home. It'll be a bottle of something, a bunch of flowers or something edible for another occasion, not necessarily that day.

Depends how long we’re going for. More than a day and we’ll pop out and get whatever they need and some nice bits. Just the day...we’ll ask and be told nothing because we’re the ones doing a three hour round trip. But DH and I started going out 16 years ago so I’m old news (and, like PP, we bring the grandchildren!). New relationship I brought chocolates or a bottle of wine.

Another vote for wine and flowers here 🍷 💐

Ear plugs

Always take wine, and at this time of year, probably an indoor crocus thing rather than cut flowers.

Hyacinth! I meant hyacinth.

Flowers and/or wine. My MIL is always very appreciative of the gesture.

Definitely flowers, possibly wine or chocolates as well.

As others have said but also,a scented candle? Nice bottle of port?

@EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard

With your own children?! 😳

I think it’s all an unnecessary faff

If I invite you, all you need to turn up with is your appetite. I want your company, not gifts.